Thursday, December 23, 2010

Competition

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
(Gal 5:13-15)

It is always interesting to hear people talk about things in the church. It seems to me that it is very easy to determine the mentality of a church by the language that is used to talk about what has gone on in the church and what is going on in the church. What is that language? It has to do with two very small words, pronouns to be exact (NOOOO, not parts of speech. Yes!). 

What are they? "We" and "they".

When we become part of the body of Christ expressed in the visible participation in a local church, there is no more "they". From now on, it is "we". Even if a person serves on a different committee from someone else, it is still "we". The use of language containing "we" and "they" instead of "we" exclusively reflects a mentality of competition instead of family. It reflects a competition of ideas and opinions and "ways of doing things" that, if not kept in check, eventually begins to resemble a democratic bureaucracy rather than a New Testament church that reflects the "body of Christ" or the "family of God". It also can reflect a refusal to take responsibility for action or non-action on a particular matter, whatever that matter may be. 

Unfortunately, one of the places this shows its ugly head is between "pastors" & "churches". Pastors are notorious for saying "we" when things go well (usually the way the pastor wants them to go) and "they" when things don't go so well. It's pretty sad because I thought "we" were in the same business, the Kingdom of God, right? Sure, we (pastors) may give the reason for our use of that language as "I'm just an outsider", but in reality maybe it's probably more about "us" (pastors) vs. "them" (congregation) because we all know how churches can be, right (sarcasm)? Maybe it's just the "power struggle" mentality that already exists in pastors & churches? Again, how sad the games we play as God's people--congregations and pastors alike. Maybe it has something to do with our view and practice of church, but that's a discussion for another day. Maybe it has something to do with the reality of sin in our hearts. Maybe...

However, it shows itself in the members of a local church as well. it may even exist before a new pastor comes to serve. Herein is the issue of competition again. Instead being "in this together", it becomes more about control and power and keeping guard. Splintered relationships are produced. On the surface, a family atmosphere might be present, but the deep, abiding relationships aren't there. In this environment of competition within the church, distrust, disloyalty, judging of motives, envy, jealousy, selfish ambition, cynicism, manipulation, and deception are bred and a vicious cycle of sin is begun. It festers and festers until this "way of doing church" becomes the norm and nobody seems to know another way because it becomes so en-grained in the culture of the church, it's hard to recognize that there's a better way (cf. 1 Corinthians 13).

The answer--the gospel. Confession and repentance are the cure--personally and corporately. Reconciliation is the result. Focus and clarification on the Great Commission is the goal. "We" are in "this" together. 


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