Exquisite Architecture

The Power of What We Are Together

There is something deeply arresting about scale and complexity ordered into a unified, purposeful whole. Whether it is a soaring cathedral or a meticulously crafted watch, we are drawn to the way disparate parts can be harmonized to achieve something greater than their sum. But nowhere can we see this more vividly than in grand architectural design. Growing up I first noticed the beauty of fine architecture in the dilapidated, but still somehow elegant abandoned French villas that dotted Cambodia’s towns and cities. Years later, I remember staying in an apartment near the base of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur and being blown away. It’s staggering what humans can accomplish through engineering prowess combined with creative vision.

God’s vision for the New Testament church is no less impressive. I for one am convinced that God is the ultimate architect. He uses the image of a building or temple for the church, not as an endorsement of sacred space (this was abrogated in Jesus’ teaching) but to capture the interconnected and purposeful nature of his people, however we may gather.

This articles explores the “exquisite architecture” of the church through three specific lenses: our diversity of backgrounds, our multiplicity of gifts, and our various leadership modalities.

The Mosaic of Backgrounds: Diversity as Strength and Liability

One of the most radical effects of the early church was its upending of traditional social boundaries. Paul writes in Galatians 3:28 that “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus“. In a world obsessed with status and pedigrees, the church was, and should remain, a place where the so called “wise by human standards” and the “influential” sit at the same table and in true community with those of humble birth (1 Corinthians 1:26-27).

Diversity (economic, ethnic, or other) is a great strength when:

- It highlights our commonality in Christ: When people who have little in common socially or culturally find common ground in the Gospel, it proves the power of the Holy Spirit. I used to lead a college ministry on a large campus. I loved how you could always tell which groups playing sports together were the church groups. What else could bring together people of such mixed backgrounds and obviously varied athletic ability to genuinely enjoy a sport together like volleyball?

- It increases the church’s reach: A diverse body can draw people from corners of society that a homogenous group never could. Christianity is ultimately not a cultural religion, although it embodies in various cultural contexts. In pluralistic contexts, like most major cities, the church must become a cross-cultural entity in order authentically accomplish its purpose.

- We draw upon the wisdom of lived experience: Different perspectives help us see the God more clearly. People who have suffered rejection or been oppressed are sensitive and alert to certain truth that is often missed by those who’s lives have been more sheltered.

However, we must be honest: diversity is not easy, and can even become a source of great difficulty in the church. If we think diverse churches will be easy, we are in for a shock. We see an early example of problems caused by diversity for instance in Acts 6:1-7 with the neglecting of the Hellenistic widows in favor of those who were traditional Jews. Of course, we also get to witness a brilliant, Spirit-inspired solution.

Diversity can become a liability when:

- It leads to division: Differences between people can easily become walls, or excuses to hold back trust. Working through misunderstandings, and repenting of real prejudice is important work in any community that desires to be diverse. But often these differences will not be easily overcome, and Christians deal with these differences in unbiblical ways, breaking into cliques and factions rather than striving for unity.

- It is emphasized over our unity in the Spirit: All other aspects of who we are become secondary once we are united with Christ. There is nothing more important that I can share with another person than the Holy Spirit. But when this is missed, or never understood, churches can easily become catered environments that prioritize the cultural preferences of its members over Gospel truth.

- Lived experience is given undue authority: While experience is valuable, it must always be secondary to the Word of God. Lived experience has the power to inform, but also creates bias. Psychological wounds for instance can teach someone important life lessons, but these some pain points can also become a lens that colors every interaction. Fortunately, as Christians we have something external and objective to respond to and correct our perspective, regardless of where we’ve come from and what we’ve experienced.

In Christ we have every basis to move forward and flourish despite, and even because of our differences. Tim Keller points out,

“Strong community is formed by powerful common experiences... When we meet someone from a different culture, race, or social class who has received the same grace, we see someone who has been through the same life-and-death experience. We now share an identity marker even more indelible than the ties that bind us to our family, our race, or our culture.”¹

The Multiplicity of Gifts: A Divine Check and Balance

We come to faith from a variety of backgrounds, forming a natural mosaic of inherent qualities and experiences. But we also become something totally new through conversion, and receive attributes we previously lacked. In 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Paul explains,

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”

Spiritual gifting is an often-misunderstood category. These aren’t individualistic Christian super powers. Instead, they are manifestations of God’s grace in our lives that overlap our natural abilities, our specific opportunities, and our roles within the community.

Gifts are a great advantage in the church when:

- They are used to build up the Body: The purpose of a gift is never self-fulfillment or personal advancement. Gifts are given explicitly for the purpose of building up the church. Even gifts that are more privately exercised still are meant as a provision for strengthening the members of the Body, so that they might in turn strengthen each other. Any theology or practice of gifts that denies their intended purpose, ends up creating a warped religious environment.

- They operate in concert: Just as a car needs an engine and a steering wheel, the church needs different gifts working together to operate the way it should. This is the point of Paul’s “Body” metaphor that compares Christians to various limbs and organs that totally depend on one another. In this sense there is no true hierarchy of gifts. We ought to honor and praise all contributions to our communion that come through people relying on the Holy Spirit.

- We don’t give them too much focus: Spiritual gifts are important, but they don’t determine everything we do as Christians. We are all called to live like Jesus, to learn his ways, and become conformed to his image. We also share in his mission. Whether we are gifted in mercy or not for instance, says little about whether or not we should cultivate and dispense mercy. Mercy is a moral obligation for anyone who has been saved by God’s grace, not just for those who are gifted!

Gifts tend to get in the way when:

- They are wielded autonomously: gifts that are used without consideration or appropriate dependence on the gifting of others, can do damage over time. Leadership gifts for instance can help a community move forward and pick up momentum. But without well exercised gifts of faith and mercy, a church could easily become man-centered, or mechanical.

- They set the limits of our ministry: As noted above, not being especially “gifted” in an area doesn’t exempt us from obeying God or doing what love requires in a given situation. We should praise God for the gifted evangelists among us for instance, but never let their existence become an excuse for not sharing our own faith.

- They are suppressed: When we don’t create space for others to exercise what God has given them, the whole body suffers. We must be careful to cultivate and encourage the gifting of others, so that God can be fully glorified. Only then will the church consistently flourish.

God has distributed His gifts so that no one person has everything. We can think of this as a divine “checks and balances” system that forces us into a humble dependence on one another.

Different Leadership: The Five-Fold Modalities

Finally, we must consider how the church is led. In Ephesians 4:11-13, Paul names five different aspects of Christian leadership: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors (Shepherds), and Teachers. We shouldn’t primarily understand these as titles or roles – they are instead modalities designed to “equip the people of God for works of service.”

Movement thinker Alan Hirsch argues in his book The Forgotten Ways,

“If we lack one of the five, we lack a part of the ministry of Christ. A church without the Apostolic is stuck; without the Prophetic, it is blind; without the Evangelistic, it is small; without the Pastoral, it is wounded; and without the Teaching, it is ignorant.”²

Leadership modalities help when:

- They exist in proper balance: This is Hirsch’s point above. A church dominated by pastor/shepherd types may be warm and caring, but probably won’t grow and will risk becoming inward. On the other hand a church with strong evangelistic leadership will grow, but is likely to leave weaker or struggling members in the dust. In either case, the church falls short of its design.

- They share the same goal: Paul says clearly that God gives these modalities for the people of “equipping the saints for the work of service” and to see people reach maturity in Christ. The goal of Christian leadership isn’t just to gather a crowd. It also isn’t just to provide excellent counseling services, or foment evocative worship experiences. Leaders equip others to serve God through the exercise of their own gifts as they grow in their knowledge and understand of Jesus.

- Character is the foundation: Modalities fail the moment they supplant Christ-like character. There is a reason Paul’s list of elder qualifications in his letters to Titus and Timothy don’t include these modalities. It’s because nothing matters more than a person’s deeper formation, and the influence they wield by pointing others to Christ through their example.

Final Thoughts: Glorifying Him Together

God’s design is for us to glorify Him together. This requires us to assess our gifts and contributions not based on our own ambitions, but according to what God is currently doing in the church.

As you look at your own community this week, ask yourself:

- Where is there potential for strength through the diversity of our backgrounds?

- What spiritual gifts need to be encouraged or developed in our midst?

- What leadership modalities are we currently leaning on, and which are we missing?

Trust that the Holy Spirit will give exactly what is needed to build a house that stands.

1. Keller, Timothy J. Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012.

2. Hirsch, Alan. The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating Apostolic Movements. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2016.