Church and Its Relation With The para Church
Church and Its Relation With The para Church
Church and Its Relation With The para Church
Introduction
For the past years many Organizations (Para-Church) has sprung up in incredible numbers to
evangelize and help Christians grow. These ministries are not under the direct control of the
church. When we talk about the Church and its relation with the Para-Church, number of
questions arises in our mind. Are they biblical? Should they be under the authority of a local
church? Do they drain leadership from the church? Are they doctrinally weak? Are they
antichurch? Are churches insensitive to their task? Are churches getting the job done or are they
crippled by tradition? Are churches a stumbling block to God’s work? Can church and
parachurch live and thrive together? In this paper I am trying to bring out few issues in brief.
Church
Moltmann says, “The Church is like an arrow sent out into the world to point to the future”.
Local church could mean two things: in a limited or narrow sense it means the congregation of a
particular denomination or an independent congregation in a specific locality. Comprehensively,
a local church should refer to the various Christian congregations in a particular locality.
Etymology
In O.T. qahal may be a gathering of men called up for military duty (Gen.49: 6; Num.22:4;
Ezek.16:40). In the Greek world, the term ekklesia meant a group of citizens “called out” to
assemble for political purposes. In the N.T. ekklesia signifies a group of believers in Jesus who
are called together and is translated as “church”. In the Septuagint ekklesia is used
interchangeably with synagogue. Paul regularly uses the term church (ekklesia) in his letters to
address individuals or communities of believers (Rom.16: 1; I Cor.1: 2; II Cor.1: 1; I Thess.1: 1;
II Thess.1: 1). Of the 112 appearances of ecclesia in the N.T., 90 percent are found in Paul’s
letters, the book of Acts & Revelation. The term church appears only two times in the Gospels,
both in Matthew. (Matt.18: 17; 16:18).
Para- Church
Para church organizations are vehicles by which evangelical Christians work collaboratively
both outside of and across their denominations to engage with the world in mission, social
welfare and evangelism.
Through many decentralized organizations, Para-church organizations function to bridge the gap
between the church and culture. These are organizations often seek to be less institutional,
however over time, with growth and success, and in response to environmental pressures they
can become more institutional.
Any spiritual ministry whose organization is not under the control or authority of a local
congregation is called Para-church_. In protestant and Catholic theology, Para-church
organizations are termed sodalities, as distinct from modality, which is the term for the structure
and organization of the local or universal church.
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Etymology
The prefix “para” means, “Along side of, by, near”. Thus, the term Para church means “along
side of the church”.
Classification of Para-Church
Para-Church can be broadly classified into two.
1. Missionary Organizations, and 2. Charity Organizations.
Missionary Organizations
Sometimes come under the authority of the Church.
Example: Bridge Of Hope. This organization is working under Believers Church India.
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Blessing Youth Mission
God poured out a spirit of intercession on a group of college students in South India in the 1960s.
As a result the Blessing Youth Mission was born in 1971.
Charity Organizations
(Non Governmental Organization) doesn’t work under the Church. It runs by its own. Some
Charity Organizations are:
EFICOR
EFICOR was a wing, set up as a unit of EFI to provide relief to drought hit state of Bihar in
1967. However, it later became an independent body & has its own legal status. It is a leading
organization working for Disaster response, preparedness & mitigation.
Why Para-church?
Power structure, obsolete theological teachings, irrelevant and insensitive theological
affirmations, lack of justice oriented theological principle and a faith that has almost become
dormant, characterize the church_. Any church, which relegates mission to being the peripheral
activity of a lunatic fringe of enthusiasts, is doomed to self-destruction.
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The Church failed to do its duties. It was ineffective in its mission. So, the Para-church emerged
and took up the responsibility of reaching the world. It began as a temporary phenomenon or a
small irritant needed to spur the church to renewal. Para-church ministries are, a fixture of
contemporary evangelical life. They do most of the heavy lifting in Christian outreach.
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Some Issues
As a staunch believer, there will be always a question ‘In which organization I should be a
member?’ There are lots of good, biblical, effective Para-churches around us. My answer is,
Become part of a local church. Your first priority should be for the church. According to your
commitment and as you wish support as much as Para-churches as you can. In some churches
priorities are given to only for some Para-churches. Or there will be two different groups
supporting their own Para-churches. The whole church is divided because of such differences. In
such cases there is always a spirit of competition. Instead of having such spirit let us have the
spirit of unity. Let us work together to build the kingdom of God.
Conclusion
The problem is in our understanding. The spirit of competition, the lack of acceptance, the
differences between the people and so on create the problem. The Para-church cannot be ignored.
Nor can the Para-church ignore the local church. We being the part of church and Para-church
have to approach the issues with wisdom, understanding, and a deep desire to see God’s
kingdom advanced. The basic solution is within the individuals in the church & the Para-church.
The ultimate goal is to reach the lost, so why don’t we work together?
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