A searchable, downloadable PDF of the original review appears below. Roman Garrison is Intern to Students, Knox Church, Toronto.
The Church and the Parachurch. Jerry White. Portland: Multnomah, 1983.
This book is the product of a strong desire, if not anxiety, that local churches and so-called parachurch organizations work together and strengthen each other in the work of the Body of Christ. Mr. White states his specific purpose as being “to stimulate the process of closing the gap in one area of conflict and concern” (p. 122).
Nevertheless, an appeal for unity is not always appreciated. The role of the peacemaker is not without difficulty. And the author readily admits that even after prayer and reflection, he confronted the question, “Why produce a book that no one may like?” (p. 7).
But the problem which provoked the book could not be ignored.
Evangelical Christianity is a broken society with conflict, infighting, and competition rivaling that of the industrial world . . . how dare we turn inward to claw at our own sores when the world is dying without Christ? . . . Evangelical local churches and para-local church groups need to labor together and encourage one another to accomplish their best for the Kingdom of God. Doctrinal nitpicking, isolationism, and parochial interests cripple us and prevent us from applying our energies toward the task that Jesus set before us (p. 161).
It might have been expected that most writers treating this issue would simply choose sides and proceed to criticize or even denounce either the (local) church or parachurch organizations. Mr. White avoids this danger with integrity not by deliberate neutrality towards both subjects but through a healthy bias on behalf of both groups. This bias is the result of years of commitment to the local church and various parachurch ministries.
The potential failing of such a middle perspective is that an author could end up advocating an insipid “live and let live’’ philosophy. It is not hard to imagine someone responding to the church/parachurch conflict by saying, “Oh, come one, let’s all be friends and stop fighting. Everybody has a right to their opinion.” Fortunately, Mr. White rejects this approach to the issue. Despite his eagerness for unity, he has an equal passion for truth. Although neither of the following two passages are cited in his book, I believe they express the dual concerns of Mr. White.
If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed. – Galatians 1:9
Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another. – Galatians 5:25
Most of us feel more comfortable with one or the other of these verses, but just as Paul could maintain both together, Mr. White demonstrates a similar balance in his discussion of the church and the parachurch.
Thus, even as the ministries of both bodies are affirmed as vital, biblical and necessary, the reader is warned: “just as some para-local church groups hinder the work of God, so some local churches hinder it also” (p. 94). Mr. White challenges groups and congregations to honestly evaluate their purpose, gifts and ministries and to be willing to “die”. He bluntly says of the local church, “Its greatest contribution may be to close down, sell the property, and give the proceeds to foreign missions” (p. 98, see p. 93 also).
The author has set himself to a difficult task, that of promoting discussion and cooperation between the easily identifiable church and the harder-to-define Christian organization, the “parachurch.” White defines the latter group as “any spiritual ministry whose organization is not under the control or authority of a local congregation” (p. 19). At the same time, Mr. White has admirably directed attention to the fundamental question of whether any Christian church or group may assume the right to exist (cf. p. 84). Consequently The Church and the Parachurch is not merely a call for unity and mutual edification, it is a call to evaluate our ministries. Again Paul writes
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are holding to your faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you-unless indeed you fail to meet the test! – 2 Corinthians 13:5
The book itself is divided into two main parts with three appendices. Part One is entitled “Gaining Perspective on the Problems and Issues” with separate chapters on “Personal,” “Historical” and “Theological” perspectives, a chapter on the weaknesses and human tendencies of both the church and the parachurch and a concluding chapter on “Assessing Where We Are.”
Part Two is entitled “Recommendations for Resolving the Problems and Issues” and has individual chapters on “A Proposed Solution” and “Handbooks” for the church, the para-local church, and members of the para-local church. He concludes with “A Final Plea” and his closing words are
These are exciting times in the body of Christ. Opportunities abound. We need to channel all our energies to meet them. It is obvious that God’s hand is on both the local church and the para-local church. Let us do all we can to heal any breach between the two structures, and to thrust out more laborers into the harvest (p. 165).
The Church and the Parachurch also includes a helpful bibliography for the reader who seeks more information on particular questions. The Subject Index is quite specific and assists looking up references in the book.
As with anything we read, I found some small questions that, while easily forgotten, are nevertheless unanswered. In discussing New Testament “mobile missionary teams,” Mr. White comments that these groups, or Philip as an individual, were “semi-autonomous” (p. 83). This term requires strict definition, with reference to its New Testament context, if we are to draw out implications for contemporary parachurch movements. Unfortunately, “semi-autonomous” escapes dangerously unqualified.
A far less significant point concerns the statement that “Jesus told the Samaritan woman that the temple would be replaced and worship would be ‘in spirit and in truth’ ” (p.95). The phrase “would be replaced” caught my attention and I was uncomfortable with its meaning, particularly because Mr. White rightly comments that the place of worship is sadly overemphasized in local congregations. The phrase, “would be replaced,” needs further comment and explanation.
Other questions are quite minor, and mention of them would serve no real purpose. It is my intention to recommend that others read the book and respond to its challenge and appeal. I congratulate Mr. White for tackling this issue and for promoting the health and growth of the Body of Christ.