City Church - VineLife Communities

GUEST TEACHING: The City Church - “Is God introducing a new chapter in church history?”
By Wolfgang Simson

Imagine Christians meeting in your area or city again in two places, just like in New Testament days:

Meeting repeatedly at a real big and central place, a modern version of "Solomon's Porch" (a big hall or stadium).
In the houses they would authentically share lives together, live organic fellowship and thus be a true shopping window of God for their neighborhood. In the large citywide celebrations they would mark their unity in Christ, express the fact that they belong together, have a big festival together and allow as many house churches as possible to click together for the big vision and take on the shape of a regional trans-denominational gospel movement. That would, just like it did before, truly transform whole cities and regions through the gospel of the Kingdom of God. And nobody could deny that "you have filled Jerusalem with this teaching" (Acts 5: 28).

In many areas of the world this two-stroke-model of church (the very small combined with the very large) is stirring again, especially since the new Millennium.

The synergy of the house church and City Church means on the small level, organic communities and extended family-type communities in houses (or wherever people's lives gravitate); on the large citywide level, regular or irregular huge meetings of Christians, who overcame all small-minded barriers and understood that they were one in Christ and also one before the eyes of the world. It is as if Christians start to rearrange themselves according to an invisible magnetic field with two magnetic poles, just like the good old iron-filings on the overhead projector of our physics teacher. What is God doing here?

Where is the true home of the Christian church? Where does its identity lie? I would like to point out the four levels on which Christianity expresses itself today:

I assume everyone is in agreement about the existence of the universal Church, the Body of Christ on earth, which, technically, would be level 5.

In the New Testament we expressively find only two of these four levels of church. The house church or cell (level one) and the celebration (level three); the church "from house to house" and the citywide corporate community called the church in Antioch (Acts 14:27), and the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:4), which met for a while in the colonnades of Solomon in the temple. The "Church of Antioch" was nothing else than the sum total of all house churches throughout Antioch - not the sum total of all denominational congregations, since there simply where no denominations nor congregations at that time.

The house church offers healthy family dynamics, a private home and a true nest for each person. It is an organic space of the church in the community where Christians share their lives together, are accountable to each other, and not do but be the church. This happens exactly at the place where they spend most of their time, in their houses, tents, apartments, or on the roads, squares, offices and cafes.

The City Church was the public dimension of church, where all Christians of the City or the region came regularly or irregularly together for large celebrations, mostly breathing quite an electric and grandiose spirit of the occasion. That was the place where the house churches could click and connect with the rest of the Body of Christ, see and become part of the big picture, find their place in the net, and experience apostolic teaching and prophetic vision. This unfailingly leads to a certain vortex effect, making it difficult for large sections of the society to not see what is happening here. We sometimes observe these dynamics for a fleeting moment in one of the evangelistic rallies or conferences most of us know. Such a gathering of the City Church could literally shake a whole city, a region or area.

The church in the New Testament was called after its geographical location, not carrying the label of a denomination. The church of the region or city was the sum total of all house churches in a city or region. The Church of Ephesus, Antioch, Jerusalem or Corinth consisted of all born again believers of the city. Paul wrote his letters to "the Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Corinthians", the corporate identity of the Body of Christ in the various areas. It is true that some cults have picked out that element of truth, isolated it from the rest of the gospel of the Kingdom, therefore distorting it and preaching it as a law. It does not devalue the principle of the City Church even though a few marginal groups have made it their special flavor. If God looks at your city, what does He see? He sees the Church in Houston, Hamburg, Taipei, Buenos Aires and Johannesburg. Do you see what He sees?

In the course of church history the congregations (level two) formed associations of churches called denominations that have a common "denominator". They trace themselves back to a certain teaching (the Anabaptists, the Baptists, Pentecostals), a method (Methodists, Presbyterians), a founding person (Lutherans, Calvinists, Mennonites) or a place (Moravians, Anglicans), or they carry a confessionalist statement in their name (catholic, orthodox, independent). Today there are around 30,000 different denominations in the world. What would Paul say to that? Paul had heard the Corinthians were saying: "I follow Paul, another, I follow Apollos, another I follow Cephas, another I follow Christ.” In modern day language this would read: "I am a reformed Christian; I am a Baptist; a Pentecostal; a Methodist.” Paul's reply? "Is Christ divided?" (1. Cor. 1:12-13). The obvious answer is no! Paul does not mince words for denominationally oriented Corinthians. "I follow Paul, and another I follow Apollos - are you not mere men?" (1. Cor. 3:4) Paul goes on to ask about this mentality, “Are you acting according to the spirit, or according to the flesh?” Paul goes on to say that this mentality of fragmentized thinking leads Christians to stand still, drink only milk and be unable to digest solid food, because they are "mere infants in Christ". Then he goes on to point out the only solution for this dilemma is the cross of Christ. At the cross of Christ lies the only real answer for the fragmented body of Christ: self-denial, the crucifixion of our pride, letting go of selfish interests, repenting of the preaching of self, and humbly submitting ourselves to one another. Shall the unity of the Body of Christ remain a romantic dream, a distant vision, a cry or an empty phrase of diplomatic church politics for the next 2000 years? Or are there anywhere on this Planet disciples of Christ who fear God more than men and are radical and courageous enough to obey the clear standards of the word of God? Where is the city on earth that takes the first step?

Sunday morning is probably the most embarrassing hour of Christianity, the hour in the week where all of Christendom is blown apart by an invisible wind of division into all directions. Christians leaving their homes and hurrying off to their different churches and preaching centers, brushing by each other on their way. The time of this kind of Christianity is gone, its hours are counted, because it neither glorifies God, nor is it biblical, nor can it truly fulfill the apostolic tasks and mission which God has commissioned the church today.

I stated previously that biblically, church is at home on two levels, one and three. In another picture we could say that Church is like a train running on two rails forming one track: rail one (the house) and rail three (the city or region). This is where Christian loyalty and accountability is expressed most healthily which can be seen by the fact that money is collected on those levels. Today most churches have sought their identity on level two (the one-pastor-congregation) and level four (a special denomination). Most Christians are so taken up with the programs and activities within their church (level 2), plus the occasional involvement through denominational agendas, that they are, in practice, effectively isolated from the rest of the body of Christ in a city or region. Many cannot afford to fellowship with Christians in their own neighborhood, because the denominational churches they belong to all run separate programs and effectively create parallel universes they feel obliged to stick with. The result is nothing short of institutionalized inefficiency and the death of synergy. Many also suffer from a drastic kind of spiritual malnutrition through long years focusing on a small fraction and part of the large church of God. As a result, they develop an unhealthy and tribalistic clan mentality and potentially even form signs of spiritual incest - all the while developing a similar feeling of superiority like the Corinthians of old. They might feel "privileged" to be watching over a unique spiritual heritage or tradition, or feel outstanding because of specially treasured insights, experiences or special alliances with extraordinary servants of God.

The good news is, however, that God is changing this setup, and many Christians - especially those of the younger generations, simply do not accept this as an unchangeable fact of life. They instinctively know that something is very wrong with the denominational system of "two & four", and that God did not create church to be this way. Since it is the hands of humans that did it, it is legitimate to allow God's hand to undo it again and let the great restorer of truth, health and life also restore his own body. It is not only globalization that drives Christians to look beyond their boxes and seek fellowship with other Christians in their region and neighborhood and who long to share lives locally and celebrate together in citywide celebrations. It is God's spirit who is doing an extraordinary thing in our time that will bring back to life, unity and apostolic efficiency what humans have so utterly manhandled and divided.

In the coming months and years we will see a fusion of individual Christians, groups and whole churches, who recognize that they have the same spiritual genetic code, and who would like to live and work much more closely together in their neighborhood and city or region. Why? Because they feel that is what the Lords wants them to do. In a growing number of cities and regions of the world many churches will see that what they share is endlessly much more than what seems to have divided them in the past. Yes, and it will be not mere technical information, but a life changing revelation to them that they do have a powerful common denominator, a common vision, very similar values and the same heartbeat - because they quite simply have the same Lord.

Many traditional churches, including many of the "new independent" churches planted in the last 20 years, share another phenomena. They do not really grow, or do so only sporadically. They are facing formidable growth barriers. Their members are kept busy through a myriad of programs and in-house activities. The pastors are in and out of certain stages of stress and even burnout. The financial liabilities are often depressing and almost everyone knows something is missing, something is wrong!

Church X, in the city of Y, is receiving a fascinating offer to buy a large auditorium with Z-seats. The project is way too large financially and practically, yet, this is the beginning of a lively discussion. Some are just convinced that God is offering them the long awaited revival locality and space to grow their church, others are less enthusiastic and warn against taking on such a crippling financial commitment. They agree to bring this subject before God and various commissions and have it tested, but the result of this testing phase is strangely unclear. The way forward seems blocked and the parties with differing views are more divided than before. No matter how carefully they draft financial plans, ends just do not seem to meet and valuable members take their leave over the issue. The building commission seems to move in circles and it all looks like a dead end road. After 6 months of discussion and indecision a businessman buys up the auditorium and starts using it for commercial purposes.

The same course of events would look totally different, however, if you saw it from the perspective of the emerging City Church. God is not at all offering the auditorium to "church X", but to the City Church, the collective body of Christians in city Y. God wants to bless the Body, not just an arm or a leg of it and leave out the rest. What God wants is to provide a place for the City Church and their citywide celebrations, probably in return to many earnest prayers for revival and unity of the local Christians. If a congregation does not grasp that God does not see His own Body as divided as humans do, they will misinterpret God's intentions completely, and consequently try to direct all or at least the lions share of His blessings to themselves and through themselves.

I can see God offering to the Christians in numbers of regions and cities a really big building, auditorium or ground, which could be the modern day version of "Solomon's porch" of the early Church in Jerusalem. This would be a place to convene as the City Church. My estimate is that the emerging City Church in many countries will initially attract about l0% of the population in their regions. If an auditorium would be used multiple times, like an average of 5 times a week by 2% of the population, such a center should offer space for 10 percent or more of the population in a region or city.

Countless "prophecies", warnings, sermons and exhortations have gone out from and to Christian bishops, pastors and lay leaders for centuries decrying the utter division of the Body. The core issue is “if we continue to avoid the cross of Christ, there will be no true Church.” Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it produces much grain. This dynamic is not only valid for individual Christians, but for Christianity as a whole. But I can see it happening. A good number of churches and groups in a region or city who are spirit-oriented, God-driven and mature enough, leap out of a crippling mentality of congregational independence and autocracy, step across all small differences and reach out to each other. I can already see them reconcile, cry, pray, laugh, fall into each other's arms and literally melt into something new together - a God-sized and God-shaped church. This will be the prophetic start of a new chapter in church history. How could this happen in the real world? The churches and groups who are ready for this could melt into a unique movement with geographic, not denominational identity: the City Church (As many of all born again Christians as possible meet again and again for citywide celebrations). A ministry network (including the Eph. 4:11 ministries) would emerge as a regional pool and empowerment-structure. Many house churches emerge in neighborhoods, schools, scenes, offices and wherever people spend the lions share of their life

A milestone towards the unity of the Body of Christ will be reached.
Relief for all pastors and full time workers: everyone works less, but together we achieve more.
We will more fully use the God-given gift potentials: everyone will be able to work within the exact focus of his gifting, calling and anointing (like Eph. 4:11), and not have to be "everything to everybody"
Together we will leap across traditional growth barriers (like the 80- or 200-barriers).
A new chapter of local church history starts and might well become a prophetic model for other areas and cities.
Christianity, which has been divided into ineffective small fractions would gain a dramatically higher visibility" and a voice in the city which is difficult to ignore.
Relief for staff workers and volunteers who run programs for the sake of the programs.
Through the pooling of resources on a city level there will be an immediate increase in the quality level of ministry in areas like children's ministry and biblical teaching.
Far bigger and more permanent pull - like an all-year evangelistic rally.
Common use of city-level buildings/auditoriums (which could be financed together).
Saving resources (five medium-sized church buildings might well be more costly to maintain than one rather big auditorium).
This clear expression of Christian reconciliation will lead towards a public image correction of Christianity.
Constant informal communication and short roads to each other enhance quality of full-time ministers who work in the region, because they can start using one central office as a common resource pool.
Discipleship, multiplication and integration of new believers can happen in the house churches on neighborhood and village level using citywide resources.
Sunday morning preaching tourism will be reduced greatly, saving money, time and embarrassment.
More effective church discipline: black sheep can be disciplined on a regional level much more efficiently and will find it increasingly difficult to hop churches without changing their lives.
The high percentage of unchurched Christians and those hurt or excluded by the existing structures find a revolutionary new concept of church to click with.
Each church or ministry has particular strengths which can flow together into a pool towards a citywide synergy and corporate handling of training, evangelism, prayer, public relations etc.
Many gifted Christians are literally divided by their "ministries". This deadlock, as well as denominational walls, which have hindered true cross-fertilization and cooperation long enough, would tumble down.
The new generation of Christians are getting an adequate platform, most of whom are simply not interested in denominations, but seek small groups to be real. They like to participate in large regional or citywide celebrations.
The constant clash of available dates and the collision of separate interests would be dramatically reduced, since those serving full time will stop living in their own small world driven only by their own set of agendas, programs and appointments.
A true postmodern structure of redeemed diversity is much more ready for the future and publicly presentable.
Christianity takes on a more meaningful shape and becomes not only a Jew to the Jews and a Greek to the Greeks, but global to global citizens, truly local to patriots, and even becomes the Y and Z to Generation X.

At this point in time, I see four formidable roadblocks which have become crippling strongholds and thought-patterns in the minds of many and which need to be overcome by everyone involved. (I have expanded on this in my new book "Houses that change the world") These are the four "walls" we need to leap over in faith (Ps 18:29) today before significant change will happen.

God is sovereign and true strategy flows out of intimacy with Jesus. Copying spiritual recipes for instant success is out! That is why this process will start in various shapes and forms, following no firm models, patterns or rules alike in each city. However, there might be similar dynamics and principles we need to be aware of. That is why I would like to make only a few observations about what I feel are non-negotiable elements which need to be in place before such a major reshaping of Christianity can be accomplished.

There is no structure - no matter how biblical - which will change Christianity from the outside in. Only a life changing encounter and relationship with Jesus, the renewing work of the Holy Spirit and a return to biblical standards will change us all from the inside out.
A significant portion of Christians in a region or city must be ready to deal with this proposal with a "Berean mind" (Acts 17:11) and pray with their open bibles about it and not hide behind human traditions.
Those churches, ministries, groups and individuals who can agree with this vision, its values and who share a common heartbeat must carefully start the process of transformation and fusion. I do anticipate between 1/3rd and 2/3rd of all born again Christians of a given area or city to move towards a City Church fusion in the coming years. Those churches (ministries, groups, individuals) who prefer to carry on in their traditional ways should be able to do so without loosing face, or have a standing invitation to join the process at any time in the future.
Christian leaders are ready to stop pushing their own thing or agenda, and in humility consider others higher than themselves and become part of something much bigger than anything they could ever achieve alone.
"Submit yourself to each other" (Eph.5: 21): the end of the worldly one-man-principle of leadership requires a very significant step of humiliation. "Number one" persons (senior pastors, presidents, directors etc) of churches and ministries would have to step down and become a "number two" person just like everyone else in the priesthood of all believers. If everyone submits to each other, no one would be number one any longer, except Jesus Christ. We will have to cease working based on status and organized accountability, but work based on spiritual function and organic, mutual trust. We would have to move away from top-down leadership and delegating systems of authority to work with (not under or over) each other; no longer in hierarchical pyramids of power, but in a togetherness and synergy of gifts and callings.
We could adopt a common statement of faith, like the Lausanne Declaration, or the statement of faith of the Evangelical Alliance, or draft a new statement together in the cities or regions.
"Seek you first the kingdom of God" - not building up your own church, ministry or empire, would have to be a common denominator and foundational value of everyone involved.
"Seek the welfare of the city" would become more important than "each of us has turned to his own way."

*NOTE: The intent of sharing this GUEST TEACHING with you has been to give you a basic thought to bring before the Lord. Lord, is it time that we begin to move toward recognizing the Church in Inverness? In Citrus County? (Dave Shirkey)