The Local Church/Parachurch Dichotomy

How could these two expressions of Christianity, the Local Church and the Parachurch, have such different attitudes toward the ministries of lay people? It was a strange dichotomy for someone like myself, who was still young in the faith. Eventually, however, I began to understand that at the heart of the Local Church/Parachurch dichotomy is a theological issue.

The Parachurch world and the Local Church world have a different take on lay ministry because American Christianity has unofficially sanctioned the separation of worship and edification from mission.

Local Churches practice Worship and Edification

Parachurch Organizations practice Mission

Worship and edification rule in the Church World; while mission rules in the Parachurch World. Mission in the local church is often confined to mission budgets and projects that need some temporary volunteers; it is largely a vicarious experience for most people. And when direct involvement in mission is separated from worship and edification the latter two inevitably become passionless. Worship and edification need experiential mission to stir passion. Worship and edification may be inspiring, but inspiring does not necessarily mean passionate.

When I have opportunities to speak at conventions and conferences I often tell stories about church people who are involved in a wide variety of community ministries. Inevitably, following the message, someone who has a passion for a community ministry will approach us and pour their heart out. Amazingly they often feel that their biggest obstacle to pursuing their ministry passion is the leadership of their church!

I know, however, that church leaders are seldom opposed to someone’s ministry passion. Rather the problem is that church leaders often don’t know how to respond to someone who wants to start a different kind of ministry, e.g., Car Care Ministry for single moms.

The really amazing thing is, when I tell pastors that they are perceived as the primary obstacles to the ministry passions of lay people in their churches, pastors are seldom surprised! And unfortunately, when lay people do not have ministry passion, it is the pastor who often ends up paying a personal price.