When are we going to put our plans down? Our egos down? Our walls down? When will we see that the "moat" to the Kingdom of God has been opened for us to enter HIS KINGDOM and forsake ours?!
I wonder if your community is anything like mine? Very few churches work together for the same mission. All of our "church" experience is centered inside of four walls and with those who "belong" to "our" congregation. We have fortified our castles and staked claim to our people. As true and authentic fellowship begins to happen with people "crossing over the line", we scream foul and immediately begin to close ranks.
Am I just a young foolish pastor who believes that churches should work together helping people in our very own community? So many non-profits and para-church ministries popping up doing the work that we "The Church" (body, not building) should be doing.
The moment a church (building/denomination) starts to put a ministry together with the emphasis of multi-church participation the walls start to raise. "We don't like that pastor", "They don't believe like we do (the right way)" and my latest favorite... "Those are my disciples and I don't want anyone else pouring into them" are just a few things you begin to hear.
Selfishness!
1st Corinthians 3:1-9
"1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not mere men? 5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."
If we are in the work of ministry, why can't we see things like Paul? He and Apollos had conflict and yet understood they were on the same mission. In building up the body of Christ, teaching, edification.... in discipleship there is no ownership, not on our part! We are Gods workers, those we disciple are God's building! If I plant and another pastor waters it is still God that gives the growth! What are we but servants!
We can be sure we are serving our OWN kingdom when with clinched fists we cling tightly to what we perceive is ours. Guess what.... the church we serve is not ours! The people who attend... not ours! The money that comes in.... definitely not ours! The definition of mission... not ours! Pastors, ministers, leaders, followers and all who claim Christ as Lord... All belongs to HIM! If it's your church, you're not serving... you're ruling! If they're your people, they're not HIS sheep but your subjects. Let's unclench our hands and let God work in the lives of your community using us has His Workers "Comm"ing together in "unity". Community!
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