Summary
Chapter
1 recommends that understanding the particular importance of a collectivist
culture, in contrast to an individualist culture, is essential for seeing the purpose
and meaning of the early Church of the New Testament world. Chapter 2 looks
back at ancient viewpoints on sibling relationships. Hellerman shows that the
sibling relationship was the closest and most loving bond the ancient world
possessed. In chapter 3, Hellerman wrestles with the contradictory statements
of Jesus on the earthly family. Chapter 4 introduces familial principles drawn
from Pauline literature. Despite operating in a differing Gentile world, Paul
shared the same concept of Jesus's followers being a family together. Chapter 5
is full of stories of how the early Church functioned as a family. Hellerman
emphasizes that ideological reasons alone cannot explain the growth of the
early Church. Chapter 6 critiques the
individualism of Christian theology and the views of church practice. Chapter 7
forms the practical belief of the book. This chapter contains multiple stories
from Hellerman's life. In chapter 8, Hellerman argues that God's family is a
critical context for making life decisions.
Hellerman
argues in chapter 9 that the primary way to prevent the family of God model
from becoming dangerous is to put a team of servant leaders in place. Furthermore,
this book is excellent for getting the Church back as God wants it. God wants
the church in the context of His time. As Hellerman states, "we need some
checks and balances that allow us to move ahead with the early Christian
approach to community but that at the same time prevent the group . . . from
exercising authority in a destructive way" (Ch. 9). This book is an
attempt to capture Jesus' vision for His people. Hellerman gives several primary
examples of the Mediterranean family values and demonstrates their correlation
to the New Testament church. He argues that today's church family does not
uphold many of these values the way they once had.
Critique
American churches are too
individualistic. Churches need to rediscover a family orientation. Americans
substituted Christian love for Christian power. The leading solution is not
more power over people. Hellerman's objective is admirable: a reclaiming of the
New Testament culture of intimate and endearing love among Christians in
community with one another throughout a strong group culture. This point of
view is a reasonable and biblical objective and premise. Unfortunately, the way
that Hellerman goes about arguing for his case is mistaken and erroneous. His
exegesis is often subjective.
His
claims are often unjustifiable and unproven. For example, when asserting that
the American Church has "domesticated" Jesus Christ on pages 55-56,
he cites no research and does not back up his claims with modern ideas. This
claim is crucial because he builds on this view throughout the book. Hellerman
does not use a strong backing of research to uphold his claims.
Hellerman's
book establishes that authors who attempt to swing a rusty, paralyzed pendulum
often push harder than required. The push may feel more like a jab forward when
it comes to Hellerman's dissatisfaction with the individualistic point of view
of salvation and claims that Jesus is "my" Savior. Critics may also
accuse Hellerman of ignoring other writings that do not conform to his thesis.
Finally, many of Hellerman's difficulties and challenges with the
"American church" are circumstantial. These problems leave cohesive
and strong group churches to wonder what the author is slaughtering.
On
the other hand, members of the Church who have seen a dichotomy between the
Biblical impression of church life and their experience of modern churches may
perceive Hellerman's book as a place for newcomers. Hellerman offers impractical
and unrealistic guidelines for implementing the family of God model to the
present day. He does not even use any modern sources to base his argument.
Churches must employ a plurality of servant leaders who demonstrate and teach
that the Church is a family. All Christians should characterize the church
family as a substantial and imperious advantage of salvation through God's
message of redemption.
The
book portrays and illustrates the author's preconceptions of a church family
based on life in the first-century Church. This claim is an incorrect and
imprudent point of view. People today need their Church to be based upon its
creeds. Through this family relationship, the church family is adopted. In a
church family, people can share their daily struggles, and others will help Christians
bear those burdens.
Application
Joe Hellerman does not cover his
bases well in his book because he flips back and forth in his narrative.
Hellerman suggests that "the New Testament picture of the church as a
family flies in the face of our individualistic cultural orientation” (Chapter
1). Hellerman sympathetically urges all Christians to recuperate a more
brotherly and familial approach to the faith. This book is not very helpful in
thinking out how the individual household interacts with the household of God
in tandem.
This
book does apply some modern implications to the ancient world. Hellerman
questions the validity of the famous evangelical phrase "personal Lord and
Savior." He further argues that salvation is a "community-creating
event." Hellerman proposes that Christians should try to bridge the broad divergence
between the differing view of salvation and the doctrines of the modern Church.
Hellerman is not slamming the modern Church, instead of pointing out the shift
and offering suggestions for how things can be done in a way that honors God.
God wants all His people to be in His home.
In
this monograph, Hellerman begins by taking us back to the first century to help
his readers understand the familial culture of the period during the New
Testament. The Church becomes the family of those who now belongs to Christ.
This familial relationship surpasses and supplies that of his
"natural" family and becomes the Christian's primary family with
Jesus in the middle (See Matthew 10:34-39 for an allusion). Considering the Church
from this perspective allows for natural community and good discipleship
because a Christian's "church family" is not just one's church family.
They are a person's support group and leading group to go to when in need.
This
book changes the personal view of the Church I hold. I have always felt the
Church should be a strong group because God wants His children to be loving. Many
Christians grow lax in their relational accountability to the Church. None of
the principles from this book influence any areas of my life outside of the Church.
I have been in a strong group culture all my life, and my Church has always
been a loving place to live within God and His work. God has commissioned the
local Church to carry out His objectives in reaching the lost people. It shows
the Church how to carry out God's love to all people.
Bibliography
Hellerman,
Joseph H. When the Church Was a Family: Recapturing Jesus' Vision for Authentic
Christian Community (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2009).
Comments
Post a Comment