Give me a U
March 27th, 2007 @ 10:07 am
I rarely post actual journal entries on my blog, but i was feeling very Jerry Maguire last night as we drove to a screening of the movie first snow (which, by the way, was so-so). You know the moment when Jerry wakes up in a cold sweat and composes his mission statement [not memo]? I had one of those moments last night. It is very rambling (thus the reason i rarely post journal entries) and hopefully by some miracle you will make it through….Here goes:
Unity. Something I have been seriously testing my heart on lately. Unity within the Church is so hard to come by lately it seems. From internally (my perspective as a PK growing up, and spending collectively seven years in full time vocational ministry)…it is so easy to tear down individual people with whom you work, to get frustrated with a certain department or ministry within the organization.
And externally: gossip, lying, betrayal; the Body of Christ beating up other members without a second thought. Generally speaking, local church congregations are competing instead of partnering to impact the communities in which we all are placed to be the Christ to those around us.
While there is always room for constructive criticism, iron sharpening iron per se, it should be handled with love, and Biblically, face-to-face. Not behind closed doors (or behind backs).
In the area of communication within a local church, something I have been a part of for the last two years, we especially are ever-so-fierce (without intending to be, I’m sure).
I have both been on the giving and receiving end of other church’s communication pieces, being hypercritical of their design and mistakes. I have also been hypercritical of ministries within the congregation where I serve.
What is troubling is the ease of which I have done this, and also have seen it done. When I truly reflect, I feel such conviction about conversations in which I have taken part, grumbling about this person, this ministry, this church…and how desensitized many of us have become.
These rants (subtle or obvious) litter our everyday conversations, blog posts, emails. And if we are so vocally open about them, what is truly the condition of our hearts concerning unity?
What is the condition of mine?
We tear apart the Body, piece-by-piece, oblivious to our actions…or their consequences. Again I quote the great Colson: Unity is the single most effective form of evangelism. I am learning how important this unity is. For the sake of believers…but also for the sake of those who don’t yet believe.
Related posts:
Authenticity · Church · Leadership
Rich Kirkpatrick said,
March 27, 2007 at 11:00 am
“unity of the faith” is in Ephesians 4 and what we grow a disciple to have…but not easy
Barnabus and Paul split over John Mark, so we are as human as the most godly apostles in the history of the church…still, though, your are so right ON and real mature Christians can, like Paul, change…he said later in life how John Mark is helpful to him…grace
Matt Singley said,
March 27, 2007 at 11:11 am
Very well put, thank you for sharing details of your personal journal. This is what I read twice, then again a third time:
And externally: gossip, lying, betrayal; the Body of Christ beating up other members without a second thought. Generally speaking, local church congregations are competing instead of partnering to impact the communities in which we all are placed to be the Christ to those around us.
Oh, so true. It makes me sad…when competition beats out sharing Christ. Competing instead of partnering. Ugly. I have nothing profound to say to wrap it up, other than to again say thanks for sharing your thoughts wth the world.
Hale-Yeah! said,
March 27, 2007 at 12:36 pm
great thoughts. I’m so tired of the separation, but it’s so ingrained in me. Last night we went to a church for a concert and they believe in some things that I don’t, have agendas that I don’t, and it just starts eating at you because they are pushing so hard those agendas/points of view on you that you feel defensive, which turns on the slander, gossip, and pride gene in me.
TD said,
March 27, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Thanks for the heartfelt thoughts! You’re absolutely right about unity. I on the leadership team at our church and we are really trying to teach and live the mission to love God and love others. Unfortunately all our time seems to be putting out fires within the church and not being able to give full attention to the mission.
Was it Donald Miller that said Satan’s best tool for causing us to sin is distraction? How true is that!
Joni Ruhs said,
March 28, 2007 at 12:41 am
yeah. been there, seen it, done it. ick.
by this all men will know you are my disciples..
if you recruit members to leave their church and come to yours
if you want cooler stuff than the other church
if you campaign for your ministry through back channels in the budget war
if you make sure your leader knows why so-and-so would not be good for that job
if you discuss an offense in the name of needing advice on how to deal with the person and pray for them
Oh, wait. That’s right, its if we LOVE ONE ANOTHER all men will know we follow Jesus. Like I said, been there, seen it, done it myself. Ick.
Joni Ruhs said,
March 28, 2007 at 12:41 am
sorry about the soapbox
Jason said,
March 28, 2007 at 1:57 pm
One comment…deserves another.
Although it may be odd to see you photo on another’s blog, your words simply captured my heart on the topic, and for that I thank you.
Have a brilliant day!
Jared said,
March 29, 2007 at 11:26 am
I hear you. I don’t know what it is. These past few weeks it has been a major struggle in my life.
“The church”, the place where everyone should be embraced and cared for, can be the worst offender of it’s kind. I have faced it, and I am guilty of it. Maybe it is because there is this bar that has been set that we cannot actually reach. “The church” is supposed to be this huge moral kingdom of greatness, but in all reality it is ran by sinners like you and me. “The church” is also just like any other business, things go on here that go on elsewhere. Yes I think “the church” should strive to be better then the regular business world, however, we are all human and sinners.
I am however glad I work for The Man. Because He takes all these imperfections of gossip, lying, betrayal, and etc and smoothes them out to even let a sinner like me minister to people. I might not be perfect but God is in charge and He can still work through my imperfections.
That’s my verbal vomit. I don’t even know if that makes sense, but it does in my head.
Linda said,
April 5, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Hi,
Just found this blog. It was recommended by Mary DeMuth an author whose blog I check out.
Being a pastor’s wife I could speak on the church, but I will refrain:-)
However, I do go to another blog written by a Dave Burchett and he wrote a book called Bring ‘em Back Alive..and When Bad Christians Happen to Good People.
Help for those wounded by the church. He tells it like it is.
I found it at crosstalk.com
I think he calls his blog “Confessions of a BadChristian”..following Jesus in the real world.
Lots of good insights.
Linda
Sheila said,
April 10, 2007 at 5:15 pm
I know you say you don’t write this kind of post often, but it’s the exact reason I subscribe. I hope you will do it more because it’s great stuff and very challenging. Thank you for putting yourself out there and convicting me.
U!