Lesslie Newbigin talks about how early churches were identified by their belonging to God and their location, and that Paul got on churches for identifying themselves by any other distinctive factor, such as by the church’s founder (1 Corinthians) (“On Being the Church for the World,” 1988). Instead, churches were identified with names such as “the church in Philippi” or “the church in Laodicea” instead of being identified by their founders, such as “the church of Paul” or “the church started by Apollos.” The result of this was a unity among the churches: there was one church, the church of Christ, which was just located in different places.
The question comes up, however, is this idea of a church not being identified by anything but it’s identity in Christ and its location practical, or even possible, today? If Paul got on people in his day for saying "we are Apollo's church" and "we follow Paul" what would he say about the distinction we draw between churches on the basis of denominations (and not just between denominations, but even the distinction between denominational and "nondenominational")? Is the alternative to return to referring to churches not by their founders (Presbyterian, Lutheran, ect.) but only by their location and their connection to Christ (Christ’s church on 2nt Avenue Spokane) like churches were identified in the first century? Is this really what Paul is asking for? On a pragmatic note, is this even possible since in large cities there can be hundreds of churches? Most importantly, does this really matter? Do our distinctive names really affect the church's unity, and would a change in name really bring about some of the much-needed unity under God that the church needs (and that Jesus himself prayed for on the night before his crucifixion)?
Becky
I think you make a really good point – and maybe it’s not the names that matter so much, but how we think of our churches. I know I for one struggle not to think of my church as belonging to the pastor – not because of anything he has said or done, but just because he stands up every week and speaks to us, and therefore is kind representative of our collective voice, or at least the voice people hear when they come to our church. Anyway, thank you for the reminder that each one of the churches in the world belongs to God, and Him alone.
– Diana C.