We Are One

If you are thinking about joining with the work of Mainstream in some way, you may wish to take a few minutes and read this page to see what we believe the Lord is saying to the Church today about working together as the Body of Christ.

One Body, Many Parts

We believe that the Lord has called every believer and every group of believers, whether a church, ministry or other organisation to be in relationship with one another, as one Body in Christ. In practical terms, it would be impossible for every believer to personally know every other.

However, in spirit, attitude and practice it is important that we hold to the Lord’s command to love one another and see each other as members of one family, bound together by the Blood of Christ, supporting and encouraging one another as the Lord gives us the opportunity. In this way, the world will not see a Christ divided, but whole, mighty and compassionate; and the work of the Holy Spirit in convicting men of their need for Christ is not hindered by our self-centred practices.

Equally, we are not called to be in isolation, standing alone. If we do, we become easy prey to our enemy, Satan; and can more easily fall into sin and error. Further, the Lord has spread His resources and gifts throughout the Body of Christ, and given each one of us a part to play. It is vital therefore, if we are to remain strong in the Lord, and in His truth, and fulfill the work of the Gospel, that we work together as the Lord directs.

This is the message that the Lord has given to Mainstream to proclaim both in word and practice. (See the ‘Mission’, ‘The Message’ and ‘What We Believe’ sections for more information)

It is also why we passionately believe that the Lord is calling us to work together as one body, one family in Christ; and why we at Mainstream are looking for those who share this vision, so that we can join together with them for the Glory of the Lord, the advancement of the Kingdom and the building up of the Body of Christ, and each of its members.

Shared Ministry

We also believe that the Lord has created a “family” structure for the whole Church. Just as in our natural families, we may have a closer relationship with some members of our family than we do with others. This may be for many reasons such as where we live, or who we work with; yet that does not change the fact that all are members of one family, supporting and encouraging one another. So too it is with the family of Christ.

Throughout the New Testament we see this; local fellowships of believers, meeting together in smaller groups, and sharing with others in the same region; local fellowships sharing with other local fellowships in different regions when a need arose. This connection was aided by groups of Ministers (Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, and others), often raised up from within local fellowships going out from region to region, teaching, encouraging, equipping, preaching, and helping to share information about needs, and bringing aid from other regions to meet those needs. In this way, all believers were able to maintain fellowship, even though spread over many different regions and countries.

Also, in addition to the universal call and command of God on every believer to spread the Gospel and work together in Love and unity, each individual and each local fellowship was given a additional call and role to play within the Body of Christ. So it is today. Although the Body of Christ has grown, and man has developed many different traditions and ways of expressing their Faith in Christ, the principles of shared ministry remain unchanged.

God’s Family Today

Today, the same basic structure of God’s Family is expressed in many different ways, reflecting the rich cultural and geographic diversity of the “living stones” that make up the Church. However, Jesus’s command that we love, support and encourage one another as One Body in Him has not changed.

To acheive this unity does not mean we must have institutional conformity; especially if doing so would mean compromising the truth and authority of the Scriptures. Rather it means we must acknowledge God’s command to cooperate in the work of the Gospel; not seeing ourselves as in competition with one another, but co-workers with Christ and each other.

It may also mean that we have to set aside some of our man-made traditions, prejudices and practices, as well as learn to bear with the practices of our brothers and sisters that are not familiar to us, but do not compromise the Gospel.  It most definitely does mean that we must, as Scripture tells us; “to put on love”.  (Colossians 3:9-17)

The Local Church

This is the most fundamental building block for the Body of Christ. Each local group of believers, of common heart and mind, is called to:

… fellowship and worship together regularly;

… support, minister to, teach, admonish and encourage one another within the fellowship;

… reach out with the Gospel in both word and practice to their local community and beyond;

… to be in fellowship with other local groups of believers in the work of the Gospel;

… and to share with the wider Body of Christ those resources the Lord has given them, both spiritual and material.

A local church may also find the Lord has called them to additional ministries that are needed within their own communities or beyond.

Church Groupings

Often seen today as denominations with a strict hierarchy, a group of churches may also be one with a common oversight or authority structure that has simply grown from one church planting new churches in local areas. In many ways, these groups are really extensions of the individual local church and can be either very large with many layers of overseers and authority; or they may be quite simple and gathered within a smaller geographic area. Either way, it is important to remember, that on their own, they are NOT, THE Church, or the whole body of Christ – simply a part of it. As such they are called by the Lord to work with other churches, groups and ministries in the spirit of Christ-ordained unity.

Associations, Alliances, Fraternals and similar organisations

These can take many forms, but generally have the purpose of bringing together different parts of the Body of Christ, be they churches, ministers, equipping ministries or other Christian organisations and believers for shared fellowship and support.   They serve a vital role in the Church today by uniting believers in common purpose and support, provided they do not become inward looking and exclusive.   They may be large, national and international organisations, or local fellowships within a single region such as Pastors’ Fraternals. Whatever their size or structure, the purpose should always be to Glorify God by expressing love and unity among the members, as well as cooperation with, and love to, other organisations and associations throughout the Body of Christ.

Equipping Ministries

In many ways, such ministries today have their root in the ministries of Paul, Barnabas and the other apostles, prophets, teachers and workers who travelled from region to region encouraging, teaching, aiding and helping to build up the local churches. They can be found too in the early missionary journeys, and even in the business ministries of those who conducted business for the purpose of supporting the work of the Gospel, and further back among the Old Testament Saints who did the same for the Work of the Lord.

Equipping Ministries may be part of a church grouping or association, or they may be independent ministries, set up in answer to a Call of the Lord to fulfil a need within the Body of Christ. It is important to remember however that they do not replace the responsibility of the local church to do the work of Evangelism and meet needs within the local community, but are there to enhance and help the local church in its mission. Wherever a local fellowship of believers exists, and is willing, equipping ministries should work with them in partnership, as different parts of the Body of Christ, sharing a common purpose.

In an increasingly complex and technical global society, the role of equipping ministries becomes even more important since specialist skills, experience, training and resources are often needed to meet all of the demands of ministry throughout the modern world.

Whatever the ministry’s calling: Evangelism, Radio and TV broadcasting, Education and training, Social Welfare, Disaster Relief, Resourcing through business and enterprise, or any of a number of specialist skills and services; we must remember that we as believers are called to work together, as members of the one body of Christ.

Salt and Light – Together

The Church, and each individual member within it, no matter what their role, gifting or calling are to be Salt and Light to this world, showing Christ in all we do and say (Matthew 5:13-16). To do so, we must have the Character of Christ:

… Compassionate, filled with a Love for God, for one another and for the lost world;

… Honest and open in all our dealings with others, as stewards of God’s resources;

… Accountable to one another, preferring others to ourselves;

… Living a life of service and sacrifice; not self-serving, jealous or competitive in the faith; and preferring to give rather than receive;

… Humble, not thinking of ourselves more highly than we should, remembering that it is only by God’s Grace that we have been set free from sin and death, and that our calling, giftings, talents, abilities, skills and resources are a gift from God, given at His pleasure, not something that we have earned through our own good works or righteousness.

The ultimate expression of this is when we work together in unity and purpose, according to Scripture, giving God the glory and fulfilling Jesus’ desire as expressed in His prayer to the Father: “that they may be one, even as You and I are one”.

If this is something you believe as well, we would ask you to consider joining with us in Mainstream Ministries, so that we may Glorify God together in fellowship and power.