Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck, authors of ‘Why We’re Not Emergent’, reunite to produce ‘Why We Love The Church’, which is subtitled ‘In Praise Of Institutions And Organised Religion’.
Having pointed out the departures from biblical Christianity which are present in the ‘Emergent’ movement, DeYoung and Kluck set themselves the task of positively outlining a defence of the organised church against those who charge we have adopted an unbiblical model of gathering and life that has fatally compromised our carrying out of the mission that Jesus gave His disciples.
The model of ‘churchless Christianity’ which is proposed as a corrective is one that generally seeks to live as Jesus lived and to be the church whereever we are, meeting in homes, if necessary. No buildings, no leaders, no organisational structure.
Others have not thought the issues out so clearly, but simply find the organised church boring, difficult to relate to, or have suffered some hurt at its hands.
The book seeks to speak to people who are disgruntled with the organised church, for whatever reason.
DeYoung’s chapters identify the missiological; the personal; the historical and the theological issues at stake. In defending the organised church he is at pains to point out that a true church can meet as a small group in a home, as it can meet in a large group in a purpose designed building (often called ‘churches’). But he observes that the proponents of ‘Home Churches’ do not afford the same recognition of validity to organised churches. Arising from their objections to ‘organised Church’ DeYoung demonstrates that their model of relating and gathering can fall short of what the Bible identifies as the marks of a church, as well. In addition, he points out that the gathered worship of the church is not about meeting our needs, but enables us to reconfirm our covenant relationship with the God who saved us by the work of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and Who speaks to us through His Word, the Bible by the illuminating presence of the Holy Spirit.
Kluck’s chapters provide context and analysis that: point out how not going to an organised church doesn’t really stand one in continuity with the great reformers and revolutionaries of the past; being disgruntled about something may not mean that the object of your disgruntledness is an abject failure; interviews some who are seeing significant kingdom outcomes arising from work carried out in organised church settings and offers his own personal testimony of having to grow up and accept that while life is tough, life without the church would be far worse.
Christ loved the Church, (not individual Christians), and gave His life up for it.
With care and charity, DeYoung and Kluck identify shared tenets of the ‘churchless Christianity’ movement and identify concerns, inconsistencies and error. They own up to the failings, inconsistencies and errors of the organised church. Yet their position, their plea is that we do not abandon a model which can be disfunctional for one that is deficient in biblical legimacy and gospel content. Whatever valid problems the ‘churchless Christianity’ movement identify, their conclusions and solutions miss the mark.
DeYoung’s final point is telling. Many proponents of the ‘churchless Christianity’ seem to believe that humanity is capable of perfection if we simply find the right model of church for them to live out. In theological terms it is Pelagianism, the idea that human will has the ability to turn to God in its own capacity.
The biblical teaching about humanity which reformed and Presbyterian churches recognise is that even with a biblical model (the organised church) fallen, redeemed human beings will continue to fail, hurting themselves and one another from time to time. We should always be disappointed with failure, but never surprised, because the organised church is also the place where failure is recognised, repented of and encouragment in Christlike living provided.
Whether you’ve always loved the church or you’re feeling alienated from her, read ‘Why We Love The Church’ and you’ll see the body Christ died for in a different light.
At the time of writing it is not yet in stock at Koorong, but Amazon and other online booksellers can supply it if you don’t want to wait.
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