Integrity is more than not doing wrong things....
I remember when one of our children had their first birthday or Christmas, and the wrapping paper had a greater attraction than the presents. Having no understanding of what was taking place meant that whichever child it was did not appreciate the gift, and concentrated on something which had a purpose, which was to decorate and protect the gift until the time of giving, then it was meant to be thrown away.
The church I referred to in the previous post, "Being the Best," had a strong emphasis on servanthood, where there was an expectation that serving one another in a variety of ways was the norm: there were frequent occasions when people would help others out in extravagent and sacrificial ways. Having spent my early years as a Christian in churches where I was well-taught the doctrines of the faith, it was a new and refreshing experience to be part of a group where we learned not just the right things to believe, but also how to live for one another.
Some of the experiences I have had, both then and since, highlight the need to take seriously the, "one anothering," verses in the Bible. Some time ago, I was part of a small group which met together on a regular basis. On one occasion which we missed, the group re-enacted the time when Jesus took on the job of the lowliest servant in the house by washing his disciples' feet. By all accounts, it was a very moving experience for everyone present, that was talked about for some time afterwards.
Very soon after that, a member of the church asked some people in the group to give up some time to help them with a job that needed doing, and a few said that they would. However, when the day arrived, not one of them turned up. The people who only a few days earlier were having a spiritual experience mimicking Jesus serving the disciples, when a real opportunity to serve came up, they were nowhere to be found.
When the true gift of servanthood, which reaps a heavenly reward was presented to them as an opportunity, they discarded the gift and amused themselves by playing with the wrapping paper. If ever you get a craving for doing someone a service, I have plenty of jobs that need doing around the house that I could have a go at, given some assistance. Just don't offer to wash my feet: I can do that myself!
The church I referred to in the previous post, "Being the Best," had a strong emphasis on servanthood, where there was an expectation that serving one another in a variety of ways was the norm: there were frequent occasions when people would help others out in extravagent and sacrificial ways. Having spent my early years as a Christian in churches where I was well-taught the doctrines of the faith, it was a new and refreshing experience to be part of a group where we learned not just the right things to believe, but also how to live for one another.
Some of the experiences I have had, both then and since, highlight the need to take seriously the, "one anothering," verses in the Bible. Some time ago, I was part of a small group which met together on a regular basis. On one occasion which we missed, the group re-enacted the time when Jesus took on the job of the lowliest servant in the house by washing his disciples' feet. By all accounts, it was a very moving experience for everyone present, that was talked about for some time afterwards.
Very soon after that, a member of the church asked some people in the group to give up some time to help them with a job that needed doing, and a few said that they would. However, when the day arrived, not one of them turned up. The people who only a few days earlier were having a spiritual experience mimicking Jesus serving the disciples, when a real opportunity to serve came up, they were nowhere to be found.
When the true gift of servanthood, which reaps a heavenly reward was presented to them as an opportunity, they discarded the gift and amused themselves by playing with the wrapping paper. If ever you get a craving for doing someone a service, I have plenty of jobs that need doing around the house that I could have a go at, given some assistance. Just don't offer to wash my feet: I can do that myself!
posted by Sparky at 4:31 pm
2 Comments:
For the last year I have been part of a church plant related to the Kingdom Faith movement (Colin Urquhart). It's been a great learning experience for me as we have sought God for the 'shape' of the church. I'd like to share two things that God has said to us about leadership:
The first is that in a church the leader has to be expendable. The devil will always try to 'strike the shepherd' - there are many examples within the charismatic movement of respected leaders falling into sin; also, if the church is working properly, we should expect persecution, the imprisonment of leaders, even perhaps their death. God wants us to be a church where the life, the gifting, the vision is in the body - where the removal of a leader, for any reason, does not dramatically affect our identity and ministry.
The second is a picture, a simple one, but very powerful - a cycle pursuit team. Such a team operates with one taking the lead and the others following close behind. The leader takes the brunt of the wind, forges the path and the others shelter in the slipstream. Then after a time the leader drops back and another comes to the fore - one ministry takes a rest whilst another ministry spearheads the church's work.
Leadership within the church is meant to be functional, a tool the Lord uses. We tend to see leadership in ways, and treat leaders in ways, that militate against humility, and develop isolation and vulnerability.
Good point, Darren, and I think most people would agree with you,... except possibly a lot of leaders!
The URC, for all its faults, lets elders serve for four years, after which they must step down for a minimum one one year.
Most of the ex-leaders I have known in the Charismatic Movement in the past 23 years have, if they stayed at all, left the church they used to lead within a few months.
I can understand why, as an ex-leader of a church, I have been treated with a degree of caution (is he trying to take over our church?) but I can also see that part of that is to do with self-interest: I said in a recent post about weak leadership, those operating beyond their level of gifting, those with a controlling spirit, strong personalities whose character isn't there yet, and may never get there if they continue to hold on to the leadership mantle that is stopping them from growing.
James Thwaites has written a couple of excellent books: the church beyond the congregation (which I haven't read) and renegotiating the church contract (which I have read). In the second, he dissects the common model of leadership and how it exercises so much control instead of releasing and empowering the people to be all that they are called to be in God. I'll drop it round next time I see you!
Chris
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