The Competitive Church

“Hello, my name is Josh- it’s very nice to meet you.”

“Josh, it’s very nice to meet you as well. Where are you from? And, what denomination are you representing?”

If you have ever attended a gathering of the clergy, which includes ministy practitioners from across denominational lines, the chance that you have been involved in an exchange, such as the one mentioned above, is pretty good.

What I have been wondering about a great deal, as of late, is why we tend to ask questions that result in separation rather than unity?

For example, in the aforementioned situation, why do we ask what denomination or church a person represents, rather than asking how the work of God’s kingdom is advancing in a person’s field of mission?

Why, for example, don’t we ask one another how discipleship is taking place, in one’s context, rather than writing someone off because they are outside of our theological camp?

Why do we end up talking about the vision and mission statements of our respective churches and denominations, rather than talking about how we can more effectively accomplish God’s mission in this world?

Just a thought…

Tags: Church, Competition
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Jealousy, Competition, and Why We Don’t Celebrate the Accomplishments of Others

8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.

Romans 1.8-10

I read these few verses from the opening chapter of Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, and I see a man who loves God and is excited by every move of God. Paul has not had the privilege of being in a service. Nor has he been able to witness firsthand what God is doing. Rather, he has heard reports of what God is doing, how He is moving, and the impact that said movement is having.

In response to what he has heard, Paul praises and thanks God. He praises and thanks God constantly and persistently. Regularly and frequently he comes before God, celebrating what God is doing in and through the lives of the Christians in Rome.

Paul loved the God and he was one-hundred percent committed to seeing God’s kingdom come and His will be done.

Do we, as followers of Jesus, have that same attitude? Or are we constantly striving to outdo the other churches in town? How often do we stop and thank God for what He is doing in and through the other churches in town? Do we regularly celebrate and thank God for the exponential rate of growth at another church, even while our own rate of growth is slow, at best?

Why is it that so many times we seem jealous, rather than happy, that God is expanding His kingdom? Is it because He is using someone other than us?

What do so many churches try to compete with one another- instituting an identical program, trying to create an atmosphere of worship that will allow their worshippers to out-worship those Christ-followers at the other end of town? Is it because what we do is more about building our own little kingdoms than about co-laboring, together with God and others, thereby expanding God’s kingdom?

Why do people view it as strange if, during our worship gathering, we stop to pray for and/or celebrate how God is using another church, even if it is not a member of our denomination? Could it be that we have become so inwardly focused that we have failed to recognize the far-reaching and expansive nature of what God wants to do?

Tags: Church, Competition, jealousy, spirituality
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