In the essentials we have unity

The time is right for the Church to get back to the basics; those essential truths including the one gospel and saving faith in Christ. Once we master these essentials and live them we will begin to experience true unity in the church. A good definition of unity would be to have everything in common and at the same time embrace the diversity of gifts and callings and languages and styles that make up the Church.

Jesus prayed that we would be 'one' in John 17:21 but for almost 2,000 years the Christian Church has experienced divisions, splits, dissension and even heresy.

How can we possibly be 'one Church' when there is so much division? Some churches have only male ministers while some allow females. Some have clergy with special vestments and some are in t-shirts and jeans.  You may be used to services that last over two hours or perhaps your local church has you out in less than an hour.

While we could go on and list pages of differences there is still the prayer of Jesus that we would be 'one'. Deciding that we are ONE CHURCH is still a choice despite what appears to be stark differences. The choice is to look at our differences as interesting diversity within ONE CHURCH rather than examples of different churches. We can do this when we focus on the essentials.

Why Wait Until Tomorrow?

Back in the 1980’s the Detroit Gospel group, The Winans, recorded the song “Tomorrow”.  The lyrics are simple but at the same time very profound.

I was recently talking with a new acquaintance.   I think of him as a friend but he sees me primarily as a Pastor.  That unfortunately makes him hesitant to open up and get close enough to know and be known as a friend.

The Lyrics to “Tomorrow” are more than a story of procrastination, that somehow tomorrow would be the day. It is also the story of rejection.

Jesus said 

'Here I stand, won't you please let me in?'

And you said 

'I will tomorrow'

 

Jesus said 

'I am He who supplies all your needs'

And you said 

'I know, but tomorrow, ooh, tomorrow, i'll give my life 

tomorrow, I thought about today, but it's so much easier to say'

 

Tomorrow, who promised you tomorrow, 

better choose the lord today, for 

tomorrow very well might be too late.

As I stated, delaying the important decision to follow Jesus, to become a Christian is at the same time a rejection.  Why do many people choose to reject Jesus as Savior?  Here are a few that I’ve observed:

1. Some people don't think they are ‘too bad’.  They don't think they need a savior.  While not even trying to determine if they are good enough, they compare themselves not to the good but to the bad.  They aren’t murderers, car thieves, muggers, rapists, or child abusers so they don’t think the message of repentance applies to them.
   
   
2.  Some people fear they will have to become ‘too good’.   This is unfortunately often the fault of the church as we often preach moral absolutes, purity, chastity and abstinence rather than forgiveness, freedom, acceptance and the love of Christ.  We are all sinners and all in need of forgiveness.
   
   
3. Many people would rather believe the lie.   They are lied into beliving that the things of this world are more appealing than anything else. These are the same people that throw away their marriages and the love of their spouse for a night of pleasure.  They abdicate their roles of husband, wife, father, mother and even son and daughter for temporary pleaures that are all too quickly forgotten.   They are like the prodigal son and daughter that foolishly wastes their inheritance but are soon abandoned by their friends when the money runs out.

Like the lyrics of the song, Jesus says, “here I am….'I am He who supplies all your needs' but we too often reply…..tomorrow.  If you are interested in hearing the song, here is a link 

Courage: the necessary quality in a leader

There are many people that have spoken into the qualities of leadership over the years and most of us are familiar with some of the terms and characteristics of leadership.   Charisma, character, empathy and decisiveness hit most lists.  The one quality however that I find very often either omitted or just absent in an exhaustive list of other characteristics is that of COURAGE.

Courage definitely is one of the qualities that will separate those that can truly lead through difficult circumstance and over time and those that cannot.

I like to define courage as not necessarily the absence of fear but the absolute resolve to do that, which is right even when the wrong thing may produce what appears to be faster or even better results.

In the beginning of the Book of Joshua, the Lord tells his recently chosen leader, Joshua, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go”.

While doing the right thing in leadership is often selfless, being courageous often requires brave and confident action.   Like Joshua, a courageous leader knows that there are higher, eternal and God ordained purposes and values that supersede all others.   Courage also requires a high sense of awareness of what the right thing truly is.  All too often the immature and uninformed are quick to lead others into a position that is actually folly and foolishness rather than that which is careful and wise. 

Being a courageous leader also requires the understanding of the ultimate objective and ultimate truth.   There are truths that cannot be compromised regardless of policy, corporate objective or administrative approval.  Courageous leaders always frame their objectives and leadership in this truth and are always ultimately responsible for their actions.

Many courageous leaders are unknown or all too soon replaced with those that may be more pragmatic.   Some of our greatest leaders through history were known for their courage.  People like Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela were all courageous.  While not perfect they all were responsible for courageously leading through difficult times when many were calling for appeasement, compromise and concessions.

We need more leaders known for their courage rather than their charisma.

The Passion and Unity Connection

Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to visit a number of churches in developing countries.  These are churches that have few resources but great hearts.   Studies have shown as well that the church is growing in places like South America, Africa and China where resources seem to be few, persecution often severe and religious liberties limited.  Despite their lack, these churches have much.   They may seem weak but are actually quite strong.

Here in the United States our churches are well resourced, there is very little actual persecution and our religious liberties are protected.   Despite these advantages, our churches are divided and becoming weaker.

I’m convinced there is a direct correlation between the passion the local church has for evangelism and loving on people (what we often refer to as the Great Commission and the Great Commandment) and the unity of the church.   This is what I call the passion and unity connection 

Our disunity leads to a lack of effectiveness and is directly related as well.    Jesus prayed that we would be “one church” in John 17.  He repeated it twice for effectiveness and repeated twice that the reason for his prayer for unity was “so the world may believe You sent Me.”

When our church leaders get too comfortable in the status quo,  rather than trying to reach a lost world with the love of Jesus Christ they all too often decide it's a better use of their time to point out what they believe are flaws and faults in other Christian churches and denominations.    As a result, we become divided and this division in the church is a cancer that has been self-inflicted.

We are to be one-church because we have one-Lord and share one-Gospel.  It’s time to believe that the prayer of Jesus can be fulfilled in our lifetime.

So What Ever Happened to Diversity?

The public debate about everything from political scandals to economic and social issues is now on a vicious 24-hour cycle.   It’s not only persistent and constant it has also become vicious as in venomous.    A while ago I decided to intentionally stop watching what is too easily called ‘news’ today and stopped clicking on the ‘comments’ section of various blogs and news articles.  All too often what is posted in the news and comments is nothing but crude and ugly remarks that a few years ago would have been considered completely inappropriate.  Where I come from much of these comments if made in person, would have been considered ‘fighting words’.

As an antidote to this incessant debate, I recommend we individually and as a people consciously embrace diversity.  Diversity of our thoughts, our religious beliefs, our ethnic and cultural practices, our races, nationalities, genders, ages and physical capabilities needs to remain one of the cornerstones of our national, our political, our churches as well as our own personal identities.

Personally, I find it amusing if it wasn’t so sad that many of the people that talk about diversity, tolerance and acceptance are often the first people to demand conformity.   To them any deviation from their particular and ‘evolving’ point of view is a sign of archaic thinking or just plain abnormal and irrational.

Conformity, while actually natural and often healthy for society, can also quickly lead to latent discrimination, self-deception and forced consent.    When a group of people begins a campaign to get others to conform to their will, a social dysfunction occurs that is part of a bigger problem called ‘groupthink’.  The term, groupthink, was coined by psychologist Irving Janis back in the 1970’s.   Janis argued that groupthink leads to a deterioration of “reality testing, and sound moral judgment.” Groupthink can make groups ignore alternatives and adherents tend to take irrational actions that dehumanize other groups.  Groupthink and other measures that ‘push for conformity’ lead to a deterioration of healthy public discussion and ultimately censorship through self-appointed conformity watchdogs.

No particular business, organization, religion, political party or group is immune to groupthink.  Groupthink stifles innovation in corporations, it cuts off debate in religion.  It rewards those that push their agenda forward, punishes those who voice a different opinion and can destroy a society….even a nation.

Diversity on the other hand and by definition embraces inclusion. Diversity is the quality or state of having many different forms, types, ideas, backgrounds and directions.    While at one time people thought that diversity was the opposite of unity, in actuality, diversity is often an expression of unity.  All too often unity was represented by a conscripted conformity that was typically controlling, stifling and oppressive. 

Remember that I said that no group or person is immune to groupthink.  As you read this article you may be thinking, ‘that’s right…those guys are exploiting groupthink.’   However pointing out ‘those guys’ quickly becomes multidirectional.  In the word of the late cartoonist, Walt Kelly...“We have met the enemy and he is us.”

All of us are susceptible to the same issues with ultra-conformity and groupthink.  

One of the best ways to resist groupthink is to double our efforts in embracing diversity.  This great country, the United States of America, has been metaphorically called a ‘melting pot’ or more recently a ‘salad bowl’ and has had a remarkable track record of embracing diversity.  While we didn’t always get it right and often it took too long and included bitter fights, diversity has truly come of age in our lifetime.   We are today a great cultural mosaic.

Diversity respects that everyone may have his or her own opinion; however it does not mean that everyone’s opinion is necessarily correct or beneficial.  We need to recognize groupthink when we see it and refuse to allow ourselves to be intimidated into going along with a growing popular opinion, movement or ideology that groupthink advocates. 

Diversity is protected in our country’s “Bill of Rights” and includes our freedom of religion, speech and assembly.  It includes the right to bear arms, a freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures, the right to due process of law and freedom from self-incrimination.   While diversity may be protected it is our responsibility to be vigilant to stand up for our rights as well as the rights of others.  

Don’t allow others direct the way you should think, act or believe.