“And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body…” — Ephesians 1:22–23

You’ve heard of the Headless Horseman, but what about the headless church?

The image sounds strange because a headless body is unnatural. A body receives its direction, coordination, and governing impulses from its head. Separate the body from the head, and whatever movement remains cannot be healthy or sustainable. Paul says that Christ is the Head of the Church, and the Church is His body. That means Jesus is more than the founder of Christianity, the subject of our sermons, or the name attached to our worship. He is the living Head from whom His body receives its direction, unity, and life.

Yet it is possible for a church to become so accustomed to doing church that it begins functioning with little conscious dependence upon its Head. The services continue, sermons are preached, songs are sung, committees meet, calendars remain full, and programs operate. There may even be growth and impressive activity. But activity is not necessarily evidence that the body is following the Head.

A headless church asks, “What do we want to do?” rather than, “What does Christ desire?” Human wisdom gradually replaces dependence upon His wisdom. Personality replaces His presence. Popularity becomes more important than truth. Institutional survival becomes more important than mission. We can become so busy doing things for Christ that we forget the Church was designed to live from Christ.

Paul later writes that the whole body grows from Christ the Head as every part does its share (Ephesians 4:15–16). The Church does not generate its own life. We receive from Him. Where He leads, we follow. What He teaches, we believe. What He loves, we love. What He opposes, we resist. What He supplies, we receive. What He desires, we pursue. The Church is not called merely to carry Christ’s name; it is called to express the life and character of its Head.

The question, then, is not simply whether our church is active, growing, organized, or successful. The deeper question is, Is the body responding to the Head? Are our priorities His priorities? Are our methods consistent with His character? Are we depending upon His power, listening for His direction, and pursuing His purposes?

Perhaps one of the greatest dangers facing the modern Church is becoming so good at doing church that we could keep doing it without consciously depending upon Jesus. A church can survive without many things we consider essential, but it cannot truly be the Church while disconnected from its Head.

The Church is healthiest not when the body becomes impressive, but when the Head becomes visible. ©

–PGR

Disclaimer: The graphic is not intended to suggest that large churches are “headless.” It simply illustrates that a church can appear successful while functioning with little dependence upon Christ its Head. That danger is just as real for small churches as it is for large ones. The issue is not size or success, but whether the body is living in dependence upon its Head.