What comes to mind when you first think of the word “church”?

For many, the word “church” elicits images of events to attend or participate in - things like Sunday morning services, mid-week Bible studies, Men’s Ministry breakfasts, Women’s conferences or Vacation Bible School weeks tend to come to mind.  In the New Testament, however, when people thought of the “church”, there was actually a much more common term used in their day to describe it.

Back in those days, the church was known as “The Way”.

See, in the first century, the reputation of the church, or the mindset it instantly created in others about itself, oriented around a way of life.  “The Way” was short for the way of life of a Jesus follower.  For sure there were times that the members of the early church attended events like worship services.  That was part of “The Way”.  For sure there were times when believers gathered to study the Bible¾another common experience for those engaged in “The Way”; but do you notice something profoundly stark about the way the church was originally viewed compared to the way it’s typically understood in our society today?

It seems like, these days, the church is understood to merely be a set of programs to participate in, where initially the church was an ongoing, moment-by-moment way of life.  It’s what we at Southridge call the difference between a ‘program-based’ approach and a ‘lifestyle-based’ approach.

A program-based approach simply invites people to participate in programs - simply attend events or engage in experiences.  To participate regularly and actively whenever the program is offered becomes the fullest expression of what it means to be part of the church.

A lifestyle-based approach often includes participating in programs, but in this case the programs aren’t an end unto themselves, they’re merely a means to stimulate a much grander end, living every moment of every day more like Jesus.  The goal of the lifestyle-based approach is to allow God’s saving power to transform our motives, our attitudes and our character so profoundly that we’re actually living a different quality of life than we did apart from Christ.  It’s about adopting a whole new way of life.

I’m not sure exactly when the idea of church devolved into a program-based approach.  Maybe it’s always been a temptation - Jesus certainly spent enough time trying to shatter the paradigm of the religious leaders of His day, who tried to reduce a life of faith down to a checklist of to-do’s instead of a way of life lived out of a transformed heart.  What’s important to appreciate is simply that the temptation exists - and in our busy society it exists strongly - to reduce a way of life down to merely participating in programs.

In this first edition of a Southridge magazine, I’m praying that one thing would be abundantly clear: Jesus Christ did not live sinlessly, die sacrificially and rise again miraculously so you and I could simply participate in the programs of a church.  He gave His life to reclaim ours¾to enable a way of life to be enjoyed that we formerly never knew.  He came to fundamentally change our lifestyles; to create a way of life in His image through His resurrected power.  He came to help us experience “The Way” - His way of loving God and people with every breath we’re given.

Throughout this magazine, you’ll read about how we, as a church community, are reclaiming that way.  You’ll hear about things like Life Groups and Anchor Causes - experiences and activities that we would really encourage people to participate in.  However, we want to be crystal clear that the events and experiences we offer at Southridge - the programs of our church - are not ends unto themselves.  Our church’s programs are merely a means to a far greater end of stimulating and encouraging an ongoing lifestyle.  They’re intended to be catalysts for a different way of life¾a Jesus-defined, Jesus-shaped and Jesus-empowered way of life.

For sure we’re celebrating the growth and recent developments of our church’s programs; however, we hope that in doing that we wouldn’t reinforce a program-based mindset of what church is, because Jesus gave His life to enable a lifestyle that our programs can merely support or encourage, not embody all on their own.

Like the first-century church, we’re not shooting to be known by our programs.  Our goal is to be known by our way of life.  We’re seeking to engage in a lifestyle, not just to participate in church programs.

Imagine if our surrounding society understood the church that way because of the pervasive impact of our lives and our church community as a whole new way of life.  Imagine if those who observed how we do church would ultimately be inspired to the way of life of Jesus Christ.

That’s the journey we’re on, the journey of finding our “Way”!