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(this is a follow-up after a phone discussion with a student regarding the place of campus fellowship groups and para-church organizations)

Hey:

I know the things we discussed are fairly novel thoughts for you, but they were borne out of years of thinking, observation, discussion, and experience for me. That's why it may come across so straight and direct. Please feel free to hash these ideas out more with Sandra and me, though. We are not too busy for you, or for that. People come first, especially those in the local body (which happens to be what I was sharing with you yesterday).

Don't get me wrong, we're always open and available to helping and meeting with those outside our church (and we do it), but you guys are first priority. I've been asked by people in campus fellowship groups if I could disciple them, help lead their small group on a regular basis, etc. As much as I'd like to, if I were able, I've declined each time because that would take away from my local body. I've, instead, encouraged them to be discipled by those within their local church, where true long-term accountability, submission under church leadership take place. Of course, I offer to help here and there any way I can, but long-term investments of my focus, energy, time, and life are for those within my local body. Does that make sense? I honestly don't think most college kids get that - seems too restrictive, less attractive, less exciting, etc.

Good, experienced, submissive, and biblically based para-church organizations know that. Their furthest desire is to pull ministry away from the church. They only want to give more TO the local church - eg. Ligonier, JAF, RZIM, Grace, Desiring God, etc. - they'd never ask their employees or members to invest in a way that pulls away from their churches; in fact, they make the opposite loudly clear. In fact, I remember when I first went to a para-church retreat, they actually baptized people at the retreat. I wasn't too comfortable with that and spoke with the head of the organization about it - it lacked the authority, accountability, follow-up, etc. of the local church. That wasn't our place to do it. The leader totally agreed, revised the by-laws, and that was the last time it was done. (For a related issue, see my Q&A on the TD site on the Lord's Supper, when I was asked to administer it at a campus group retreat)

Unfortunately, far too many para-church organizations are indirectly (and maybe even unknowingly) competing with the church, and for all intents and purposes, acting as pseudo-churches, but without a lot of the key ingredients that makes a church a church. They often have good intentions, but use their intentions and passions as their lead ingredient, rather than biblical wisdom. That's why there's a running tension among local churches and some para-church organizations.

Again, I'm not knocking para-church organizations. Sandra and I love many of them, both financially and prayerfully support many of them, and are indebted to many of them for our growth in Him. They have their places. That place, though, is as a support TO the church.

Whoa! That went a lot longer than I had planned. I was just going to acknowledge your email. O well, back to the point. Please open yourself up to dialoging about this and other issues with us. We are here for you.

Blessings,

Arthur

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