MISSION-LINK TOP TEN

TOP TEN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ORGANIC CHURCH AND TRADITIONAL CHURCH

1. DEFINED BY SPIRITUAL LIFE, NOT PROGRAMS
   1.  “Organic” literally refers to that which is made up of living matter – in the Church it refers to the living part of a gathering, the part that is actually experiencing spiritual growth or transformation. This is evidenced by testimonials and obvious life changes occurring in people and cannot be measured by numbers or attendance.
   2. That which is not organic or “living” can be very marketable, draw a lot of people, and even create momentum in an organization. The disappointing thing is that after the wave has passed over, people are left no more empowered to walk with Christ that they were before.
2. LEADERSHIP IS VULNERABLE, NOT PROTECTIONIST
   1. In order to cultivate spiritual life, organic church influencers practice a culture of vulnerability rather than protectionism.
   2. We believe the flow of personal empowerment to others is determined by the level of our own vulnerability.
3. LED BY GOD’S SPIRIT, NOT CHURCH RULES
   1. Rules and traditions are a pitiful substitute for the leading of “Christ in us” by His Holy Spirit. (Rom. 8:14)
   2. We believe that our spiritual birth-right is to be led by God Himself, and that we are accountable to Scripture and to one another to test and approve His leading.
4. FOCUS ON LIFE RHYTHMS, NOT DOCTRINE
   1. We believe others have the right to respond to what they see in our lives, rather than our “statement of faith”.
   2. We look to the example of Jesus’ life, both in the testimony of Scripture and His living influence though the Holy Spirit, for all our cues in life.
5. FOCUS ON INTEGRATION, NOT ISOLATION OF FAITH EXPERIENCE
   1. We avoid scheduling meetings or events that are isolated from the public.
   2. We look for opportunities to bring our testimony of God’s presence across cultural lines.
6. WORSHIP DEFINED BY ALLOTMENT OF “ATM”, NOT RITUALS
   1. Each follower of Christ is spurred on to consider where their attention, time and money (ATM) are directed…not just one day a week but 24/7.
   2. We enjoy “worship experiences”, but don’t depend on them to “keep us going”.
7. SPIRITUAL ALIGNMENT IS EMPOWERED, NOT IMPARTED
   1. Each person is seen as needing the tools for discerning and walking in the truth;
   2. Understanding of Scripture and equipping in spiritual warfare are skills necessary for all.
8. DEFINE SPIRITUAL LIFE AS A RELATIONSHIP, NOT AN EVENT
   1. Like the difference between a wedding and a marriage, we hold to the latter as our source of life,
   2. We know that Jesus defined eternal life not as a reward for living a “faithful life”, but as knowing the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He sent. (John 17:3)
9. WE ARE OWNERS OF THE KINGDOM WORK WITH GOD, NOT CONSUMERS OF IT
   1. We do not decide where to commit based on what we feel we are “getting out of it”, but by where we sense God calling leads us.
   2. We look to God’s gifting in those who are available, not the skills of a few, to “get things done” in the Kingdom work.
10. LEADERSHIP IS DECENTRALIZED, NOT PROFESSIONALIZED
    1. A shared vision is cultivated so that anyone who is separated from others in the organic church, for whatever reason, continues to live in the rhythms of a Jesus follower because they are living from the inside-out.
    2. The vision does not come from one human source – it is truly shared and commonly owned.