Church 3.0 Review

I did not think I would find a church leader (so to speak) who would see what God has been leading me to for several years.  I say "so to speak," because Neil Cole, author of Church 3.0: Upgrades for the Future of the Church, does not see himself as a church leader or a church planter.  He's not your traditional pastor. In fact, nothing about Church 3.0 is traditional.  It's all about taking on a new mindset - a mindset that is  not based upon traditions that the church considers as sacred as Scripture.  What Church 3.0 does promote is a mindset that says every believer is a minister for Jesus, a mindset that says church does not have to entail sitting in rows of pews while listening to a sermon or lecture each week.  The picture the author paints is of a living church, a vibrant church, an organic church.

The organic church is simple.  It is not large.  In fact, if it becomes too large, that church should branch into another and another and another until there is a network of small churches.  These groups of people who are equally qualified to truly be a part of the body of Christ, not just a spectator in the audience, often meet in homes.  Children in these groups are taken seriously.  They are included.  Their input is just as important as anyone else's.  (Gasp: The author actually says adults can learn a lot from kids!).  Giving is not tithing, but helping others by whatever means and however the needs are best met.  Communion is a meal shared together, using symbols, as Jesus' first meal was shared with His disciples.  (According to Cole, during this meal, He used the bread and wine from the meal as a symbol of His atoning death).  The Bible, rather than interpretation of the Bible learned in a seminary and taught by a leader, is at the center of ministry.  

As an unschooler, as I read Church 3.0, I could not help but feel as though the church that Neil Cole is describing is to Christianity what unschooling is to education.  It is this approach to the church that my family and I have been practicing for almost a year.  It was just nice to finally have someone else understand.

Cole admits that other Christian leaders have often accused him of heresy because of his non-traditional views.  About this, he writes, "If you divide all the Christian leaders of history into two sides and put those labeled heretics on one side and those labeled orthodox on the other, looking down the aisle of history you might end up preferring the heretical side.  There you will find some of the best people of history: Martin Luther, John Wesley, George Fox, John Hus, John Wycliffe, Galileo, the apostle Paul, and even Jesus Himself, to name a few.  You'd be hard pressed to recognize any on the other side of the aisle.  Granted, you would be aligning with some rather peculiar folks, but it would be far more interesting to spend eternity on that side of the aisle" (p. 235).

He does add that all of these individuals, like us today, were learning.  None of us are perfect or have it all figured out.  (A breath of fresh air in today's church world).  "The truth is that those we do consider great heroes of the faith in history all had some ares of theological, and even moral concern that we would not endorse today."  But that is is the beauty of organic church - everyone is learning.  No one claims to have it all figured out.  Everyone learns from their mistakes.  "I believe that a church that is stagnant in its theological learning is worse than an errant but learning one" (both quotes from p. 235).

If those reading this review are not afraid to see the church in a new light - a light that is not based upon the golden cows of tradition, then this book is for you.  Be prepared to have your views challenged, to be offended, and to be enlightened.  I definitely recommend it!