The primary metaphor for the church in the New Testament is the Body of Christ. The apostle Paul was inspired with this image. He elaborates on it in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 saying that each member has its special role, and no member can do without all the other members. Christ is the head of the church.
The emphasis here is the church as a living spiritual organism. This dynamic is beautifully affirmed by the Apostle Peter in his first epistle, “Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 2:4-5 NRSV).
The Body of Christ is designed to function through members gifted by God for the ministry of the church. Multiple texts in the New Testament speak of this. The giftedness is the manner in which the grace and energy of God moves through the members of the church to accomplish God’s purposes. This is manifested as the imminent presence of God by the Holy Spirit.
As one reads through the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit is depicted as the Director of the church, both in passion and strategy, prompting people to do the same wondrous acts of compassion that Jesus did, proclaiming his life-giving message, and calling them to go here and go there, strategically growing the church.
It seems to follow, therefore, that the operation of the church in its governing structure and decision-making, is to operate in harmony with Christ’s intent for the church to function as his body in the world, and in a manner that honors Christ as the head and includes God in the conversations of deliberation all with openness to receive the promptings and direction of the Spirit.
The pages that follow in this section will offer some congregational practices that will open the church to the movement of God. It is also in the hope of inviting much creativity from others. What practices do you employ in the church for openness to the Spirit?