Churches that are Dying to Follow Jesus
What might it look like for a church to live like Jesus? Â Even as difficult as that question is, its not nearly as difficult as the next question: “What might it look like for a church to die like Jesus?”
Many churches put a lot of emphasis on the first question – but few churches are willing to ask the second question. Â As we consider the nature of the church – as we imagine the organic structure of Christ-centered community; could dying, the tangible end of a congregation’s life, actually be a central part of the mission of God?
I’m going with “yes” on this one.
I had a friend once tell me that the main reason why he can’t suffer the church, even if Jesus had some good things to say, is because the church as an organization is fundamentally opposed to the aims of Jesus. Â My friend’s problem with the church is that while Jesus propelled himself toward death, churches generally want to stay alive as long as possible - often to the detriment of what Jesus originally died for!
But what if your church saw an opportunity to help contribute to the mission of God that was so powerful, so important – that it was willing to clean out the bank, sell the property, and “die” in order to see the mission provided for?
What might dying like Jesus do for the mission Jesus died for? Â What new life might be resurrected?
As we head into the Easter season – ask yourself, as your faith community to “come die with Jesus” (Bonhoeffer). Â It may just be what leads to a harvest of new life. (John 12:24)

Travis 4:38 am on March 1, 2011 Permalink
So can I just say that this is so true, both in the institutional and organic sense of the word “church?” I’ve seen institutional churches hang on by way of “life support” that would have been better to die and sow their buildings, people, and budgets into new Kingdom works. I’ve seen organic churches afraid to let go of close relationships in order to follow Jesus into multiplication and harvest.
The key word here is death. None of us like it. All of us are trying to avoid it. It’s scary looking at it from this side. If only we knew someone who has gone through it and it turned out okay for them….
Mark W 4:04 pm on March 1, 2011 Permalink
Wow…if death is what we fear…whether it is a small house church or a giant mega church… or even my own personal life… then the next question is, “Do I actually believe that Jesus has given us power over the fear of death?” Am I still too afraid to live in victory as a part of the resurrection; part of God’s in-breaking Kingdom?
What would it look like to be a member of a church that he been through death, burial, and resurrection?
Steve Caballero 12:16 am on March 9, 2011 Permalink
Hitting very close to home as we wrestle with why a campus of our home church had to close. On the material world it was finance related. In Jesus’ world it was just part of His plan. We accept it as that and move on to make a difference with what we learned while we were open here in the material world. Spiritually we never stop being a church even if the building and location go away.
Mark W 10:05 pm on March 9, 2011 Permalink
Death is never easy, or fun. I’m certainly no ecclesiastical-sadist or anything…but I do think that death can be “healthy” or “unhealthy” – done right, a church can leave a legacy and help contribute to the Kingdom of God. So often, we fight to hold on to life as long as possible, and we hurt our chances to display Jesus’ death in our church’s death. Steve – thanks for your honest thoughts.