The term parachurch entered the Adventist conversation last month after the Caribou Campmeeting, when Conrad Vine listed it as one of several options — if GC administrators were to again compromise the freedom of conscience of members (à la 2021 Covid mandates which the GC supported).
What Does the Term Mean?
It is not a church with a parachute (like the one in Sainte-Mère-Église).
It is not a pair-of-churches.
Some take it to mean a rival church, an organization in competition with the main church. This has been the prevailing interpretation of those who have sought to cancel, ban, or denounce Conrad Vine since mid August. But is it the correct interpretation? It isn’t.
A parachurch is a Christian organization that operates independently of a specific denomination, but works alongside the church to support its mission. The term "para" comes from a Greek word that means "beside" or "alongside." Parachurch groups come alongside churches to provide ministries those churches cannot fulfill alone.
Within this definition, the exhibit hall of ASI or a GC Session is filled with parachurch groups, who come alongside the church. They specialize in things that the SDA church structure may not be able to specialize in by itself, such as evangelism, discipleship, teaching, music, radio and television ministries, film studios, and online publications (ahem).
While I don’t wish to speak for Conrad Vine, I believe he had something like ASI or GYC in mind when he used the term. People would remain in their local congregations and join this wider entity separately, like ASI currently does. This is working alongside the SDA Church, not in competition with it.
Potential Pitfalls
An organization like this would need a mechanism to filter out bitter or rebellious individuals. There are some in the church who are the companion of bitterness and resentment and are not an asset to any organization. Unless they resolve their bitterness they will defile the majority of people around them (Hebrews 12:15).
One positive aspect of a parachurch could be leading people to Jesus to resolve their bitterness, or past resentments. Thus cleansed, they will be a positive influence to those around them. A failure to do that would fill any group with angry people who will begin fighting among themselves. The vision of the leaders is important in this regard.
Rebellion leads to greater and more serious consequences in our life, such as financial loss, moral failure, unmet needs, and animosity towards God’s government. The sin of rebellion must be resolved through repentance. When it is, a person stops reacting against godly authority. Rebellious people often attract rebellious people (it’s that way in dating as well). Unless they resolve their rebellion, they will eventually turn their rebellion on one another. Such people are not an asset to any ministry, parachurch or otherwise.
A regime church seeks to align itself with the prevailing government or culture, exchanging conformity for favor. More about that later.
Tip: Godly leaders can demonstrate humility by acknowledging when they are in the wrong. This is servant leadership, and leads those under them to humble themselves as well. A failure to resolve pride leads to lording it over the flock (1 Peter 5:3), and damaging trust. God delivers harsh rebukes against this leadership model (Ezekiel 34:2). Our Lord affirms Godly leadership that seeks to lead by example and dependence upon Him (1 Timothy 5:17; 1 Timothy 3:2).
What is a Regime Church?
According to Nate Fisher, regime Christians" can be found in a range of denominations, from longtime liberal ones to conservative/evangelical bodies.
Such people adopt the values and mannerisms of our incumbent (government or culture) regime. They attempt to force the church to conform to these values, often "baptizing" them with nominally Christian language. They often reflect a therapeutic or feminist view of the world. They claim theological orthodoxy while embracing these regime values. To maintain the charade, they steer the church away from issues that highlight conflicts between regime (culture) and Christian values—employing tactics that range from "third way" messages to de-platforming anyone who exposes or challenges their capitulation. When forced to choose, regime Christians will invariably side with the regime church. They offer unquestioning loyalty to the institution in exchange for the illusion of righteousness. These individuals and the institution are made for each other (Matthew 15:14). Their coin of the realm is unsanctified pride — in themselves, their institution, and their standing (Revelation 18:7; Matthew 3:9-10; John 8:33).
Assets
Parachurch (or visionary) organizations flourish when they are filled with upbeat, honest people who love Jesus and seek His will. Humility leads us to resolve issues, pride blocks the resolution of problems.
Visionary organizations are less cumbersome, and less inclined to compromise with bad influences. They don’t tend to collapse under the weight of self-preservation, like groups with heavy layers of bureaucracy.
Unless I’ve missed it, nowhere in the last thirty days have I seen anyone call for a separate organization in competition with the current organization (a new Seventh-day Adventist Church). That’s not a parachurch. It’s a (new) church.
Instead of getting stuck on the wrong definition of parachurch, let’s remember its simple meaning. And let’s not forget the core question that precipitated this entire discussion,
‘Does a small coterie of people at the top have the right to suspend the liberty of conscience for millions of people at the grassroots level?'
As I understand it, a true parachurch operates alongside of a main church, supporting the biblical mission of the group. At times they may encourage the main body to deeper biblical accountability, ever supportive of the mission and message of the Advent Movement.
Discuss.
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“Nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3).