When speaking about organization in this Practicum we are looking at more of the process or act of organizing as opposed to a structured entity. In other words, we want to focus on the verb more than the noun. The Body of Christ must be viewed as a living organism, not a bureaucratic structure or organization.
To better understand this distinction, read: Leadership Skill: Organization
The Church follows God’s purposes and ways, not that of the world. He designed the Church as a living organism, likening it to a Body with many parts, yet coordinated or organized as a unit, needing one another (1 Cor. 12). If we try to make the Church into more of a social organization, set in its ways, rather than fluid and life-giving, we begin to undermine the accomplishment of Gods primary purpose for us — that of loving Him more than anything else and loving others as ourselves. It’s like we are putting the ways of the world before Him — not a very loving thing to do.
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. (1 Jn. 2:15)
The Steering the Church Toward God’s Purposes Leadership Guide includes some questions to reflect on about organization in your church.
All Posts about Organization:
- Organization Following God’s Purposes?
- The Cause and Effect Factor of Organization
- The Need for Fluidity in Organization
- Living Organism Needs Organization
- Organizational Structures Help or Hinder?
- Organization Because of Freedom in Christ?
- Organization Enhancing Ministry Not Entangling It?
- Organizational Skills of Jesus
- Why Organizational Skills When We Have God?
- Spiritually Gifted to Organize
- Praying About How to Organize to Best Accomplish Goals
- Rely on the Spirit, Not Organizational Efforts
- The Gospel, the Organized Eternal Plan of God
- Organizational Efforts with a Life-Giving Effect
- The Effects of Life-Giving Organizational Efforts
- The Right Reason for Organization
- Aligning Organizational Efforts with Scripture