Historically there have been two primary models of church — the organizational model and the organic model. The organizational model has been the dominate of the two and has resisted (and often persecuted) the organic model.

The organizational model sees church as an institution or corporation. It is a legal entity with an official and hierarchical leadership structure. It’s leaders run the organization. And the leader of each congregation conducts religious meetings and services for its members. Their primary job in the organization is to receive the leaders ministry and to provide the finances for it to continue.

The organic model sees church as a family or as a group of friends who live life together and regularly meet together to love, support, and encourage one another with the love of Christ.

“Remember, the Jerusalem model of the church (temple model) eventually failed and the participatory model that Paul formed succeeded, until the organizers/legalists got control again. While Paul’s model ruled the church grew like an epidemic; when the organizers took over it grew at a much, much slower rate.” –Dale Sigler

Perhaps both models can work together as a powerful blend. What if an institutional church opened up and began to live out their doctrine of the priesthood of the believer? What if the leader of a congregation (pastor, priest, parson, preacher, etc.) began to allow anybody present to share testimonies, Scriptures, prayer request, words of insight, prayers, encouragement, songs, etc.? This would change the reason people go to church!

As Leonard Ravenhill asked: “Do you go to church to meet God or to hear a sermon about Him?”

Is there such a blend of the two models anywhere? Yes. Visit The Salvation Army Berry Street where instead of a 1-man sermon, everyday people show and tell what God has done: Sundays at 10:45 am., 225 Berry St., Nashville, Tennessee 37207.