Let me say at the outset that the point of this article is not to slam parachurch ministries. It is to call the church to a proper ecclesiology.
Now, as mentioned in our previous blog, the ‘parachurch’ was defined as an organization, independent of the church, coming alongside the church for the purpose of assisting the church in accomplishing its mission. We can further define it as any autonomous organization that carries out the functions that have been uniquely ordained to the church.
So what is the problem? Why shouldn’t we just ‘live and let live’?
First, they are unnecessary to the church.
This aspect of the issue was addressed in our previous blog posted on this sight entitled: “Parachurch-does the end justify the means” (June 24, 08).
Second, they operate with no biblical warrant.
In essence these are autonomous organizations that are accountable to no church. They operate outside of the God-ordained structure for Christ’s church.
The structure God has established is very simple and clear: Christ as the Head of the church (Eph. 1:22). He has established 2 offices in His church: Elders and deacons. He has authorized elders to oversee His church, to feed and protect the flock that Christ has entrusted to their care.
Is Christ the Head of the parachurch? Are they subject to His authority? Eph. 5:23,24 speaks of the submission of the church to Christ as a given. It is a non-negotiable. The church is also described as the bride of Christ (see Jn. 3:29; Eph. 5:25-32; Rev. 19:7; 21:2). Christ has one bride and He has no mistress!
These ministries are clearly extra-biblical and operate with no biblical warrant. God’s plan for the ages is the declaration of Jesus Christ (locally and globally) by His church, and the building up of His body by means of His church (Eph. 4:11ff).
Third, these ministries are usurping the God-ordained role of the church.
The main issue seems to revolve around parachurch ministries that engage in teaching the Word of God. These ministries by their very name and makeup are ‘outside’ the church (i.e. out from under the umbrella of the ordained structure God has established). Are they subject to the same rules and do they have the same goal/purpose as His church?
The church has been given the task of preaching and teaching the word, proclaiming the gospel (via the primary means of preaching) and administering the ordinances (e.g. Acts 6:4; 1 Tim. 4:6-16; 2 Tim. 4:2; Mt. 28:18ff; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; etc.)
The Apostle Paul declares that the church is “the pillar and ground/foundation/support of the truth.” (1 Tim. 3:15). The truth, the gospel has been deposited in the church and that truth is to be guarded by the eldership (1 Cor. 9:17; 1 Tim. 1:11; 6:20; 2 Tim. 1:14). Are these statements true of ‘parachurch ministries’? Are they the ‘pillar and support’ of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15)?
The church has not only been tasked with these responsibilities, it has been gifted to carry them out (Eph. 4:11ff). Elders are entrusted with God’s work (Tit. 1:7). They must be able to teach (1 Tim. 3:2). Teach what? Leadership principles? Family debt counseling? How to lose weight and have a ‘bod for God’? Titus 1:9 makes clear: “He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it .” (NIV) The teaching of God’s truth is to be done not only by them, but also under their supervision.
Do ‘parachurch ministries’ administer the ordinances? They should not, and most probably do not. Yet they have taken on the role of teaching the word of God and they do so autonomously, under no elder oversight or accountability.
What happens when one of these parachurch ministries teaches error? Teaches heretical doctrines? Are they subject to church discipline? If so, which church? Who can disqualify them from teaching? Who determines that these teachers are qualified to teach in the first place?
It seems that these organizations have intentionally built a bypass around the church. Rather than work within the church and its ordained authority structure, they have opted to work outside it.
Fourth, the rise of parachurch ministries is uniquely North American
The whole concept of ‘parachurch ministry’ is very much a ‘new thing’. They also are an indication of the spirit of the culture in which we live: ‘Everyone does what is right in his own eyes’(Judg. 17:6; 21:25)
From the earliest centuries (and even today in many lands) most people did not read and bibles were not routinely carried under ones’ arm. They did not have 9 bibles in their home. If they were to know the truth they went to the depository of truth: the Church of Jesus Christ.
I believe the rise of parachurch ministries can be traced to a few simple factors in our culture (probably others, but these are quite pronounced):
- 1. We are a rich, affluent society. We can afford them! And since (approx.) 5% of Christians tithe to the local church there are plenty of funds available for these ministries.
- 2. The proliferation of Bibles and religious books and their availability to the masses. (Not that this is a bad thing, but it is a consequence of it.) Anyone can be an ‘expert’ if they so choose.
- 3. The church losing its understanding of Whose it is, what it is, and what it’s God-ordained, biblically mandated mission is.
- 4. Combine these 3 factors with our fierce American individualism (‘I can do what I want when I want and how I want’) and a general attitude of resentment toward an authoritative voice (of any kind) and it is no wonder we are inundated with the parachurch.
The parachurch movement undermines and distracts the church. It is setting the agenda for many churches in our land. And because the church (by and large) does not recognize what it is nor what it is to be about, the parachurch movement has swept in and usurped her task. Rather than these brothers and sisters working within the God-ordained structure of the church and benefiting an always needy church, they set up organizations that compete with Christ’s church for financing, talent, and audience.
Amos 3:3 says, “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” (NIV). Ultimately the rise of the parachurch movement is a declaration by the church of the impotence of the church. It is also a declaration by the body of Christ that it has lost confidence in itself to be the church that Christ established. A.W. Tozer said it well:
“The highest expression of the will of God in this age is the church which He purchased with His own blood. To be scripturally valid any religious activity must be part of the church. Let it be clearly stated that there can be no service acceptable to God in this age that does not center in and spring out of the church. Bible schools, tract societies, Christian business men’s committees, seminaries and the many independent groups working at one or another phase of religion need to check themselves reverently and courageously, for they have no true spiritual significance outside of or apart from the church.” (God Tells the Man Who Cares, Christian Publications, 1992; p. 24)
Again, the point here is not to slam parachurch ministries. It is to call the church to a proper ecclesiology. The rise of the parachurch phenomenon is merely a symptom of a weak church that has lost its identity and its God-given mission. Once her identity and mission are regained the ‘parachurch’ will be a thing of the past.
Darrell Fletcher, Elder Covenant Reformed Baptist Church Warrenton, VA
