“You really should be here Wednesday night.”
“You don’t want to miss this opportunity to serve the Lord.”
“It’s so encouraging to see some people really singing to the Lord.”
“They only came to church when they felt like it.”
“If you want God to bless you, you won’t skip tithing.”
“If you really want to grow, you need to sign up for a Sunday school class…”
For many Christians, statements like these were—and perhaps continue to be—a regular part of our church experience. Most of the time, they likely come from a good heart. When I have said things like this in the past, I believe my intentions were mostly good, too. But if I am honest with myself, part of me wanted to steer people in a particular direction not only for them, but for me, too. In fact, I think there was a part of me that believed “ministry” was about managing other people’s relationship with God.
As it turns out, people sort of like having their spiritual lives managed. I have often said that if most people were faced with the choice of having someone give them a list of ten thousand things to do to be a good Christian or having someone encourage them to listen to the Holy Spirit, we would all prefer the list.
The church has been pretty good at making lists of what it really means to love God with all our heart. For centuries, Christians have been more than willing to work extra hard to check the boxes. Many modern ministries are particularly prone to this kind of box-checking. Often, what makes someone in good standing with their leadership or denomination is that they “check all the boxes.” Success can be measured. Scores can be kept. And many grow tired, burn out, and are left with wounds.
People end up walking away from what they think is Christianity, but what is really a religious system that can look very much like the ones Jesus opposed—a system that advertises peace and freedom but, in the end, feels more like slavery to a god who is mildly disgusted with them at best and outright angry with them at worst. Some return to a newer system or leader to try again, harder. Some quit trying and accept living with regret over their failure to check all the boxes. Some leave the church for good.
Over the past several years of my simple church journey, I have become convinced that this problem is a big reason God is growing simple, relational churches. God desires to set His people free because He desires for us to truly know and experience the depths of His love (Galatians 5:1, 13; Ephesians 3:17–19).
Bill Freeman writes in his devotional The Supplied Life:
To preserve the flow of the love of God in all its sweetness, we must preserve the atmosphere in which it can happen. This means that in the church life there must always be an atmosphere of freedom in which the love of God is able to flow among us. Love cannot flow where there is no freedom. When love does not flow, Christ has been nullified (cf. Gal. 5:2, 4 with verse 6). Where there is law, where there is obligation, where there is a legal mindset, it not only chokes the flow of love, it makes it impossible for love to happen. For example, if I tell my wife, “I am your husband, I am your head; therefore you must love me,” the more I talk to her in this way, the more I make it impossible for her to love, even if she wanted to. How could she freely give love when I am demanding it from her? Love needs the atmosphere of freedom in order to exist. If freedom is not the atmosphere in our relationships, Christ and love are nullified.
God desires community where people are able to love freely—not because love is demanded of them, but because they have genuine freedom. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17).
There is nothing magical about simple church that guarantees we will operate in an atmosphere of freedom. I have seen just the opposite in many house churches. I do, however, think that when we seek to be led by the Spirit of God, free from many of the external forces that incentivize list-making—buildings, budgets, programs, and professionals—simple church can more readily cultivate communities where freedom is the air we breathe.
To be sure, we must not let our freedom become a stumbling block to the weak (1 Corinthians 8:9; Romans 14:13–19). One person’s “freedom” can certainly damage an atmosphere of freedom without loving, relational correction. This is a key part of leadership in the Kingdom: not creating lists for what it means to really love God, but helping maintain an atmosphere of freedom where people can both experience God’s love and love Him freely in return.
They can love because they have genuinely encountered the God who is love (1 John 4:8, 19) and who came to set us free (John 8:36).
May your simple church family be free indeed!
This article is part 6 of a series of posts about important lessons I’ve learned over the past 15 years of being part of a simple church community with my family and friends. The previous articles are 1-15 Years In, 2-It Takes Courage, 3-Unity With Your Spouse, 4-God’s Pace, and 5-The Bible and Simple Church.
My brother sent me this message. He has just written a book that aligns with this very message. STRAYED is the title. I want to include this with my daily devotional. Grateful he sent this to me and will follow.
I’m grateful you were encouraged! I have been in touch with him and look forward to getting into this book! Blessings!
Loved this observation as it reflects my own journey towards “simpler church” since 2009:
“There is nothing magical about simple church that guarantees we will operate in an atmosphere of freedom. I have seen just the opposite in many house churches. I do, however, think that when we seek to be led by the Spirit of God, free from many of the external forces that incentivize list-making—buildings, budgets, programs, and professionals—simple church can more readily cultivate communities where freedom is the air we breathe.”
God bless you and your houses!
Corey thanks for commenting. Many have correctly pointed out the opportunities that can arise when we church functioning simply without buildings, budgets, pros, and programs. I think this freedom piece is equally as important, but not altogether obvious for folks in house church communities. Thanks for the encouragement! If we can ever encourage you in person don’t hesitate to reach out.
May you find an atmosphere of freedom wherever and whenever you come together with God’s family!