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What is The Vineyard?
The Idea to use the word
“Vineyard” as a name for a church came out of the Gospel of
John, in the passage where Jesus tells a parable about a vineyard. He
says, “I am the vine,
you are the branches.” (John 15:5)
But what is a Vineyard
church? Where does it come from? What does this church believe?
What differences are there between a Vineyard church and other Christian
churches?
A Christian Church
Movement
Vineyard is a Christian “evangelical”
church movement. Evangelical churches believe and
confess: One God as Creator of heaven and earth, the Bible as God’s
revealed Word and
final authority, the incarnation of Jesus Christ as the act of God becoming
a man, Jesus
Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection, Jesus Christ as Lord
and the only way to the
forgiveness of sins and eternal live with God etc.
The Vineyard is an international church movement,
or “church family”. It consists of
churches in many different countries that have a relationship with other
Vineyard churches
in an international fellowship network. The goal of the church family
is to give support and
encouragement to churches and to the church leader. Those who have chosen
to be part of
the Vineyard church network have done so because they identify with the
values, which the
Vineyard holds, and with the church lifestyle to which the Vineyard aspires.
These pastors
have faith in the leadership, which exists within the movement, and want
to serve in a close
relationship with other leaders who are likeminded.
A Church Family with
Common Values
Christian churches have at the most basic level
a common confession in which Jesus
Christ is the “corner stone”. Every congregation or church family
has, however, its
own distinctive character and personality. Different churches emphasize
different
values, and often prioritise different aspects of Christian lifestyle
in their teaching and
in their fellowship. A few things which are emphasized and to which we
aspire in the
Vineyard are for example:
• A devoted love for God, which is expressed
through worship, music and
creativity.
• Biblical teaching that is practical and down-to-earth but which
is still
theological and well founded.
• A church life in which God’s presence is the center, and
in which God’s Holy
Spirit characterizes our fellowship.
• An informal and relaxed fellowship environment in both the services
and the
smaller “house-groups” where friendship and brother- and sisterhood
can be
built.
• An environment of training in which Christians can be helped
to grow in
character and in their ability to serve others with the gifts of the
Spirit.
• A simple and non-dramatic style in which our interaction is characterized
by
authenticity and openness.
• A love for our fellow human beings, which is expressed by unselfish
service to
others.
• A warm and open fellowship where both spiritual seekers and Christians
from
other churches feel welcome and respected.
A Part of the larger
People of God
A fundamental attitude, which is important for
the Vineyard movement, is the
recognition of the larger People of God, and a respect for the different
church
movements that exist. In other words, we do not want to be an elitist
or sectarian
movement that sees itself as God’s only effective tool. The Vineyard
is rather seen
as just one tribe among God’s larger people, a small expression of
God’s church in
the world, a branch in the great garden of the Kingdom of God. No church
that exists
is alone capable of reaching the whole of its city, or the whole of its
country with the
gospel of Jesus Christ.
All of the different churches are necessary because
of their unique manner and
personality. All of the different parts of the Church, the body of Christ,
need each
other. For this reason, Vineyard leaders are encouraged to seek regular
contact and
fellowship with other Christian churches and pastors in their area.
A Church-Planting
Movement
A number of people are open for the Gospel and
are therefore attracted to the
churches that already exist and find their spiritual home without problem.
But there
are many people who have a personal faith in God and who are open for
the Gospel,
but do not find a home in any of the churches that already exist. Sometimes
it seems
as though they are receptive towards the Gospel’s content, but have
been put off by
the “package” - the outer form and structure. A conviction within
the Vineyard
movement is that new congregations are needed in order to present the
same
Gospel in a new “package”.
Multiplicity and variation among the churches
is needed in order to reach the
enormous variety of different people with different lifestyles and cultures
that exist,
not least in Norden. Church planting has statistically been proven throughout
the
world to be one of the most effective methods of bringing people to faith,
and for the
Kingdom of God to expand in a community. Church planting is therefore
encouraged
even within cities where there are already Christian congregations.
A Renewal Movement
Older, more established churches are like treasure
chests, filled with the wealth of
experience and history - a wealth of faithful people who are good examples
for Christ,
a wealth of music and musicians, and often a broad wealth of ministries
and material
resources. At the same time, the need may arise for new inspiration, new
life and
renewal in the midst of this great wealth. The majority of Vineyard churches
are
relatively new, and have, therefore, greater possibilities for testing
and appropriating
new forms for their meetings, new structures and new styles of music etc.
There is
much less need to take into account older and more established forms of
worship. It
is therefore easier to encourage and make room for new things, which the
Lord wants
to do in the church. A wealth of new life grows out of this environment,
and can be a
resource for more established churches.
The leaders in the Vineyard
have the support of many leaders in other churches for
their role as a renewal movement of this type. For this reason, conferences,
weekend meetings, training seminars etc. are arranged in which older congregations
and Vineyard churches can work side by side. In the final assessment we
wish for
the Kingdom of God to be enlarged, and we all need each other in this
wonderful
task, which we have been given by God.
A Small Part in the
Big Mosaic of the Kingdom of God
In conclusion, one could say that the Vineyard
is just a small part among other
beautiful parts in the big mosaic of the Kingdom of God in which the image
of Jesus
Christ is taking form, in which the name of Jesus Christ is above all
other names, and
in which all honour belongs to God!
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