A Holy Systemectomy

A new book Im currently editing:

 I have created a new book called

 ‘A Holy Systemectomy’ 

Recovering the Apostolic Rhythm of Church Life

that asks questions about what we see as the church Jesus wanted through history.  Before I release it (if I do), I wanted to give some background as to where I am with things after 25 years of what I call practicing ‘biblical church.’

I believe the New Testament, ‘great falling away,’ is true believers who partied to the church that history made but were not led to the ekklesia that the New Testament describes. 

 As geopolitics turn world tension up to 11, those who were taught to scale spiritual community by aesthetics, attendance success and relevance to this world will have missed true anchoring into Jesus.  Biblical ekklesia has the believer source themselves into Jesus and learn how to remain there when the ‘ground shakes around them.’  The ground will incrementally shake more as ‘sorrows’ continue just as birth pains do.  My concern is that very sincere and precious brothers and sisters will fear and faint in these last days.  

Theres no need to. 

Over the last 25 years I have been practising biblical ekklesia in the UK and Australia. Those who were sent among us can testify that we facilitate this sourcing and anchoring into Jesus.  A key point is that no one can do this for another person, they can just facilitate it.  Because traditional leadership structures are embedded into our psyche since attending school from 5 years old, it’s hard to imagine another way.  Yet imagine a group where each person knows their contribution, builds up and encourages each other.  Groups where facilitators success is to sit back and let the group be led by the Holy Spirit towards faith unity and love.  

A revolution for me at the turn of the Millennia was to learn that leadership in this way is less ‘leaning in,’ but more an art of ‘stepping back.’  Does this indicate a problem where the leader is neglectful of the obvious need to lead? I believe not because when required, leadership must lean in.  But the subtlety is to be able to step back so that the Lord can lead, and being able to do this.  

When we started practising ‘biblical ekklesia’ around 2000 it was to return to a family setting and to break bread biblically.  This means having a full meal with a loaf and juice present.  We opened our bibles and intentionally allowed people share as in 1 Corinthians 14:26. 

My facilitation was to guide and steer rather than be a central character.  Its like being the banks of a river.

There are times to offer a theme to throw out there. Our first was ‘to see over is not to be over.’  This was a direct challenge to the hierarchical default we gather around whenever someone leads.  It isn’t that you can’t go through a program or study together. It’s more in the nature and posture by which it is carried out.  

More that biblical church being a change of address, it’s more a revolution of the heart as we finally hand the Lords precious people back for Him to lead.  

Almost from becoming a believer in 1989 I felt a fire in my bones to lead somehow.  This led to Bible College. I tried to serve in aspiring mega churches, and these were fond memories.  Until they weren’t.  When does a person over step their lead and invade territory where only the Lord can truly be the head?  Over a couple of years of running into leadership issues I concluded that the structure of church forms the necessity to lead a particular way.

  If the congregation become passive onlookers, then they go into institutional mode they learned since being 5 years old at school.  ‘All keep quiet for the Teacher at the front.’    This weaves into the fabric of the body the idea that there’s a few people here who really know what they are doing so I will just come under the leadership and let them steer the ship.  This forms functional and spiritual hierarchy creating a system and structure for Gods people to dwell under.  

Over time the leaders see passivity, so to answer it they turn up the volume, reimagine the relevance to their town or city and make growth and mission the distractions to get the flock moving.  To be clear, growth, mission, volume and relevance aren’t enemies.  This and the other elements of ‘church’ need to be in a setting that serves the vertical priorities of individual devotion and ‘followship’ of Jesus.  Instead, the horizontal issues of outreach, mission, social welfare, food banks, et al, become the priority.   As a result, burnt out, tired, empty believers serve in their communities and the unsaved see religious workers. 

 The horizontal aces the vertical because in the western world ‘doing’ brings reward.  

Imagine the focus shifting.  It means complete system change. Its hard and agonising at times.  Yet, when the vertical trumps the horizontal we find that believers have been met by the Lord and are anchoring themselves into Him. Not Church. Not programs. Not serving.  

Him. Alone. 

Can you see the subtlety? Theres nothing wrong with the programs, the serving, the mission, the food bank or the horizontal elements in and of themselves. When the believers are met, they can meet the unsaved and shine their light, have the gospel ready when needed and hearts that are refreshed to outpour into the community.   Even for those who work all week they go into their workplaces with glowing hearts.  This is what the unbeliever finds insatiable.  This is what peaks and keeps their interest.  

The gospel isn’t just a message.  It is an imbibed life that is wanting to get out to a dark world.