The Importance of a Local Congregation

Paul writes – Stanley Hauerwas has a wonderful turn of phrase, “… the way the gospel is known is by one person being for another person the story of Jesus.” He reminds us that “our responsibility is to be faithful to the task God has given us. The result [of that task] is God’s doing.”

Missionally speaking, the local church (and thus individual Jesus-followers too) is an important locus for the gospel. Lesslie Newbigin reminds us that this locus has two important dimensions, both of which, if they’re not present, undermine the proclamation of “good news” in the public arena. This focus on the local congregation is one important reason why I involve myself in Allelon’s Mission in Western Culture Project (see also here) 

The first dimension is that the local congregation needs to be known in its own context as the place (and people) in which, and amongst which good news is distinctively, authentically, lovingly and joyfully embodied. The only way that people get to see and experience the significance of the Jesus-story is by means of a local congregation (gathered and dispersed) that believes it and lives it. A local congregation and its members embody the significance of the story of Jesus, and it is as a consequence of this embodying that they are able to see “to challenge public life with the gospel.”  Jesus “did not write a book but formed a community.”

The second dimension is that the good news must be enacted and worked out. It must flow outwards. The local congregation enacts Jesus’ priesthood in the life of the world. It is in the ordinary and everyday contexts of the members of a local congregation that the mighty power of Spirit and gospel “is released into the world”. It is in the “sacrifices of love” and “obedience offered to God” that “the work of Christ is to be manifested.” 

The local churches “members will be advocates for human liberation by being themselves liberated. Its actions for [reconciliation], justice and peace will be, and will be seen to be, the overflow of a life in Christ, where God’s [reconciliation], justice…and peace are already and experienced [reality in their communal life together].”

Newbigin again reminds us that “It will only be by movements that begin with the local congregation in which the reality of the new creation is present, known, and experienced, and from which [all ages] will go into every sector of public life to claim it for Christ [by being present as the story of Jesus]. [It is the local congregation dispersed that will] unmask the illusions which have remained hidden and [will] expose all areas of public life to the illumination of the gospel.” “But,” Newbigin adds, this “will only happen as and when local congregations renounce an introverted concern for their own life, and recognise that they exist for the sake of those who are not members, as sign, instrument, and foretaste of God’s redeeming grace for the whole life of society.” (Any emphasis in quotes is mine).  For another very useful take on the importance of a congregational hermeneutic, see this 2006 post and this one by Steve Taylor. The insights are still as important today; perhaps more so, than they were in 2006.