What does the ideal church look like? If we were to narrow the church down to its most basic features what would be the prominent features? When discussing the dynamic of the church with other pastors we usually measure it by baptisms, budget and buildings. Of course all three of these are measurable. We can see if our membership is growing, if the budget is growing and if our buildings are increasing.
In this post I would like to consider another way to examine the church. I want you to consider the church as a kitchen table that you sit around. At that table are three chairs. The chairs represent those individuals who attend services on a typical Sunday morning. In this illustration, the term church will be used not as the gathered believers, but as those who are in attendance.
Anyway, in Biblical times the most intimate thing that a person could do was to share a meal with another person. The most intimate thing that believers do is worship a Holy God. So in the ideal church, on a typical Sunday morning when we are intimately worshipping God there should be three groups of people in attendance. The first group or 1/3 of those in attendance is represented by the first chair. These are dynamic followers of Jesus Christ. They are excited about their Lord and they are excited about His church. They give of themselves and their resources and they are constantly inviting everyone they meet to the kitchen table. They want to share in intimate moment with others.
The second third is represented by the second chair. These are new believers. These are individuals that have heard the gospel message, have embraced it and are now beginning to walk with Christ. They do not know a whole lot about their new faith, but they are growing in their new found relationship with Christ. They are probably there because those in the first chair invited them to attend.
The last third are those who are not believers yet. As a church we want those who are seeking the Lord in attendance. These individuals have been invited, are interested in what they see in others and are intrigued by what they hear and see. They don't believe but they are willing to listen.
I believe this image represents the ideal church. I personally have never served as a pastor of such a church, though I have attended one. However, there is one more chair that I must mention in regard to the kitchen table. This chair is represented by the high chair. If you are a parent and have had children in the high chair you know how much time they can consume at a table. These are the ones that sit and cry when they do not get things their way. The cry for attention and say "Wahh, what about me? Someone pay attention to me! I want my way! I want my food! I want my way!"
These babies can occupy the majority of your time. The problem with the babies is that when you focus your time and energy on them, you turn your back on the others. It is difficult to characterize these in the high chair because they come in many shapes and sizes. Some of them are always in a crisis and needing constant attention. Others want everything to revolve around them and when they do not get their way they cry or throw a tantrum. All of them are christians, but they have never grown in their walk with the Lord. Most of them have been christians for years, but they have never moved from the high chair.
Of course I am talking about the ideal church. I am sure that this church could never be a reality. It would require too much work and too much sacrifice. It would mean that people would have to be serious about their relationship to Christ and their commitment to the church. That would mean Jesus would really have to be Lord of their life. They would have to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Christ. That is asking too much! It would mean getting out of the high chair.
One question to consider: which chair represents your life?
