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A Church Prepared for Revival
The Organic Church
Keith W. Smith
Introduction
Much has been written about cell churches during the past few years. They have been heralded as the "second reformation", being a new, or reformed way of looking at the local church, putting it once again in its New Testament context.
Many have begun the painful task of transforming their church structure into a cell church. Some, having done it, have seen impressive, multiplying growth, others have continued much as in the past, only with a new structure. Not a few have fallen by the wayside, either giving up on the changes or closing altogether.
The churches that have not seen growth or have fallen aside are in a clear majority, and the assertions from the cell church lobby, that they have not properly implemented cell church principles, just do not hold water.
I believe that those whom I have chosen to call the cell church lobby, have clearly heard the heart of God for the church in these last days, hut the rigidity of their "vision" and their lack of flexibility have caused impossible strains in many local churches, stifling growth and occasionally causing irreparable ruptures.
First of all I want to look at what a cell church is. Then what are the stress factors that cause it to fail? And finally is there a way ahead? What is an organic church and how does it grow?
What is a Cell-
In his excellent book "The Second Reformation", William A. Beckharn provides an overview
of what is a cell-
- People go to a building (cathedral)
- on a special day of the week (Sunday)
- and someone (a priest, or today, a pastor)
- does something to them (teaching, preaching, absolution or healing)
- or for them (a ritual or entertainment)
- for a price (offerings)
This sort of church, although common today, is clearly far from the New Testament ideal. The Cell Church Movement describe their vision of the New Testament Church as a "Cell Church", that is, a Church where the basic unit is a small cell group of believers. In his book William Beckham describes the New Testament Church as conforming to seven tests:
1. The institutional test.
Is the church a living organism or an organization? If you were to do away with the building and the Sunday morning meeting, could the church survive? If the church would survive without a building and Sunday morning meetings, it passes the first test for a New Testament cell church.
2. The cell test.
Is a small group (referred to in this book as a cell)considered the church in nature, purpose and power? Does the church see Vie small group as the basic Christian community and the essential unit of the church?If leaders and people would cringe at referring to the small group as the church, then that church is not a New Testament cell church. Paul himself had no problem calling groups in the homes churches.
3. The photocopy test.
When the model is reproduced, is the new church as clear, and bright as the original? Will the model transfer? If the church replicates itself with only dimmer versions of itself, then it is not a New Testament cell church. This is not a numerical test but a test of nature and life. Does it consistently reproduce the dynamic of the original?
4. The simplicity test.
Is the church fragmented and complex? As it grows larger, does it get more complex or less complex? Does it take a CEO to make it work? A cell church will continue to operate through its simple cell leadership structure even if the governing administrative framework disappears. Even with the presence of large numbers of members and leaders, the cell church will have a simplicity about how it operates.
5. The multiplication test.
Does the church show hope of multiplying? Is a structure in place through which dynamic growth could happen? Or is the strategy based on addition of new members A cell church can systematically multiply because the point of growth takes place at the integrated cell level, not through compartmentalized multiple programs.
6. The adult test.
Does the church reach new adult converts, or is the church sustained by transfer growth from other churches and biological growth, by baptizing its own children? An operating cell church will reach new adult converts.
7. The persecution test.
Will the church survive if it is forced underground? Could the kind of small groups attached to our church programs survive persecution without the institutional cushion? The cell church will survive through its New Testament cells no matter what happens politically, socially, economically or internally.
I do not necessarily agree with all of these tests, as I feel that some are based upon false assumptions rather than on the word of God.
Later in the book the author indicates a number of signs of a cell church:
- The cell church Jesus designed operates as the church not only on Sunday, but on the other six days of the week as well.
- The cell church may have a building, but the building is functional and not sacred.
- The growth of the church doesn't depend on how much square footage can be financed and provided. The building formula of the cell church is grow and then build.
- Cells or small groups of Christians meet in homes during the week and are the basic unit of the church.
- These cells act as the "delivery system" of the church through which cell members live out the gospel in the world.
- Every member of the church receives equipping for the work of the ministry in these small groups.
- Celebration worship on Sunday overflows from the body life, taking place during the week in the lives of members.
- Members are accountable to each other.
- The cell church produces large numbers of servant leaders who enable the work of ministry to take place at the basic: cell level.
- In the small groups, members take off their masks and receive edification and healing. Real New Testament fellowship takes place.
- The "one another" passages found in the New Testament have a context in which they can be experienced.
- The church centered in home cells is designed to survive persecution.
- The lost are reached through cell friendship evangelism.
- Spiritual (Gifts essential for edification, equipping and evangelism are released in the natural setting of the cells.
- Full-
time leaders are set aside for prayer and to seek (God's face for the body. - Multiplication of cells, converts, disciples and leaders constantly occurs.
- Operating cell churches have a dramatic impact upon the society. Their small groups touch the hurts and needs in the world around them.
- Leaders and pastors provide oversight, vision, and accountability for leaders of the cell groups.
- More money is available for ministry and missions as each member matures in their understanding of stewardship as a lifestyle.
- The Community of cells is a place of healing for the individual and the family.
- The administration of the church is simplified around the basic cell unit. This significantly reduces the multiple programs necessary to run a traditional church.
- Primary care for members is provided at the cell level instead of the professional Staff level.
- Ephesians 4:12 works! Leaders "equip the saints for the work of ministry."
Many within the cell church movement seek to draw links between their movement and the base communities common in some parts of South America, and growing out of liberation theology. In his book, Mr. Beckham quotes the Brazilian theologian, J. B. Libanio. "They are not a movement, an association or a religious congregation ... They are not a method (or the only method) of building up the church: they are the church itself. They are not a miraculous recipe for all the ills of society and the church. They are the church renewing itself . . . They are not a utopia; they are a sign of the kingdom, though they are not the kingdom.
They are not messianic, but they can be prophetic and produce prophets like the church should. They are not a natural ... community ... identified with a race, language, people, family . . . They are the church.
They are not a protest group, although their life is a protest against the mediocrity,
sloth and in-
Although there are clear similarities between the two sorts of group there are also clear differences, the base communities coming much closer to the ideal of the organic church as they avoiding every way the rigid structuralization of the cell church.
Lets us move on to see this rigidity that causes the cell churches to fail...
Stresses that cause cell churches to fail:
1) It's a system and these sorts of systems are like straightjackets for the Spirit of God. God is constantly renewing and refreshing the church, yet any system will lose its life after a while. We can clearly see this in the Methodist Church, which in its early life was vital and lively, with much of its life based in small groups (classes) yet within 100 years was in need of renewal and refreshing. Whenever we take a clear move of God and turn it into a system or method, then we sign its death warrant. God wants us to work depending on Him and His grace, not on a system, method or denomination. When we divert our attention from Him to a system, He stops blessing.
2) It builds uneven or unstable structures. Often cell churches grow in an uneven way over an unstable base. The core leaders are not sufficiently equipped within their character to support the growth occurring in their celebrations. At the same time parts of the church grow at different rates often emphasizing the insufficiencies of the leaders.
3) Its structure is pyramidical and does not represent the true image of New Testament servant leaders. The Senior Pastor is on top of a pyramid of Zone Pastors, Area Pastors, Local Pastors, and Members. The Local (cell) Pastors although said to be real pastors are subject to a whole infrastructure of authority.
4) Inappropriate leaders, seeking to fulfill their own goals, as opposed to group goals, often lead to splits.
5) It falsely describes itself. It says that the real church is each individual
cell, however talks of churches of 10,000 people. If what they say is true, it is
legitimate to claim celebrations or communities of 10,000 people, but each church
is more or less 12 people, and the 10,000 represents the church in that area, but
only if it includes other denominational groups and churches within its make-
These stress areas cause an inherent instability in various areas leading to unhappiness, frustration and eventually splits, caused by:
- Disagreements over policy
- Disagreements over doctrinal stresses
- New leaders not being allowed to develop
- Unattractive leaders not given a place "Problem people" being sidelined until they leave.
- People with problems never finding the true solution as they stay in a permanent evangelistic cell instead of a growing more or less permanent group which becomes the loving environment where they will encounter Jesus, the answer to their need.
- Prophetic words or leads never really being communicated to the whole structure, therefore prophetic ministries feel frustrated and eventually leave.
- Leaders without necessary character traits.
- Abusive behavior of core leaders who must maintain the structure and therefore manipulate or otherwise abuse members into cooperation. Mustage and oughtery ("You must do this and ought to do that." with no scriptural basis).
- Failure of members to mature.
Let me give an illustration of an imaginary situation, but made up from several situations I know personally. St. A's church in Bigtown received its new minister in January, two years ago. It was a middle of the road evangelical/charismatic church of about 80+ members. The minister introduced the elders and deacons to cell churches and it was enthusiastically agreed that it would change to a cell church structure. Within the first year the cells were up and functioning, although 20 people decided to go elsewhere or stopped coming altogether. The elders considered that 25% fall out was acceptable in the light of multiplication growth to come.
At the beginning of the second year a significant prophetic leader in the church left, taking with him his cell and one other. They felt (correctly?) that the minister was more interested in his structure than what God might be saying.
In the middle of the year all remaining cells had shown significant growth and the church had made up all its losses. However, when the leaders tried to put in place new cells and some new leaders, several people left, either because they were being separated from friends and loved ones, or because their leadership was not recognized.
Now, two years after the start of the exercise, the 3 youth cells have announced that they are leaving to start a youth church, as they were never listened to. The cell led by an elder has dissolved due to an unresolved sin problem. And the minister is manipulating and cajoling members to comply with the system, calling those who have left rebels and jezebels, creating a sense of fear among the members, who will conform so as not to be rebellious.
So in two years all that has been created is a sick church with members not really owning the vision, and a minister driving himself and his sheep to fulfill the very vision (structure) which is causing the sickness.
Is there a way ahead?
The undoubted answer is yes. As I said at the beginning, I believe whole heartedly that the "cell church lobby" have heard the heart of God for His church in these last days, but it is the stresses and strains outlined in the previous section that eventually lead to a topping out or rupture in a cell church.
Therefore the question really is, how can we create a teal cell church, flexible and without the rigid structure of the cell churches as we know them?
I believe the answer to be in what I choose to call "organic churches". These take
as their starting place the same vision that motivates the cell churches of small,
inter-
The church is not just recognized at cell level but at each higher stage too. Expressing
it another way, the church is like DNA, leaving the imprint of the whole at the cellular
level. Therefore, in an area we would expect to find one-
These churches would inter-
Leaders work locally (perhaps in the context of more than one congregation) ministering in the word and prayer and Ephesians 4:1 2 equipping. The church life functions at all levels because the DNA imprint exists at all levels and no one is claiming proprietory rights. That is, no one says "This is mine (Acts 2:4). The church belongs to Jesus. "All to Jesus I surrender".
Each church, be it one-
So, how would an organic church work?
If we first look at an organic church started from scratch, then later we can look more closely at how a traditional church or cell church can be transformed into an organic church.
In church planting situations the church planters would form the first cell. Through their ministry, testimony and invitation, others would be added to that cell. It is natural that nearly all the initial members would relate closely to the original church planters, but as the group grows we would begin to see different natural groupings within the cell. It is normal that when a group gets to about 20 natural secondary groupings appear. In traditional structures these secondary groupings would be seen as negative cliques, in organic churches each person would have been taught the need for the right character in spiritual leaders. Therefore when the church planters note the natural groupings they should look for the natural leaders of these groupings. Then in consultation with leaders they should examine their characters in the light of the scriptural qualifications for leadership. If they fit the descriptions in 1 Timothy and Titus, they should be recognized and encouraged to split away from the original group, whilst still maintaining a similar program and meeting together once per week. The new leaders would also meet in a leadership discipleship group with the key leaders.
If the "natural" leaders of a group do not have the necessary character qualifications, they should gently be told, and shown that if they submit their characters to God, then in the future they would perhaps be ideal leaders or co—leaders. In this way you turn possible problems of dissatisfaction into strong supporters of the work. Because everyone understands the need of right leaders, this leads to support and encouragement for folk who are working hard with God to achieve positive character change. These potential future leaders should be encouraged to attend leadership discipleship but alongside or as assistants to proven leaders.
The size of the cells or small groups is not as important as is made out by the cell
church movement. I believe that 4, as a minimum is practical, as less than 4 can
defeat the object of growth. But I don't believe that there is any reason to put
an upper limit on the size of group. I have seen cells of up to 30 working well,
with a deep and real fellowship among the members. I believe that the only reason
for a cell to split is that the cell is ready, that is, there are clear and deep
sub—groupings within the cell and those sub-
The separation of cells is always difficult, as close friends do not wish to be separated.
However, I believe that these separations can be made less painful in several ways:
(1) Stress should be placed on the links with the members of other cells, which we
have in congregational and celebration meetings. (2) Inter-
The resulting cells would normally remain within the same congregation. However when a group reaches around 1 80, natural stresses and groupings begin to appear. Therefore when this happens, the leaders should encourage splitting into two congregations, preferably geographically. However the two congregations would continue to share together within the framework of celebration meetings. It would be simple to see this as the typical cell church pyramid. If you look at the diagrams below you will see that rather than a pyramid it forms a network, the key differences are seen in (1) flexibility of cells. (2) Leadership and (3) inter—leadership relationships.
The flexibility of the cells is fundamental. No cell is totally like another although aII share the same nucleus vision as the local church. People would normally enter the church through cells with an evangelistic emphasis, but may well enter through a cell with a counseling, deliverance, or even a social concern emphasis. There are little or no set ideas about cell size or cell function. The cell is the local church and should be allowed to develop as the Lord guides. Other leaders, together with the cell leaders, will seek the Lord for direction for the cell. The leaders would also be aware of the prophetic and apostolic direct on. However, the responsible leaders of the cell are the real leaders!
Leadership Dynamics within an organic Church
The key to organic church growth is the leaders, their openness, giftedness, brokenness,
and willingness to serve without self-
In the beginning God created man in his own image. The body, soul and spirit of man was in perfect equilibrium, until man sinned and thus died spiritually, leaving just the body and soul which strive continually to feed and satisfy themselves.
Both of these parts of man are self-
Above all, a leader needs to be seen as a ( man of God) , able to relate simply and
humbly, both to his flock and to his peers. In his character he must be clear and
open, his life demonstrating his reliance on Christ. In terms of gifting, we must
carefully discriminate those parts that come from his training and those parts that
come from God. Because of the perversity of this world, learnt things will always
contain a taint of that perversity. However, that which comes from God is good and
pure. A leader must have Spirit-
A question I was once asked is if I loved God and the Church enough to turn my back
and walk away, leaving all in the hands of God and inexperienced leaders. I thank
God that I was able to, because the small church that I left, instead of becoming
reliant on my faith, later became a strong, missionary-
The leadership relationships at the congregation and celebration levels are important. In scripture I do not find people relating pyramidically. Pyramid structures always leave senior leaders with too much authority and too little accountability. Some people look to wheel structures with similar interests grouping around a common hub. This allows for better interaction and communication, but once again fails because of insufficient accountability.
The structure that I find most helpful is the so called "net model", which is most dearly seen in the accompanying diagrams: Local leaders, plus other recognised ministries, would be at the end of each thread of the net, with like ministries being grouped together. As items arise within the group, those with any interest would pull at their thread, 1: Thus inclining the net towards them. The group would then look towards that person or those persons to take the lead. Sometimes there will be two, three or more people tensing the thread at the same time. This leads to only those with a real interest in the matter makinq decisions whilst the others are free to give counsel, and then follow the consensus of the group. The aim of this type of model is always consensus; "It seems good to us and the Holy Spirit... ". Tyrants and dictators find it impossible to work within this type of network, as others will pull at their threads to prevent their worst excesses, thus creating an equilibrium. This is a leadership model for real servants, people prepared to lay down their lives for the sheep and each other.
What happens if things go wrong? The constant emphasis on good teaching 1 Tim. 3 and Lev. 19 etc. should mean that every church member is spiritually equipped to see problems before they occur. The emphasis on accountability both within the leadership and within each group will also mitigate against real problems arising. If the leaders cannot resolve a problem it would be better for them to leave it in the hands of God arid separate themselves from the problem, whilst at all times leaving a way back for any people involved.
-
I am convinced that the cell church movement has heard from God in its emphasis and
has demonstrated how its "straight-
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Transforming a traditional Church into an
Organic Church
Stage 1-
Stage 2-
Stage 3-
Stage 4 -
Stage 5-
_____________________________________________
The Structure of a Traditional Church
National or Regional Denominational Body
Normally an elected body. Leaders normally elected for political reasons rather than
giftedness. In some denominations this is a self-
Pastor
Often elected for political reasons. Has limited accountability, or is accountable to an elected committee, who may manipulate the pastor.
Deacons
Often elected for political reasons with no real view to giftedness. Can at times be the pastors best friend or worst nightmare.
Sunday School Teachers, Youth Leaders etc.
Leaders and workers who often do not have a real voice in decision making, and therefore become frustrated and embittered.
Members
These sincere folk are often frustrated by the lack of communication that they experience.
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Cell Church Structure
The Lead Pastor has little or no accountability to any but God. Often circumstances promote these people beyond their abilities.
Zone pastors and Supervisors often insulate the lead pastor from having real two-
Members are often sincere folk desperately seeking to maintain and support a structure. The failure of some leading to a "them and us" type of Church membership, and much frustration.
_______________________________________________
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