Comments

In search of the city-wide church

Most Christians and pastors agree with the idea of Christian unity. Sadly, few pursue it as if it were the key to unlocking our cities and nation.

In search of the city-wide church

A House for His Glory: the Church in the City
By Colin Shaw
TC Books, 175pp. $15
Reviewed by Lyle Shelton

Most Christians and pastors agree with the idea of Christian unity. Sadly, few pursue it as if it were the key to unlocking our cities and nation.

While the attractional mega-church model has resourced the church in Australia with contemporary worship music and helpful programs, the downside is competition and isolation as pastors strive to grow their works.

The burn-out rate of pastors and the continued decline in our culture by every measure is clear evidence that whatever the church in Australia is doing – it is not working.

In A House for His Glory: the Church in the City, Colin Shaw becomes the first Australian to write a book exploring the Biblical imperative of the city-wide church.

While anyone with basic Bible knowledge can quote Psalm 133 and John 17 – the key ‘unity passages’ - most overlook the fact that Paul’s letters and John’s in the book of Revelation were written to city or region-wide churches.

There is no Biblical model that validates denominationalism or the idea of unconnected Christians pursuing separate local church agendas in any locality.

Now in his early 60s, Shaw, like thousands of others was deeply touched by the charismatic renewal of the 1960s and 70s.

He begins by referring to this era and the blending of Christians who were caught up in it. While the renewal had a significant impact on all denominations, the great expectations in terms of on-going unity and a resurgence of the church in Australia were largely unmet.

Shaw’s book details the journey he and others have been on to discover the Biblical idea of the ‘church in the city’ which is embodied in the phrase – ‘one church, many congregations’.

It is an exhortation rather than a theological treatise and at just 175 pages, it is an easy but Biblically compelling read.

One of the key players in the Toowoomba Christian Leaders’ Network over the past 15 years, Shaw writes with conviction that is rooted in the practical experience of carefully building unity amongst disparate church leaders from virtually all denominations.
He and his wife Grace have spent their entire adult lives in ministry, serving for the past 18 years as associate pastors at Toowoomba City Church and in the last ten years travelling Australia, New Zealand and Asia conducting pastors’ prayer summits and roundtables designed to encourage the process of unity between pastors in cities and towns.

Shaw details some of the hard decisions and processes for developing unity. Prayer, repentance to fellow pastors and to lay people, radical humility, and commitment to living at the foot of the Cross are just some of the keys.

• WCC head rejoices at release of Colombian hostages
• Archbishop sees ‘risks’ in conservative Anglican proposals
• Conservative Anglicans stay with Communion, launch global fellowship
• World Evangelical Alliance, Wycliffe collaborate in Bible-rooted transformation
• Tutu calls on Africa to reject Mugabe

Second Generations

Gerry Gomez a Christian athlete and former Socceroo, is celebrating two 'second generation scenarios' says Mark Tronson..

• WCC head rejoices at release of Colombian hostages