Continuing on from the last time
of talking of Kingdom Centers, we now look at Antioch. Before you jump to
conclusions concerning what you think you know, let me say I will be approaching
things from a new perspective. We all know Antioch was a key cultural
crossroad. It was on a trading route and
so the exchange of commerce was all inclusive of the nations passing through.
These dynamics made Antioch a very hard place to evangelize. With a population
of half a million, Antioch ranked as the third largest city in the Roman
Empire, following Rome and Alexandria. Its magnificent buildings helped give it
the name "Antioch the Golden, Queen of the East." The main street was more than
four miles long, paved with marble, and lined on both sides by marble
colonnades. It was the only city in the ancient world at that time that had its
streets lighted at night.
A busy port and a center for
luxury and culture, Antioch attracted all kinds of people, including wealthy
retired Roman officials who spent their days chatting in the baths or gambling
at the races. Antioch was a wicked city, perhaps second only to Corinth. Though
all the Greek, Roman, and Syrian deities were honored, the local shrine was dedicated
to Daphne, whose worship included immoral practices of ritual prostitution and
drunkenness. It also was a place of many cults and stoic philosophy as well.
What made this dynamic become effective was the investment in truth being
taught in an uncompromising manner. This in-depth teaching accomplished the
forming of not just a model of institutional church like we think of with
Antioch, and try to simulate today, but a model of people who had attained a
level of mature walking as sons and daughters.
Apostolic Grace
We see several things happening
at Antioch in Acts 11. We see tremendous growth coming from great grace. Grace
is more than favor with God but the definition actually means the ability of
God to create change either good or bad so His purposes can be worked out. Acts 11:23 (KJV 1900) Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of
God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would
cleave unto the Lord.
This grace was not just felt but
was seen. It was something tangible that a person's senses could witness. The
word 'seen' actually means to "know by experience." The grace upon them was not a saving grace or
a keeping grace as so many of us experience and understand, but was a tangible
grace that brought people into an experience with God. It was a grace that was
full of revelation and encounter. It was a grace that had removed limitations
and would bring change every time they gathered. This dynamic is why in Acts
11:26 they taught a whole year. It was fresh revelation being released that
drew people. It was an ongoing change and metamorphous that was occurring. This
great grace enabled them to "cleave unto the Lord with purpose of heart". The
change was so evident it enabled them to hold fast as they could visibly see
the results of God all around them. Kingdom centers will be formed with a
foundation of an apostolic grace. This Apostolic Grace is a sent favor resting
upon them and enabling them to be more than just participators in grace but
also stewards of grace. The ability to release change is the best definition of
grace and kingdom centers will be elements of change to help shape the history
of the Church.
Flow Flow Flow
Probably the greatest strength we
see patterned was the ability to maintain spiritual flow to receive the Word of
the Lord. They felt a responsibility to not just be hearers but doers of the
Word. They modeled the Word and acted upon it by faith. Sending relief to those
in need, sending out Paul and Barnabas and received the teaching of Paul to the
degree that almost the whole city gathered to hear his teaching. The influence
of this apostolic center planted the seeds of the Kingdom and all felt the
Kingdom's influence even if they were not believers! This Kingdom center
developed teams to be both local and trans-local, planting gatherings of
believers and setting in place spiritual government. These teams were made up
of different cross cultural belief backgrounds, different nationality,
different social status, and different economic status. The roles each played
in team dynamic were defined. As teams were trans-local, the gatherings of
believers in regions would relate to them as apostolic fathers in relationship
and not a central form of government like most do today. Each gathering had a
set team of leaders who oversaw that
group. They were allowed to be autonomous but held accountable. No one was
allowed to be isolated or not connected to larger group or vision, thus the
sense of belonging to the Kingdom was easily maintained. In Acts 11:27 it
states that prophets also were present at Antioch and spoke directional words
that were embraced and acted upon. This shows not just the dynamic of the
ministry gifts at work but also the willingness to participate with them as
oversight and leaders. The people sacrificially gave based on a national word
given. Today we have so many national prophets conflicted in what they are
saying our confidence in them as leaders hearing correctly has diminished and
our willingness to participate is almost nonexistent at times.
Assignments
We also know that from this grace
came change and changes in the way ministry was done. In Acts 13, we see that
Antioch became a place of sending out seasoned ministry (Barnabas) called out
ministry (Paul) and ministry still in training (John Mark) It also was a place
of prophets and apostles gathered and functioning. A non competitive place that
only had the Kingdom of God in the forefront of what they did. The sending out
was done because of a developed message that had been placed within the
messengers. It was a place of sound doctrine and ministry to the Lord. It also
was a place of obedience, commitment, community, activation, and deep Holy
Spirit activity. It was place they heard
God and responded. No need of convincing or long ministry training, but because
faith was active so could grace be active and response quickened. This
community of believers had a sense of belonging and participation in whatever
activity was being conducted by others. They held each other in prayer and
accountability until assignments were completed. The seriousness of the
assignment was evident and so was the support of it both in physical means and
spiritual strength.
Looking further in Acts 13 we see
Antioch becoming "sending" place of new and emerging ministries. We see a non
competitive spirit and an overall listening to the Holy Spirit to guide the
direction of those chosen. We do not see self appointment, self sending, or
those attempting without oversight and approval. What we do see is spiritual fathering at the
highest level. We see opportunity given
to those developing in gifts, and a recognition of those who truly have the
call of God upon their life. As we
examine Acts 13:1 we also see that this oversight team was made up of the cross
cultural group of people, which brings a greater perspective in Biblical
worldview into the decision-making process.
Eventually those being sent out,
Paul and Barnabas, which starred in birth a second kingdom center called
Ephesus. Ephesus was birthed out of
Antioch and had spiritual oversight by Paul's spiritual son, Timothy. This
dynamic is what is needed today to birth Kingdom Centers with true impact. But what was the missing ingredient they had in those
days that we lack today? We must go back to the foundations of the emergence of
Antioch and we will easily see the difference. As we look at the verse in Acts
11: 26, we find the answer.
Called Christians
Acts 11:26 (KJV 1900) And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And
it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church,
and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
The apostolic grace gave them the
name Christian. Today this name is thrown around to mean anyone who has a
religious belief system with some form of Bible instruction The actual word
means Christ- like or little Christ, and describes a process that has been
produced, a result that was distinguishable. Anointed like would be another
description. It means the reflection and actions of Christ were duplicated in
the lives of these people and they were seen as an example to know who Christ
is. It meant they could produce answers to lives and give life to those in
need. It meant an unselfish lifestyle that was eternally minded. It also meant
they knew how the Holy Spirit worked, what the Holy Spirit wanted done, and
were yielded enough to allow the Holy Spirit to work through them. In other
words, it meant they were like Christ in more than trying to live a good life,
but that issue was settled and they produced spiritual dynamics.
At Antioch to be called a
Christian was not a title but a recognition of function. The unbelievers looked
at the disciples and then coined the term based on their actions. Up to this
point, they had only been called disciples of Christ. Now the new term
Christian or Christ like was placed upon them, it was the function that was
publicly being displayed. It was the reason that by the second century the
Church had 100,000 members and 3,000 full time workers! Antioch remained a
Kingdom Center for over 150 years!
The definition of this honor was
not entitlement due to salvation but action. There were certain qualifiers that
you had to meet to be a Christian. First you had to identify with the cross and
resurrection and had to have allowed the redemptive process to be evident in
your life. You were outwardly seen as changed. Second, you were Spirit filled
and allowed the Holy Spirit's activity to have place in your life. This was
seen by the gifts of the Spirit moving in your life and being manifest. Third,
you carried revelation of truth and was able to convey it much like Jesus did. Fourth, you carried
the same anointing of Jesus to heal the sick and cast out demons. Fifth, you
had to be in fellowship with a body of believers for accountability and
oversight. These were very high standards to meet and the title Christian was
looked at as more of a responsibility than just a name. In those days, if you
did not meet those criteria or you had four of the five, you would not be
called a Christian but still be looked at as a disciple. We must admit by that
high standard today, we have few meeting all the qualifiers.
Identity in Antioch
The main thing being taught at
Antioch was identity and not function. Today we teach on function and placement
based on that. At Antioch they taught on identity and placement based on the
person understanding their identity. This teaching brought them to the point of
identification with Christ that we have a shallow understanding of today. The
description given of them being Christians has today greatly lost its meaning.
We all know America is called a Christian nation and over 70% percent say they
are Christians. We see the little checkbox on paperwork, marriage licenses,
etc. But the problem is we are determining if we are Christian and not allowing
others to determine it. At Antioch, everyone knew who the true Christians were.
Today we have done people a great injustice by calling them or allowing them to
profess something they truly are not.
This identification was the
primary focus of the Antioch church. Today we mainly look at function of
believers. In that day, it was more about identity and then function. Identity
enabled a person to participate in all aspects of Christianity not based on
spiritual maturity but faith and grace alone. It enabled people to have a value
of self instead of functioning to gain these things. It also enabled people to
connect in relationships based on the understanding of who they were to God and
how God made them instead of gifting, anointing, and other non personal
perspectives. The emerging of kingdom centers will be focused on the discovery
of identity of individuals over function. Relationships based on common purpose
of existence of works and tasks to be accomplished. The way we have been approaching
things is task oriented mixed with grace instead of grace oriented mixed with
tasks. They never ran people through new believers' classes, church belief
classes, or had them sit 6 months to get indoctrinated. People stepped into God
and stepped into His fire.
Redefining the Process
We need to redefine the process
we are in and the names we associate with it. When a person gets born again
they become a new believer or a child of God. At that point they are not really
a Christian or Christ like as they still have things needing to be adjusted in
their lives. They start along a path that will lead them to being Christ like
or a Christian. The next step is to become a disciple. A disciple is one in
training and receiving instruction. A disciple is one who is still learning the
basic about the faith and also how they are to function as a believer. Finally when the person is fully applying and
full functioning are they then really a Christian. If we would police ourselves
in our vocabulary we would clean up a lot of false concepts and also enable
unbelievers a more precise understating as well. No matter how we look at it I
am really saying we need to set the standards of Christian life a lot higher
than we are currently living at.
Greg Crawford
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