SHOULD RELIGION BE ORGANIZED?

This topic wasn’t chosen at random.

Each year, on the last Sunday of January, our church holds its annual meeting. This is the standing gathering where we address some of the most practical and organized aspects of church life—budget, staffing, and other significant decisions that shape our shared ministry. Everyone is welcome to attend, and members are invited to vote.

For some, that kind of meeting can feel a little too business-like to belong in a spiritual community. But I’d argue the opposite: this kind of thoughtful organization is an act of worship.

The Question Beneath the Question

Spoken or unspoken, a question often surfaces around moments like this:

Is organizing the church somehow unspiritual? Does structure get in the way of ministry? Where’s the line? And why should I participate at all?

Rather than answering from preference or tradition, it’s best to let Scripture shape our thinking.

Before looking at biblical examples, one important clarification needs to be made:

Organization exists to serve ministry—never the other way around.

If the goal becomes legalistic compliance or institutional preservation, the point is missed entirely. We use organizational tools to love Christ, love others, and serve in love; we never use people to maintain systems. Christ leads and sustains our church.

Organized Religion in the Old Testament

God’s people were never left without structure.

In Exodus 18:13–26, Jethro confronts Moses about carrying leadership alone. His verdict is direct: “What you are doing is not good.” Delegated leadership wasn’t optional—it was necessary for the health of both leader and people.

Later, in Exodus 25–31, God gives remarkably detailed instructions for the worship space. The materials were costly, the craftsmanship precise, and the time investment significant. God clearly cares about how His people worship together.

In Numbers 1–4, there’s a census, an arrangement of tribes, and clearly defined duties for the Levites. Worship, movement, and ministry all required coordination.

Finally, 2 Chronicles 29–31 shows reforms that emphasized staffing, scheduling, accountability, and stewardship in worship. Organization wasn’t seen as a threat to spiritual vitality—it was part of restoring it.

Organized Religion in the New Testament Church

The early church followed the same pattern.

In Acts 6:1–7, the church appoints seven leaders to address a practical ministry need. Organization protected unity and allowed the Word of God to continue spreading.

In Acts 14:23, elders are appointed in every church. Paul reinforces this model by instructing Titus to do the same, town by town, in Titus 1:5.

Leadership wasn’t vague or informal. 1 Timothy 3:1–13 and Titus 1:6–9 outline clear qualifications for elders and deacons—character, doctrine, and conduct all matter.

Even conflict and discipline weren’t left undefined. Jesus lays out a process in Matthew 18:15–20, and the church models collaborative decision-making in Acts 15.

Paul goes so far as to emphasize that order itself has theological significance:

• “All things should be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40)

• He rejoices in the church’s “good order” (Colossians 2:5)

• Leaders are accountable for the care of souls (Hebrews 13:17)

Why This Matters

Scripture consistently shows that God forms His people into ordered communities—with shared leadership, clear roles, accountability, and a unifying mission—so that worship flourishes and people are genuinely cared for.

Spiritual growth doesn’t happen in isolation. It requires participation in the Body of Christ. That’s why church membership exists: it’s a formal commitment to a local congregation. And it’s why the church is, at its core, a volunteer-driven community.

The more ownership and involvement there is among God’s people, the greater the growth—for those who serve and for those who are served.

Organization isn’t opposed to spirituality. When rightly ordered, it becomes one of the ways we worship together.