PUTTING AN END TO WORSHIP WARS - Elmer Towns

Church, people have a stronger identity to their cell than to the church. The cell is often the
means by which newcomers are introduced to the larger congregation.
A holistic approach to evangelism requires that provision be made for the new Christian's
normal growth and development. That normal growth and development requires that the new
Christian become settled in, or bonded to, a local church. That is where he will be brought under
the ministry of the Word of God that will result in spiritual growth (1 Peter 2:2), victory over sin
(Psalm 119:9-11), answered prayer (John 15:7), growth in character (1 Cor. 3:23) and
strengthened faith (Rom. 10:17). The local church is also where Christians will be able to grow
through fellowship with other Christians (Heb. 10:25). When a church fails in the bonding
process, new Christians stop attending church regularly and the growth and development process
in their life is hindered.
Bonding is essential to the task of closing the back door of the church. Nothing is more
frustrating than spending time and effort to win people to Christ and then watching them become
unfaithful, join another local church, or drop out of church completely. But that is exactly what
happens when the task of bonding is not taken seriously. New Christians drift from one group to
another, trying to find a place where they are made to feel like a vital and needed part of the
church. If such a place is not found, they become discouraged and stop searching. In time, they
either become casual church members, move to another church, or just drop out of church.
Bonding is a biblical pattern. The church in Jerusalem grew more rapidly than any
church since that time, yet those Christians were able to keep the back door of their church closed
in spite of the incredible persecution they faced. New Christians were bonded to the church as
their felt needs were met (Acts 2:44) and they were made to feel part of the church family (Acts
2:42). Those who were already members were willing and anxious to make room for the
newcomers (Acts 2:47).
It is sometimes assumed that new Christians and new members are bonded to the church
when they formally join. In practice, the key to the bonding process is not church membership
but church ownership. Newcomers are bonded to the church only when they begin to think of the
church in terms of "my church," and that only happens when they begin to feel like a vital part of
the church as a whole or some group or organization within the church.
The cell group is the glue that keeps people from drifting through the church. Also, these
groups serve as a base of outreach to others in the community. Research suggests that to keep a
new believer in the church, he must become part of a social group, or make a relationship to
someone in the church within two weeks. Therefore, networking or bonding new believers to a
cell is imperative as part of an effective church growth strategy.
THE WEAKNESSES OF THE BODY LIFE CHURCH
Just as the cell group is the strength of the Body Life Church, it can also be its greatest
weakness. Many Body Life Churches are so committed to the cell group approach to ministry
that they neglect other effective options which may be available to them. If a particular ministry
option does not fit into the cell group model, it is probably not used by the Body Life