When I think about how God has been re-shaping my perspectives on the church in general, one analogy I like to use is based on science–particularly, the properties of water, and/or the properties of solids and liquids.
We most often think of water as a liquid, because that’s where we identify with it, mostly. A liquid, a fluid, easily takes the shape of anything that contains it, and can be poured from container to container. It gives way when you dip your finger in it. It is movable, flexible, easily changed. And yet, liquid water molecules tend to stick together. Droplets of water on glass tend to find each other and merge together. It is a loose structure, but there is a natural cohesion of the molecules.
When water freezes, it becomes a solid. Its molecules form set patterned connections with one another, and it becomes very hard–hard enough to injure someone who falls on it. Whatever shape it held when it froze–that’s the shape it’s going to have. No flexibility.
The early church that the Scripture describes acted most like liquid water. It was a fluid, loose-knit connection of believers who felt a cohesive bond but as an entity could easily take whatever shape worked best for it. The early church met in homes, in caves, even in the Temple courts. And it’s apparent that different gatherings of believers in different communities and cultures also operated a bit differently from each other. But their love for Jesus (and for one another) were the bonds that kept them together, kept them drawing close to one another.
As time moved forward to the days of Constantine, and “Christendom” emerged, the church changed and began to function more like a solid. We set up established structures, protocols, hierarchies in leadership, and methods; we institutionalized. We became a separate, stand-alone entity that was inflexible and immovable. And instead of sticking together because we were drawn to each other, we were stuck together because we were, well, stuck. Every molecule in its place according to the established order, and any challenge to that structure dealt with swiftly (and often severely). And this is pretty much how we have existed going into the present day.
Now, I can already hear the jokes–“frozen chozen” and “First Church of the Frigidaire”–but I’m not really talking about the spiritual temperature or “icy conditions” right now, although that was an issue; I’m talking about the way the church is shaped and structured. 🙂
Anyhow, these days I’m witnessing (and seem to be part of) a major shift and change. Apparently the ice block that has been the church is melting. Most of the Body of Christ is still sitting in solid form; but more and more believers are sort of “melting” off the ice block, and the church is becoming fluid again. We are returning to the flexibility we once had, and re-learning the natural bonds that cause us to want to cling together even if we are loosely structured. And we are learning that we are not defined by the structures that have contained us, but we are defined by something simpler, something more basic. We are defined by our connection to Christ, because He has redeemed us.
It’s important to understand that whether solid or liquid, water is still water. It retains its most basic properties, whatever its form. We believers have always been the church, and for most of us, our faith in Christ has not changed. Our defining properties aren’t changing; only our form and structure.
One word of caution is in order with this analogy. There is one more form water can take, and that is gas, or vapor. Water vapor is still water, but the molecules have no connection with their counterparts; they simply float around loose in the atmosphere. I recognize that there are some in this process that for one reason or another may feel like they are floating around like a vapor right now. They are still believers, but they feel no sense of cohesion with others in the Body of Christ, even though they might desire it. (Water molecules, after all, do want to stick together, even if they aren’t currently doing so.)
I would submit to you that using this analogy of the three forms of water–the form the Scriptures seem to support most for the church is the form of liquid. Little is said in Scripture about having strong, immovable structures for the church; at the same time, a significant amount is said about our need to stick together. Whether solid, liquid, or gas, water is still water; likewise, the church is still the church, regardless of her form. But we seem to function best and healthiest when we function as a liquid. When we are solid, we are limited; when we are vapor, we are intangible and ineffective. But when we are fluid, we are adaptable, flexible, visible, useful, and, I believe, most effective. (We have far more uses for liquid water than we do for ice or vapor, don’t we?)
There are those who are fearful and concerned about this melting trend. Personally, I think it’s the best thing to happen to the church in centuries.
Wayward Son
Musician. Composer. Recovering perfectionist. Minister-in-transition. Lover of puns. Hijacker of rock song references. Questioner of the status quo.
I'm not really a rebel. Just a sincere Christ-follower with a thirst for significance that gets me into trouble. My quest has taken me over the fence of institutional Christianity. Here are some of my random thoughts along the way. Read along, join in the conversation. Just be nice.
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Hey this is a great post. You have some wonderful insights. I think individually we need to look at how we can be more like water. As Paul said, to be all things to all men for the sake of Christ. I wrote about this analogy awhile back at http://www.scottoverpeck.com/2008/04/bruce-lee-christians.html
Great analogy. As I have changed the path of my walk I definitely felt like a lone water drop for awhile. I did eventually find others to be part of though.
I like these thoughts – yet I get a little concerned when the Emergent/Missional movement creates it’s own faith heroes and codifies the things these guys are saying. The appetite some have for their books reminds me of Dobson and Dare to Discipline where nearly all Christians families had a copy and said, thus said James.
I notice though and think this is great as I read people’s “Blog Rolls,” that many of us have a lot in common and so many great people are contributing to the debate from experiences of the gatherings we are a part. I look, I read, I muse over, I take, I am encouraged, I offer.
This is why I call myself eclectic applying what seems the best from various lifestyles and ideas. I thankyou for what you have not only contributed to my life but the gathering of which I am apart.
Scott,
Thanks for stopping by and chiming in, and thanks for the link. I liked your post.
Mark,
I’ve felt like the lone water drop more often than I’d care to admit. Never liked it, though; always wanted community.
Mork (hm. Mark and Mork…) 🙂
Actually, it might not sound like it when I write, but I really agree with you about the whole hero thing. I have never really considered myself emergent, and I haven’t really earned the right to call myself missional yet. And I’ve never read a book by Brain McLaren. 🙂 But like you, I try to extract the truth where I find it, and some of these guys are saying things I’ve been feeling for a long time. I don’t relate to all of it, nor agree with all of it; but finding some fresh viewpoints has been a breath of fresh air for me. I return the thanks for the perspective you lend to the conversation; I enjoy reading what you have to say, both here and on your blog.
So I decided to Google ‘fluid church’… after sharing a few of my ideas about building a church without a church building to a co-worker (we happen to work at a church) she said, it sounds very fluid, like water. I’ve had very similar thoughts, feelings and ideas for the past several months, as you have about a mindset change and your post expresses exactly the same thoughts as I was thinking about while driving home today. God is up to something in my life and more importantly the life of my community and more importantly His church!
I would love to be able to email with you further and find out more of your ideas and thoughts about building a church without a church building.
Thanks in advance for your time and your blog!