The Nature of the Church

It has been estimated that there are 20 000 or more species of ants! We can relate this to the church – “of every nation, tribe and tongue’! They are found on most of the earth’s landmass and are able to adapt to their environment when necessary. Ants are also social creatures, living in colonies.

The ants form new colonies through two methods, namely budding and swarming. Budding is a “breakaway of a group of ants from a mature colony to form a new colony” whilst swarming is when a young inseminated queen attempts to start a new nest by herself (not always successful). One can see the parallels to church planting!

The nest itself differs according to the species of ants. Some nests are quite complex, whilst others are not. Some are sub-terranean, some are built on trees, under stones or inside logs. In the same way each church is unique, built according to the culture of the people and according to the environment. We have communities who meet in buildings, under trees, underground, in people’s homes etc.

The queen ant is usually the largest member of the colony and of course her primary role is reproduction. The primary role of the lead elder of a church is to give vision and to teach the congregation which should lead to the raising up of more leaders, leading to growth of the local church and of course church plants. Of course within the church the lead elder is not expected to be solely responsible for the growth of the kingdom of God – individuals are commanded to go out and make disciples of all nations. Thus the comparison is not perfect! One could make another comparison of the queen ant to Jesus Himself. The queen is the head of the colony, and the ants exist to serve her and to contribute to the smooth running of the colony.

The group of non-reproductive ants are called workers. Within the church we are to contribute to the functioning of the church. The workers are involved in the building of the nest, in foraging for food, in caring for and rearing the young ants, and of course in serving the queen. Their task is chosen according to their size. In the same way the church is a group of people who seek out where they can be of service within the community of believers. Of course this is dependent upon their talents and their age (in the Lord and physical!).

The development of an ant starts from an egg which undergoes metamorphosis. It is interesting to note that a larva is cared for by workers, being fed liquid food. After a series of molts it becomes a pupa. I have read that during these developmental stages the workers actually move the larvae and pupae around the brood chamber depending on the change of temperature, as they have to ensure a constant temperature for proper development. Is this not like mature Christians caring for the young Christians, feeding them the Word of God, guiding them through their first months or year of serving our God? I have read further that even the adult ants share food which is stored in the “social stomach” of the group. Is this not like a group of believers, who share the Word of God amongst themselves? Yet on a practical level we are also required to share possessions and to help the poor.

Consider the way ants communicate. They smell with their antennae, and they leave pheromones (chemical signals) upon the soil for their fellow ants to follow. If a path is blocked then an ant will make a new trail. An unused trail soon loses its scent. The ants will continue to seek out the best route towards their food supply. A successful trail will be used frequently. The church learns from other churches in a similar way. For example. in Durban North the church leaders meet regularly to share in friendship and to share ideas. The church adapts to the times for what worked in outreach twenty years ago does not necessarily work successfully in 2012.

The ants are also able to protect themselves through biting and stinging. We believers have been equipped with the armour of God and the Holy Spirit. Just as the ant has to defend itself, we have to be alert to the enemy and be prepared to fight.

Ants are considered pests yet they are also considered beneficial to humans. They are beneficial in the aeration of soil, are used as surgical sutures in parts of Africa and South America, help to harvest rooibos, and in southern China the weaver ants are used in citrus cultivation. To me this speaks of Christians being involved in society at large. The church is not called to sit in a holy huddle behind closed doors, but is called to make an impact on the world. The individual believers can do this by being the best employee, the best board member, the better politician!

In conclusion, as the church is a group of people who continually adapt, multiply and function socially, I consider the ant colony a good comparison.

Resources
http://www.greensmiths.com/ants.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant