Many Christians from the early church were brutalized, persecuted and murdered, Jesus and his followers had brutal enemies. Despite this the body of Christ grew quickly, in fact growth still typically happens where Christians are persecuted. It did not take long however for the enemy of Jesus to find a more effective strategy against him – position within powerful and wealthy hierarchies.

hi·er·ar·chy

ˈhī(ə)ˌrärkē/

noun: hierarchy; plural noun: hierarchies

Rather than attacking and killing Christians, a better strategy against Jesus’ influence and expansion was to put the church on top of or given a place at the table of a highly influential hierarchy in exchange for surrender and cooperation. But that cooperation would directly challenge the Lordship of Jesus Christ among his people.

This strategy seems to have repeated itself even up to today. How many modern young Christians who feel called to ministry strive to create and climb to the top of powerful hierarchical organizations? Most. Whether we try to control massive governments or climb through the ranks of wealthy denominations or build massive individual “mega-churches“. We love hierarchies and when we reach out ambitious goals we say “look at the growth, God must be blessing us, God is doing it.”

But we cannot look at numbers and popularity and assume success in God’s eyes or his blessing or his approval.

Jesus was offered great power and wealth and a great place of headship over kingdoms of this world, but he quickly and sternly turned it all down. I am not sure there is another person on the planet that would have easily turned down that offer from the devil.

“Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if you fall down and worship Me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan…” – Matthew 4:9-10

Later when his disciples began to plan their own hierarchy of greatness (“who will be greatest” read Matt 20), He quickly told his disciples “it is not this way among you.”

“But Jesus called them to himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you…” – Matthew 20:25-26

A group of Christians only becomes church in its relation to its surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Lets all together abandon hierarchy and lording it over one another, as Christians we are all directly connected to Jesus through the Spirit. He is able to lead us all directly and together as a cohesive family.

Hierarchies are ineffective and archaic and will eventually be obsoleted, firstly and especially within the church. Allow the Lord to begin to transition you away from worldly forms of organizing and gathering based on hierarchy, there is a much better way.

More to come, please reach out to me with questions or comments.