Today's Church - Koinonia or Insularity?

 

 

Koinonia - Taken from a Greek word that means "communion by intimate  participation"

Years ago, my wife and I participated in a study on community within the church. In fact, the course book was Forty Days of Community written by Pastor Rick Warren. It was a great experience and I learned quite a bit. I learned a new word which was brought up quite a few times by Pastor Warren - the Greek word Koinonia. Simply put, it means fellowship within the church. The church that we attended practiced fellowship quite well, and those who took this study learned how to make that fellowship even stronger.

It has been my impression that many of today's churches have missed the point on Koinonia. Yes, fellowship within the church is of the highest importance. However, the mission field lies on the outside of the walls, not the inside. Some churches, in fact some synods, have become so inwardly focused they have become insular. This is not a supposition - I have seen it, I have witnessed it first hand. 

One of the churches that acted as a voting location years ago had an interesting motto over the inside of the front door. It said, "As you leave here, you enter the mission field". Bingo. You go to church to become equipped, to worship, to fellowship, but then leave to practice what the church is suppose to do. Staying inwardly focused in a church does nothing to expand the mission field. Some churches have become so insular, they have become disconnected with the community as well as each other. Rather than look at their common bond, their common mission, they end up focusing on only on their differences. Once in a while these differences become so strong, the insularity turns into animosity. Trust me, I have seen this happen more than once. While attending one church years ago, the Senior Pastor would refer to people within the church who disagreed with him as "Taliban".

I have seen churches today that have taken on a "country club" atmosphere. Some have taken on almost an air of superiority. Years ago I heard an evangelist (It might have been Max Lucado) say "It is not enough to be saved. You can't just get in the boat by yourself. You need to get back in the water and help save others". In other words, churches were never intended to be "safe zones". There are times when we need to practice what some call "dangerous Christianity". We need to take a risk, be uncomfortable. We need to talk to those who are the most unlike ourselves, those whose beliefs are most unlike ours. People within the church who we have disagreed with need to be reconciled with, even if it hurts to do so. This is not to turn our back on Koinonia - we still need that iron sharpening iron "tune up" that can only come from strong fellowship with other believers.

As the world watches, our churches need to be strong. I want our churches to be strong. I want them to succeed, be relevant. Many churches today are doing the right thing. They are truly "being the church" and not just a place to socialize. However, many other churches have become too cozy in the comfort zone. It is time to rediscover the mission field. Trust me, even though uncomfortable at times, you will know when you are in the right place.