Cutting Edge 2:1 (1998)

Jeff Bailey, “Worship and Spirituality in the New World” Cutting Edge (Vol 4, No 2, Summer 2000), pages 16-18.

Jeff Bailey, co-editor of Vineyard Churches’ (USA) church planting magazine Cutting Edge, has been interviewing and conversing with a number of postmodern theologians in the last few issues. In the July 2000 issue of Cutting Edge, Bailey talks with Robert Webber about the postmodern threshold Webber sees Christianity crossing.

Webber recently took a post at Northern Baptist Seminary in Lombard, Illinois, having served as the professor of historical theology at Wheaton College for over 30 years. He is best known for extensive studies on worship including over 20 books, a monthly column in Worship Leader magazine and editing the Complete Library of Christian Worship.

Webber says that as Christianity enters post-modernism, theology must be rethought and ancient forms of worship must be reclaimed. He believes that postmoderns are looking for more visible and tangible ways of expressing faith, including symbols that touch spiritual realities. He says, “Christians in the postmodern world will succeed, not by watering down the faith, but by being a counter-cultural community that invites people to be shaped by the story of Israel and Jesus” (p. 16). However, from the excerpts given in this article, the ancient forms of worship he is suggesting reclaiming have more the flavor of early Gentile Christianity than the earliest Messianic Judaism.

Webber says that spirituality must be properly understood as turning our backs on evil and embracing Christlikeness, the essence of true humanity. One of the ways to become spiritual is then to rightly read the Bible. Too many of us have been duped into thinking that we cannot really understand what the author intended and therefore we do not read it to learn what God is saying to us. The Bible is God’s Word, it is what He intended. Therefore, we do need to do our homework on the background of the passage we are studying, but then we also need to read devotionally. For example, if we believed that out in front of where we lived was buried one billion dollars in gold, we would be making tremendous effort to locate it. We know that God’s Word is treasure, and we must go digging for the wealth it contains. Webber says, “As long as our interpretation doesn’t contradict the faith or ethics of the Church, I think we can say that we’ve heard from God” (p. 17).

Webber has some deep criticisms of modern evangelicalism. He says, “Evangelicalism is all about power: how to get it, how to use it, how to build big churches, how to have political influence … the opposite of what Jesus is all about. I often tell people, ‘Find out what church growth is telling you to do, and then do the opposite’” (p. 18). While evangelicalism may be experiencing much confusion as it transitions (or fails to transition) into a post-modern world, Webber’s definition is too biting for me. Anyone who is seeking power instead of serving in love is in the wrong. I, for one, cannot simply equate evangelicalism with power-mongering.

Cover from the 2007 edition

Keith M. Bailey, Servants in Charge: A Training Manual for Elders and Deacons (Camphill, PA: Christian Publications, 1979), 186 pages.

One can find about as many a different ministry philosophies as there are church groups or denominations these days. Leadership styles and structures also seem to abound. Yet the Bible is quite clear on specific areas of church government. Servants in Charge will be a great help to the pastor and local church in developing a strong solid leadership base.

The book, which also contains a study guide, presents a thorough review of biblical qualifications, responsibilities, tasks and giftings required for those who may serve in the elder and deacon offices. Bailey does a good job in noting the spiritual qualities necessary in selecting individuals for a solid leadership team. Deacons are likewise as elders to be spiritual men, and not merely those who handle the material or financial end of the ministry. Elders, on the other hand may play a role in financial oversight as well. In other words while there are distinctive roles to each respective office there may be an overlapping of functions in the local church.

Often when problems arise in a local church there is one basic struggle that must be resolved: Just who is really running the show? Power struggles and leadership styles have ruined numerous churches and many times a pastor has sought to maintain “spiritual authority” by simply ignoring biblical church government or at best relegating the offices to a facade. In Bailey’s view the pastor is an elder but has a position of authority over the other elders of the church and also as executive director will lead the deacons. This establishes a chain of command and a leadership team at the same time. Biblical precedent and support for this position is solidly presented in the book. The tasks and responsibilities of the pastor-elder versus the lay elder are also documented.

Many will find Bailey’s view on the role of the deaconess, and his interpretation of scripture as it regards this subject, to be quite interesting. While he does make good points on the tasks of the deaconess, he maintains that there is a clear distinction between the deacon and the deaconess role. Although some may oppose his view of the deaconess altogether, others may see the distinctions as unwarranted.

As a pastor working with the everyday reality of these offices in the church I can heartily recommend the book as an excellent resource for those looking to find positive and effective advice in forming, developing, and reshaping their leadership team.

Reviewed by Ronald M. Messelink