Organic Church

Organic Church 

By Neil Cole

One of my favorite things Neil Cole did in this book was start off with quotes in the beginning of every chapter. These quotes got me thinking about the topic before I had even really began the chapter. There are two quotes I really enjoyed, they are:

“Risk more than other think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible.” 

-- Cadet maxim, West Point Military Academy

“The life I touch for good or ill will touch another life, and that in turn another, until who knows where the trembling stops or in what far place my touch will be felt?”

-- Frederick Buechner

I think this book was about stepping outside of the four walls we see as the church. The church is not a building, I don’t know how many time we have to be reminded of this. In this book Cole tells story after story about people who started churches out of their homes, cafes or in parking lots at three in the morning. These places are where the people are. God doesn’t just stay in a building waiting for someone to come it. He is out there among the people that He loves. This reminds me of a chapter in the book where Cole talks about how we are light. What good is a lamp in a bright room? No good at all. It must be put in a dark room to be of use. That is how we are as Christ followers. We cannot shine sitting in church buildings with filled with light, we can only truly shine when we go into the darkness. Cole told stories about different churches started in a multitude of different places. One man started a church in his house because, being an ex con, no one was welcoming to him in their churches. This man started a church in his home and then had to move into a larger home near by to have enough room. The woman’s house they moved into was the mother of ex gang member. Cole continues on with many other stories of Atheists, Satanists, drug addicts, Muslims, all coming to Christ, then turning around and bringing their friend to Christ. I think these stories are so powerful. They make me question where my light is shining, or if it is anywhere. 

One of my favorite chapter Cole did was on the parable of a sower sows some seeds. There is something about this parable after reading this chapter that has stuck with me. The idea of leaving the bad soil. Cole describes all four soils. First being the soil where the seed doesn’t even begin to grow. Second the seed starts to grow but isn’t able to really grow roots and dig deep so the seed dies. The Third seed is planed among thorns, like the second the seed begin to grow but is cut off by the thorns and choked, or as Cole stated the seed is distracted by earthly things and dies off (or their faith does). The last soil is the good soil, the seed is able to grow deep and grows strong. Cole goes on to talk about accepting the fact that only one out of four seeds planted will actually grow. Then connects that to the fact that some people just wont grow in their relationship with Christ, and sometimes you need to focus on only the seeds that are growing deep, seed that are planted in the good soil and will bear fruit. This is something that is hard to take, especially thinking about how many people wont being living eternally with God. How can you just abandon someone who wont bear fruit, so that you can focus on those who will? I know that it has to be done, but I feel like I would be giving up on someone.  

One thing I love about this book is how absolutely accepting Cole pushes everyone to be of people who have yet to have Christ in their lives. It’s like the story he told about going house to house asking to pray for someone. The first house wasn’t interested, however, you ask them if they know anyone who needs prayer. They tell you to go four houses down. You go down four houses and there is a man who answers the door who is drunk, his wife is leaving him and his son is yelling profanities at him. You ask the man if you can pray for him and he turns his life around, and ends up starting a church in his home. Now if you had described that type of person, would you have ever guess that he would have eventually started a church in his own home? God uses the strangest people to do His work. We are shown that over and over in the bible, why is it so hard to believe that He would do that today? 

Cole focused really hard on allowing new Christians to be evangelists. Don’t treat them like they are babies and protect them from evil, but allow them to go out and defend their faith. One cafe Cole would attend regularly was filled with atheists, Satanists and vampires. Many times Cole talks about how one was converted then within weeks converted a friend, who converted a friend. This is powerful stuff. The love God has for His people can change a person in a blink of an eye. I think this is something many Christians see as a myth or legend (if I may describe it in that way) but it is happening everyday. Out in the darkest places of where you live, God is there transforming the lives of people who used to party with drugs and are now partying because another friend found Christ. 

What I absolutely love about the quotes I shared about are that they focus on looking beyond yourself, going a step further. The first quote talks about taking the leap, risking it all, and allowing God to use you to the fullest. The second talks about allowing yourself to realize how much of an impact one action can have on something else. I can’t even imagine the ways God could use a person if they allowed themselves to think outside the box of norm and take leaps others might think you are crazy for taking. Reach the people no one else will go to, love the people no one else will love. The smallest thing can change a person’s entire life, and bring them closer to knowing Christ and telling others as well. 

I have really enjoyed this book. I went through it a lot faster than I thought I would. However, I think this was the best book for me to have read to kick off my internship because now I cannot wait to pick up the next book. While reading this book I was really able to learn about myself and dream of the way I might be able to use what I have learned in places I will be. What this book has taught be isn’t something that can only be used in certain places in the world, but everywhere. Its about being where the people are and loving them for who they are. Not taking them out of their own community and changing them. God loves every one and will use them in ways that only they can be used because of the experiences they have had and the connections they have.