God's Simple Plan
for His Church
--- reviewed ---


God's Simple Plan for His Church
-- and Your Place in It
by Nate Krupp
Solid Rock Books; 1993
ISBN: 1-879112-19-1
Nate Krupp writes of the Simple Plan in easy-read outline form, concise, and to include a (personal) revelation from God. [p.4:preface] Nate's forthright and introspective approach stands taller among so many volumes attempting to explain or reframe the New Testament church today. The author has, from his preface, reliably identified for the reader significant caveats and stumbles in his own way -- though they be few. When all subjective thought is filtered away, this book can bring to the faithful by way of reminder many good things about God's Church.
Nate's challenge to the reader: [p.8]
“So do we want the Church that men have devised or the one that God has in mind?”

 SIMPLY NOT SO:

p.73  Within a list of Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Nate writes, Leading -- coordinating the activities of others
 …though such an approach to leading does not ring true with the New Testament. [Matthew 20:25-28; II Corinthians 1:24]

p.77  In chapter 11, “Women -- Equal Partners,” Nate Krupp presents the kephale question, including key references from the Bible where this Greek word appears (often translated: “head”) I Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 5:22-31. Kephale means source, and within the context of Scripture, source or head brings life and authority. From both the letters to Ephesus and Corinth, the meaning and our understanding of kephale should be sustainable in rightly applying the relationship between man and woman AND Christ and the church. Attempting to remove source-authority from kephale injures our relationship to Jesus Christ.
A similar error in the apprehension of roles and authority is to be noted as Nate later writes, p.80  With regard to the wife's authority and responsibility to manage the home, I Timothy 5:14 says that widows are to “get married, bear children, keep house…” The Greek word for “keep house” (a very poor rendering of the Greek) is “oikodespoteo,” and means, “to rule a household,” or “be master of a house.” God intends for a wife to “rule, master, run, manage” the home. In too many homes the wife manages the home until the husband walks in, then he “takes over.” This should not be. Dear husbands, release your wife to manage the home!
So also, when Jesus Christ “walks in” for the Bride and “takes over” as Lord of His house. [see also: Matthew 8:5-12; Isaiah 3:12]

p.78  Eve was not meant to be Adam's helper in the sense of a servant, but in the sense of a spiritual help and an assisting partner. …because of the Fall, Adam would have a tendency to rule his wife. God warned Eve, “He will rule over you.” [Genesis 3]
Whether we be a servant in material or spiritual, such theory is both interesting and prone to error, lacking confirmation from God Himself.

p.99  Several writings in the early Church indicate that there was an office of female elders until it was eliminated in A.D. 363 at the Council of Laodicea.
Such a possibility does not address how or when this office truly was begun. As we are well aware, many practices entering the church (then & now) were not known to be prescribed or acknowledged by the Apostles.

p.121  …the family is the most important unit of society, more important than the church or any other entity. We must return to putting the family unit in first place priority.
A common and tragic call to error, as Jesus Christ will not accept our placing of the family unit in priority before Him. In fact, He remains our only priority; everything (including family) flows from the Father through Him. [Ephesians 4:1-5; Romans 12:1-2]