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The church is capable of either organizational or organic growth. Organizational growth is possible when the church is regarded as a temporal organization. Organic growth is possible only when the church is viewed as an eternal, living (zoe) organism.
Organic growth is biblical. Therefore, it is capable of producing spiritual fruit. Organic growth produces the fruit of eternal life (zoe) or “fruit for God.” (Romans 7:4) In contrast, worldly organizational growth cannot produce the fruit of life (zoe). It can only produce “fruit for death.” (Romans 7:5) Organizational Growth The organizational growth of the temporal church is inorganic or lifeless (zoe). It is achieved for God by human effort. Consequently, God does not need to be personally present. Achieved apart from the living (zoe) God, the inorganic growth of the temporal church must be propped up by the rule of law. Relative to church growth, it is expressed through organizational principle and precept. Thus, the inorganic growth of the temporal church is fundamentally law-based. Concordant with its legalistic, organizational standard, the temporal church has a law-based purpose and mission. Its purpose is to practice religious activity for God. The corresponding law-based mission of the temporal church is to increase its number of adherents. The organizational growth of the temporal church occurs by addition. It is a slow growth process through which individual church members are added one by one. The law-based, organizational growth of the temporal church typically progresses as follows: |
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Organic Growth
In contrast to the organizational growth of the temporal church, the growth of the eternal church is organic or living (zoe). Rather than mankind, the living (zoe), indwelling God is the source of its organic growth. By eternal design, God chose to cooperate with redeemed mankind. Thus, the growth of the organic church is cooperative. The living (zoe) God graciously assures growth. The organic church cooperates through faith alone. Consequently, its life-based (zoe) growth is fulfilled with God rather than for Him. As a result, the essential doctrine of grace through faith alone is preserved. Achieved cooperatively with God, the growth of the eternal church is life-based (zoe). Consequently, the rule of law is contrary. The purpose and mission of the eternal, organic church does not originate from organizational church standard but from the living (zoe) God. Therefore, its purpose and mission are life-based (zoe). The life-based (zoe) purpose of the eternal, organic church is the celebratory practice of shared life fellowship with God. Its corresponding life-based (zoe) mission is to cultivate and protect its privilege of shared life fellowship with God. The simple yet profound organic growth of the eternal church occurs through the fulfillment of its life-based (zoe) purpose and mission. Ultimately ensured by God, the organic church cooperates by faithfully practicing, cultivating, and protecting its privilege of shared life fellowship with God. Wherever and whenever the organic New Testament church practices, cultivates and protects fellowship with God, His living (zoe) presence is welcomed on the fallen earth. Manifested within the organic New Testament church, He is its source of life and therefore, ministry, disciple-making, and growth. The divine, organic growth of the eternal church was designed to occur rapidly. It is graciously accomplished through the exponential multiplication of small group community. The growth of the eternal church was a divine promise. Christ prophesied, “… I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” (Matthew 16:18) |
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Reproduction of Divine Life As indicated, the living (zoe) purpose and mission of the organic church are to practice shared life fellowship with God and cultivate and protect it above all else. By act of God, the outcome is the reproduction of divine life (zoe) whenever and wherever God chooses to share His life (zoe) on earth. Divine life (zoe) does not change when reproduced on earth. It is reproduced “after its kind.” God preordained all complex living organisms on earth to reproduce offspring “after their kind.” (Genesis 1:11; 12; 21; 24; 25) “After their kind” means that the progeny reproduced by a living organism is another living organism possessing the primary attributes of its parents. For example, dogs beget dogs; cats beget cats, apple trees beget apple trees, etc. When referring to the reproduction of living organisms it is important not to confuse progenitor, progeny, and produce. For example, regarding the reproduction of apple trees, the tree is the progenitor. While an apple is integral to its reproduction, it is not the progeny of the apple tree. Instead, it is the produce. The progeny of an apple tree is another apple tree. Living organisms reproduce “after their kind.” (cf. Genesis 1) To a limited extent, the reproduction of divine life (zoe) on earth during the Church Age is like the reproduction of other complex living organisms on earth. It is characterized by progenitor, progeny, and product. The progenitor is God. He exists in the ultimate community of Father, Son, and Spirit. The progeny is mankind in union of shared life with the triune God. The product or fruit of shared life between God and man is community. Thus, the reproduction of divine life (zoe) on earth in shared life community is “after its kind.” The members of the Godhead provide a perfect example of community. Concordant with the gracious promise and providence of God, the New Testament church on earth was predesigned to demonstrate the divine community on earth. The growth of the New Testament church on earth occurs by the reproduction of God and man in shared life community. It is organic, spiritual, progressive, cooperative, collaborative, and exponential. Organic Concordant with biological science, the New Testament church was created as a living organism. Biologists believe that an organism is living if it is characterized by the following six qualities: 1) cells, 2) DNA, 3) energy, 4) growth, 5) reproduction, and 6) sensitivity and responsiveness to change.[2] First, a living organism must have cells. The building blocks of life, cells, contain the materials necessary to support life (psuche). They are the smallest structural unit of an organism that is capable of independent functioning. When observed individually, cells are microscopic, too small to see with the human eye. However, when viewed collectively, they comprise the whole body of a living organism. There are an estimated 70 to 100 trillion cells in the average human body. They are categorized into about 210 different types-for example, nerve, muscle, and skin cells. Second, a living organism must have DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid. DNA is the blueprint or genetic code of life. It is the catalyst that tells the cell how to grow and develop. Therefore, DNA determines the type of organism, defined by how it looks and functions. Third, energy is characteristic of a living organism. It is necessary for a living organism to perform the essential functions of life. Energy is generated from the metabolism of nutrients. Therefore, the living organism must eat. Fourth, a living organism is characterized by organic growth. The intrinsic ability for organic growth is predetermined, enabling the living organism to develop from infancy to adulthood. Fifth, a living organism is characterized by reproduction. Generally, it occurs when males and females combine DNA to multiply offspring after their kind. Sixth, a living organism is responsive to its environment. Consequently, it detects and responds to events in the world around it, such as changes in light, sound, touch, taste, smell, temperature, etc. Biological science considers an organism to be alive only if it characterized by each of the qualities mentioned above. Thus, it is characterized by cells, DNA, energy, growth, reproduction, and responsiveness to change. 
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Organic Church
The New Testament church was designed as a living (zoe) organism. Consequently, its community is characterized by the six essential qualities of a living organism. First, the community of the early New Testament church on earth was initially characterized by cells. Its intimate shared life, small group communities comprised the individual cells of the body of Christ. They were the smallest structural unit of the New Testament church capable of independent operation. God designed each as a structural, functional, and biological unit within the greater body of Christ. Like the individual cells of the human body, every intimate shared life community of the ecclesia was part of a larger organism. Equally crucial to the function of the whole body, each small group community provided for the practice of intimate shared life fellowship between God and man, faithfully protecting and cultivating it and allowing divine life (zoe) to overflow from it. Second, the distinct community of the New Testament church had a unique genetic code or DNA. Jesus Christ was the "DNA" of His body. He was the blueprint, genetic code, and life force that predetermined the function of His body and, therefore, its specific form. Third, the distinct community of the New Testament church was characterized by energy. Its source of energy was the animating life (zoe) of God manifested in Christ. His indwelling, animating life (zoe) was the life source that energized the essential practice of the New Testament church on earth. Human cooperation occurred by grace through faith alone. Fourth, the distinct community of the New Testament church experienced growth. It was a living (zoe) organism. Consequently, it was characterized by organic growth. The organic growth of the New Testament church originated internally in accord with the DNA of its divine, indwelling life (zoe) source. Therefore, rather than experiencing growth by external influence (the will and work of man), its growth was an intrinsic part of its essential nature. Fifth, the distinct community of the New Testament church was characterized by reproduction. It reproduced when God graciously shared His life (zoe) with the elect through spiritual birth. Consequently, the “DNA” of God was reproduced in man, the life (zoe) of God was multiplied on earth and as a result, the fallen were restored into the image of God. Sixth, the distinct community of the New Testament church was responsive to its environment. Its shared life, small group communities, were function-driven, dynamic, flexible, mobile, reproducible, and transferable. They were able to adapt to diverse cultures with ease. Animated by the indwelling life (zoe) of God, the distinct community of the early New Testament church met the biological criteria necessary to be classified as a living organism. Spiritual Rather than earthly or physical, the organic growth of the New Testament church community is heavenly or spiritual. God is Spirit and, therefore, the reproduction of His life (zoe) on earth is spiritual. (John 4:24) As indicated, the organic reproduction of eternal life (zoe) in mankind occurs by spiritual birth. Jesus said, “… unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). The phrase “born again” can be translated as “born from above” or “born of the Spirit.” It is a reference to birth originating from God who is spirit. (John 4:24) By spiritual birth, mankind is brought into spiritual, shared life (zoe) union with God in Christ. As a result, he is made alive to God, indwelt by His Spirit, and therefore, made a partaker of His nature. (Romans 6:4-6; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 1:27; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2 Peter 1:4) Through the organic reproduction of divine life (zoe) on earth mankind is joined to both the Head and body of the New Testament church. By the baptizing work of the Spirit, he is spiritually identified with Jesus Christ and the fellow members of His body, both individually and collectively. (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:14-16; 4:4-6, 11-16; Colossians 1:18) Progressive The growth of the New Testament church community through the organic, spiritual reproduction of eternal life (zoe) on earth is progressive. It progresses from the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit. The heavenly Father is the source of eternal life on earth (John 5:26). Through the incarnation of the Son, Jesus Christ, He sent eternal life (zoe) to earth in human flesh. (John 1:14, 18) While on earth, Jesus satisfied His role in the fulfillment of the Eternal Covenant and thereby established the precedent for the union of human life (psuche) with divine life (zoe). (John 6:40) Shortly afterwards, He ascended to His rightful position of authority at the right hand of the Father. With Christ seated in a position of victory, the heavenly Father sent His Spirit to earth to apply the unconditional benefit of the Eternal Covenant. It was applied to all He foreknew would be willing to receive it by faith. (John 14:26; Acts 1:8-9) By the Spirit through instrumentation of the New Testament church, God has progressively shared His life (zoe) with the elect until present day. (John 17:20-21; Acts 2:39) Congruent with His eternal plan, His life (zoe) will continue to flow like “rivers of living (zoe) water” from the modern New Testament church to the present generation and beyond. (cf. John 7:38) The growth of the distinct community of the New Testament church through the progressive flow of eternal life (zoe) from God to mankind occurs by the will and work of God alone. An act of divine grace, its growth is not facilitated by organizational principle or precept, formula, or strategy, but by the progressive flow of divine life (zoe) from heaven to earth. |
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Cooperative
The distinct growth of the New Testament church community on earth was not designed to be fulfilled by God alone. Instead, God predetermined to reproduce His life (zoe) on earth in cooperation with the elect. It occurs by faith alone. Cooperative faith is a gift of God; the assurance and conviction that God will perform according to what He has promised; the means of approval by God; based on knowledge of God; undergirded by agreement with God; and evidenced by trust in God. (Habakkuk 2:4; Matthew 9:29; 26:39; Romans 12:3) Further, it is cultivated by God in man through the exercise of the human will; active; dependent; and evidenced by works. (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:1-7; James 2:14-26) The evidential fruit of cooperative faith is not the dead, religious works of man, but the living (zoe) works of God. Rather than earthly and temporal, they are heavenly and eternal. Collaborative God designed the distinct growth of New Testament church community on earth to be a collaborative endeavor. To “collaborate” means to “work together.” Through shared life, the New Testament church community was assembled under the headship of Christ to collaborate with Him as one united team. Therefore, when its small group communities emphasize, protect, and preserve teamwork, its ability to faithfully cooperate in the reproduction of divine life (zoe) on earth is unparalleled. In the small communities of the early New Testament church, no single member was more important or valuable than any other. (1 Corinthians 12:14-26) Concordant with the fundamental New Testament teachings of the priesthood of every believer and ordered equality, the body of the ecclesia was equipped by the Spirit to collaborate as an interdependent team for the fulfillment of its purpose and mission on earth. The growth of the living (zoe) New Testament church occurs through the divine reproduction of eternal life (zoe) on earth. Organic and spiritual, it progresses from the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit. The progressive growth of the New Testament church is both cooperative and collaborative. Through its emphasis, protection and preservation of teamwork, its small group communities cooperate with God and collaborate by faith alone. © 2023 James Hiatt |
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