I agree. We tend to treat relationships and community as secondary. But, without relationships and community there is no church.

-Alan

This is a why believe that you would find Jesus and the disciples always eating and just chilling together. Not to hold to some certain paradigm but just get to know thiongs about each other.

Not late at all. Thanks for the comment.

Rob,

Flock here anytime.

-Alan

Unfortunately, I think alot of church organizations are mostly bones with very little life left at all. If you remove the structure and everything falls apart, then there is a big problem.

Gary,

I think that you’re right. Many structures do prevent real fellowship and relationship among the believers.

Kat,

Cooperation and interaction seem out of place in most churches – especially during church meetings. Spectator sport seems like a better description.

Andy,

I don’t think limited structure also means limited leadership. I do think it means that leadership would function alot differently than we normally see it today.

Scott,

“When people ‘leave’ our church we never see them again.” Yes, this is a good indication that there were no real relationships to begin with.

Steven,

I think its good that we have relationships with our neighbors. The problem is that we also think its okay to call ourselves a church without any true relationships. So, I agree completely with what you said.

Chris,

I’m glad that you’re thinking about this issue more. I hope you decide to write about it later. I know that I would love to read your thoughts on this.

Julie,

Yes, Scott’s example perfectly illustrated what I’m talking about here. I think the problem is that we confuse mutual attendance with relationship.

Dusty,

I agree that church discipline is impossible without relationships. I also think that discipleship and even teaching are impossible without relationship.

Lionel,

Thanks for sharing your experience!

Rob,

Have you found any “like birds” that you can flock together with?

Aussie John,

In the US, the book is “Where’s Waldo”. Good illustration! Thanks!

-Alan

No doubt at all!

Looking at the highly structured denominational scene I was in many years ago, reminds me of the Find Wally books.

Sometimes one has to look very long and hard to find genuine SERVANTS, who serve because they love, as Christ loves them.

As churches fight to maintain their traditional structures, SERVANT Wally’s will become harder to find.

My grandfather always told me “like birds flock together”, how true I have found this to be.

We have experienced this first hand. You know many of the details, but the truth is we were just church members, much like rotary club members. Sad indeed but I do still have relationship with a couple out of 100 plus! And like you I already had relationships with them before the structure was ever involved.