Well, it is “heretical” in the modern use of the word, because it goes against accepted religious norms. But, I agree that these concepts are very scriptural.

-Alan

I think the modern church would do well to understand this concept. It is not heretical if it is Biblical. I think this structure or concept is more closely related to first century synagogues than 21st century churches.

Keith

I think you’re right about the distinction between a business and a body. Certainly, the church has leaders – and the church had leaders in the NT. But, the apostles did not send instructions to the leaders about the body. The apostles expected the WHOLE body to function together to care for itself. That’s a very strange – almost heretical sounding – concept to today’s church.

Steven,

First, thanks for the link to your blog. I’ve added it to my reader. From what I understand, Küng has gotten into some trouble because of some of his views. I don’t know if these views were related to ecclesiology or not. Perhaps if someone know they can let us know.

-Alan

To answer you’re the questions of your concluding paragraph I think we have to look into the fundamental foundations of our current structure in the church. We are organized more like a business, not a body. A business will look to its leaders to take care of the problems and make things run more efficiently. In some ways (at its worst) today’s church is the leaders and office holders and the rest of the people are those that are there consuming the product being “sold.” Consumers do not solve problems; they only point them out or create them.

On the other hand a body is structured completely differently. The power, leadership, responsibility resides in the group generally. Within that group there are those that are elevated to serve the body because they have been gifted to provide certain functions that are necessary for the building of the body. (A finger is good for picking your nose, but an elbow is not so).

The difference is: In a business, leadership is an office and authority starts in the office and flows to the rest of the group. In a body, leadership is a function and authority starts with the group that willingly submits itself (grants authority?) to those that have gifts recognized by the body for the good and building of that body.

Sorry, I’m trying not to be too long winded and I’m sure I didn’t articulate this very well, but I see the answers to the issues and questions starting in the foundations of how we are structured in the church. They may look the same from the outside, but they operate completely differently.

By the way…I read this week that a body, acting like a business is a prostitute.

Keith Price