B.A.S.I.C.S.
Brothers & Sisters In Christ’s Service
Note: This vision for a local expression of the Body of Christ, the Church, has been sculpted by the work of the Spirit in over 35 years of knowing His glorious grace and seeing His faithfulness in calling and in ministry in many places across the United States. Trained in broadcast radio, radio has been like tent making to Paul for me. It has provided income in various places, as I ( understand: and my family) have journeyed and seen that He who called is faithful to make a place for the gift entrusted to me and faithful to lead me into His purposes. Without going into detail let me share that I have experienced great fellowship and filled “ministry gaps” in many wonderful church fellowships. I have also had the privilege to be on the cutting edge of several sovereign moves of the Spirit; in worship, drama, evangelism, and city-wide/regional impact ministry as well as Christian radio. However, in those years and places we have, unfortunately, rarely seen the Church functioning in what the scriptures seems to indicate should be the marks of an authentic expression of His Body; growing and functioning in maturity in Christ, and effective ministry to the world because of that maturity. There must be a reason! I could go into a long treatise of what has been wrong in various places. However such a laundry list of negative problems would serve little purpose. So let me boil it down to what I see are three basic foundational elements I believe are missing in our local church expressions today. Crucial elements that have rendered the church immature and much less effective than she should be.
- 1). UNDERSTANDING GODS PURPOSE FOR THE CHURCH AND OUR MISSION: The Church has little to no idea of who she is and that we are called to be the fullness of Him who fills all in all. {Eph.1: 18-23} That is, we are to be the physical manifestation of Christ on the planet. We must embrace this mandate and calling.
- 2) RECOGNITION AND RELEASE OF MINISTRY GIFTS TO THE CHURCH: The church has been rendered ineffective and incapable of reaching maturity because she has been uncomfortable with and, therefore, has rejected, or relegated to past away, the ministry gifts (apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors and teachers) specifically given to the church for the purpose of maturing her. (Eph. 4: 11-13.) This has resulted in ineffective ministry, lack of direction, and ministries that are built around only one man or one driving personality, rather than ministries that are built up into the only true Head, Jesus. We must recognize, receive, and release these vital ministry gifts to the church, as well as the gifts of the Holy Spirit and every member functioning Body ministry, if we are to ever mature into the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
- 3) CORPORATE WORSHIP LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND DRIVEN BY STEWARDSHIP OF INDIVIDUAL GIFTS AND THE PURPOSES OF GOD FOR THAT TIME, AS WE MEET WITH HIM AND MINISTER TO EACH OTHER: Church has become an event, a place to GO to, not who we ARE. We do not GO to church! We go to fellowship. We ARE the Church! This not just semantics. It is an attitude based on a Biblical perspective and understanding. When we go to fellowship and come together as His Body corporately, we must not go as spectators for mere entertainment value, or religiously under compulsion. We are not mere spectators to only what is happening on the platform. When we come together we are to be, each one, stewards of the manifold grace of God and gifts He has given us (1st Peter 4:10-11). We are to function in passionate worship of and to Him who has called us, and in ministry to each other (1st Corinthians 14:26). We are also to be equipped and inspired to mature into the fullness of Christ, and in that maturity carry His effectiveness in ministry to one another and out into the world around us.
Randy Jordan – BASICS Fellowship