BuddyOfDavidClarkson
Puritan Board Freshman
The older I get and the longer I live, I grow increasingly puzzled and concerned over the specticle of para-church organizations. The questions are many and profound.
To begin with, they aren't a church or they wouldn't be a para-church organization. Simple logic there. As a result, they immediately fall outside of the "grid" of the NT regarding who should staff the organization and what their qualifications should be.
Next is the whole role of their interaction with the church. The vast majority of the para-church organizations basically sell teaching materials as their "product". The NT tells me that Elders and Teachers (and each person one-to-another) should fill the role of edifying the church. In the case of an Elder, they have the qualifications to substantiate their qualifications. A Teacher is a member of a church that is under the authority of Elders (or should be). What about a para-church organization? Since they aren't a church, what should the qualifications be? They also aren't the authority of anyone as an organization either. Problematic.
Some of these para-church organizations are bold and if you let them into your church, they'll be happy to tell you who is "certified" to counsel, evangelize, et all. It's as if the Holy Spirit whispers in their ear who He has currently gifted or is about to. Also, when you let an external organization dictate which of your members can do X or not, you've surendered the lordship of Christ.
Ministries, such as John MacArthur's, makes me comfortable - it's a real church that is offering the larger church it's biblical-based teachings. Since they are a church, the products are coming from their Elders and the NT has qualifications for Elder.
I am not inclined to mention the plethora of non-church para-church organizations that also offer teaching materials as well. Since they aren't a church, there is little accountability since they fall outside the "grid" of the NT.
Another good question (?) is why if someone(s) wanted to offer the church teaching materials, why wouldn't they do it as an Elder or Teacher WITHIN the church instead of OUTSIDE the church?
Questions. Questions. Questions.
To begin with, they aren't a church or they wouldn't be a para-church organization. Simple logic there. As a result, they immediately fall outside of the "grid" of the NT regarding who should staff the organization and what their qualifications should be.
Next is the whole role of their interaction with the church. The vast majority of the para-church organizations basically sell teaching materials as their "product". The NT tells me that Elders and Teachers (and each person one-to-another) should fill the role of edifying the church. In the case of an Elder, they have the qualifications to substantiate their qualifications. A Teacher is a member of a church that is under the authority of Elders (or should be). What about a para-church organization? Since they aren't a church, what should the qualifications be? They also aren't the authority of anyone as an organization either. Problematic.
Some of these para-church organizations are bold and if you let them into your church, they'll be happy to tell you who is "certified" to counsel, evangelize, et all. It's as if the Holy Spirit whispers in their ear who He has currently gifted or is about to. Also, when you let an external organization dictate which of your members can do X or not, you've surendered the lordship of Christ.
Ministries, such as John MacArthur's, makes me comfortable - it's a real church that is offering the larger church it's biblical-based teachings. Since they are a church, the products are coming from their Elders and the NT has qualifications for Elder.
I am not inclined to mention the plethora of non-church para-church organizations that also offer teaching materials as well. Since they aren't a church, there is little accountability since they fall outside the "grid" of the NT.
Another good question (?) is why if someone(s) wanted to offer the church teaching materials, why wouldn't they do it as an Elder or Teacher WITHIN the church instead of OUTSIDE the church?
Questions. Questions. Questions.
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