Apostolic Overseer? Church?

Picking up where Steve left off in his comment on my previous post . . . Actually, our business cards used to read: "Apostolic Team." I've never been much of an overseer, since I'm a horizontal apostle not a vertical apostle. The vertical apostle (eg: Paul) oversees networks while the horizontal apostle (eg: James) brings groups and people together.

The reason that changed on our business cards is because most people 1) have no clue TSA has anything to do with Christianity [I guess they think our middle name "Salvation" means we "save" old clothes!] and 2) have even less of a clue what an apostle is [most of the church has no clue either!].

Yes, putting Apostolic Team on my card was accurate, but it didn't help me get people to understand who we are nor get them to join us. "Pastor" denotes a leader of a church (yep, used that word again) and people get that immediately. Sometimes less is more.

Interestingly enough, I am NOT spiritually gifted as a pastor, I just hold a position/office most people call pastor. So when I use the term pastor, I find people are at least in the same ball park as I am. Once they get connected to TSA we can talk about details.

For instance, we usually tell people if they die in their sin, they are going to hell. That's not the whole truth of what we believe nor what our doctrine book teaches. Until Jesus judges the nations at the "end of the world," people who die go to Hades (the paradise half of shoal). Now is that truth? Yes. But would that be easier to tell people? No- we'd end up with all kinds of discussion that could get us sidetracked from our mission. I think we need to start where people are and move on from that place- in time.

Now as far as whether we are a church or not, I believe it was General Eva Burrows to first officially term TSA "a church-" I think it was an article in "The Officer" that stirred up much discussion. Later General Paul Rader reiterated that profession. If we are to continue with this moniker, we must use the meaning of the word correctly, because words mean things and we can't change them because something else would work better for us.

In The American Heritage Dictionary the word church is defined as follows:

Church (chu' rch) n. 1. A building for public, especially Christian worship. 2. Often Church. a. The company of all Christians regarded as a mystic spiritual body. b. A specified Christian denomination. c. A congregation. [the definition actually goes on from here, but it gets way off our discussion].

Let's look closer: 1) Does TSA have buildings that are designed and used for Christian worship? Yes. We fit the definition here, even though our buildings are also used for a myriad of other activities. 2a) Is TSA a part of the mystical spiritual body of Christ? ABSOLUTELY! If we are not a part of the Body of Christ, we had better get out of this army! 2b) Are we a specific Christian denomination? Yes. I am a Salvationist; TSA is my denomination- a branch of The Christian Church. The fact that we are a part of the greater Christian Church empowers our mission to reach the world with that very gospel of Jesus' Church. 2c) Is TSA a congregation? Yes. Actually, we are many congregations, because that is how the local church is distinguished from the greater universal Church. Many congregations make up a denomination which, in turn, make up the Church universal.

I fully understand the reasoning behind wanting to call TSA something other than a church- we certainly do things differently (or at least used to when we started). I like the idea that we are a "movement," but that tends to pull us away from the rest of The Body. We are not separate, we are a part of The Body of Christ- His Church. I could go on, but I'm sure you get my point.

Here's the real problem in all of this for me. People have one idea of what a church is. They have another idea of what TSA is. Experience shows me that these two are so far apart we are at a disadvantage when it comes to bringing people into our denomination, learning about Jesus and our great heritage. If we can't get people in, we can't get the message out.

Our current numbers won't do it; our current numbers aren't enough. We need to grow if we expect to actually reach the world for Christ. How can we do this? I suggest we start where people are and go from there. Get them in then teach them the rest. Confusing the issue before we even have a chance to work with them only keeps people out.

And I've had enough of that. I want people in!