Completing the DNA of the Church

Today will wrap up a quick review of Howard Snyder's book Decoding the Church.

The church is both local and universal. The author suggests that "universal" is a better word than little c "catholic", the word used in the original marks. That may be true, but catholic is a word rich in history and meaning. Brian McLaren, in his book a Generous Orthodoxy, has a great chapter on this history that you would find very interesting.

The church exists simultaneously as the worldwide body of Christ and as very diverse, particular local communities, each with its own special flavor, style, and culture. The church both transcends culture and immerses itself in particular culture.

Biblically, the church is both local and universal. The NT use of the word "church" shows this (Matt. 16:18, Acts 8:1, Eph. 1:22). The book of Acts has examples throughout its history of the early Christian communities that also support the concept. The NT puts at least as much stress on the local character of the church as it does on it universality. We miss the richness of the church's DNA if we fail to see this.

The church is just as truly prophetic as it is apostolic. The biblical pairing of "apostles and prophets" throughout the NT signals that the two belong together (Luke 1:76, Heb 3:1, Eph. 2:20). The church is apostolic in the sense that it is sent into the world as the Father send Jesus, sent to continue the works He began (John 14:12). Faithfulness to the words, works, and life of Jesus Christ together define the real meaning of apostolic succession.

But the church is prophetic as well as apostolic. This is true in two ways: First, the church is an actual community that visibly incarnates the prophetic messages of justice, mercy, and truth found throughout the OT prophetic books and in the life of Jesus. Second, the church is prophetic in proclaiming the good news of the reign of God within the present world.

Being "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets" (Eph. 2:20) means the church is an apostolic people, not just a church with apostles; it means being a prophetic people, not just a church with prophets. Churches demonstrate this reality when all the gifts, functioning corporately, constitute the church a prophetic people (1 Cor. 12-14; Eph. 4:7-16; Rom. 12:4-10).

The full range of Scripture reveals that the church is both one and diverse, both holy and charismatic, both universal and local, both apostolic and prophetic. The church becomes powerfully dynamic in any context when these paired marks become its experience. When they don't, Christians are robbed of essential parts of their genetic endowment.

Have you checked the DNA of your church lately?