Structure and purpose
Last week I received a phone call from a friend who wanted to pick my brain about organizational structure in the church. I almost laughed. Like my friend, I’m basically a novice in this area. In fact, much of what I’ve attempted in this area in the past has failed, often because of a lack of quality leadership on my part.
However, this is a subject I have found myself contemplating quite often lately. I don’t have any pat answers, and I’m skeptical of those who say they do. But I do believe that before we discuss organizational structure, we first must determine our purpose, our reason for existence.
Thankfully, Jesus already took care of that for us. We Christians call it the “Great Commission.” Before He went back to Heaven, Jesus told His followers to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20, New International Version).
It doesn’t get any more straightforward: preach, teach and baptize. Or, to put it in even simpler terms, the church’s primary purpose is to evangelize the lost and turn them into disciples of Jesus Christ.
In my mind, everything we do should center on those two purposes. If our church organizational structures aren’t accomplishing these two goals, our structures should be dismantled and rebuilt in a fashion that brings results.
As an individual believer, I feel the challenge of the Spirit to structure my life in such a way that I can personally fulfill Jesus’ commission. I’m tired of just attending services, praying and reading my Bible. I want my efforts to lead to the eternal salvation of others.
I want to attend a church with a purpose, but I also acknowledge that my church needs members that are living with purpose. Only then can we really fulfill the mission Jesus assigned us.
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