THE FOUR OTHERS

You might remember the popular book by Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Church, published nearly 30 years ago now. I always considered Warren to have done a great service for the American church by pointing out that there was more to being the Body of Christ than attending a weekly worship service. 

Warren's book reminded Christians that worship was just one purpose among 5 for which God’s people have been gathered together.

Maybe it's time to revisit Warren's thesis.

I can't help but notice that while worship is clearly vertical in nature, the other four – fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and mission – are primarily horizontal. Much of being a believer is concerned with how we interact with our brothers and sisters, our neighbors, and the stranger.

These four horizontal purposes of the church could be grouped together under the Biblical term “edification”, which is the “building one another up” which the New Testament urges upon us as believers. There is no indication that the early church was focused solely or even primarily on worship. 

If anything, fellowship seemed to occupy most of the early Christians' time. 

I think one of the great weaknesses of the modern church is that we continue to assume worship is THE central duty of the church while fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and mission are consigned to the fringes.

Some church members consider them optional add-ons. Others give them no thought whatsoever. 

Meanwhile, the culture around us is starving for true connection.