Come Together

 So, I came across one of the associate pastors' posts on social media earlier today. He was at church with some of other leadership, holding a meeting for those interested in becoming members of our church. Over sixty people in attendance! How awesome is that?

Membership is such a cool concept. The skewed view, is that it is a form of exclusivity and "better-than" egos and attitudes. And sadly, that's an incorrect, and detrimental perspective... at least when it comes to religion.

What it is, is an alignment. It's a partnering together, in which both parties are benefiting from the relationship. In order for that to be true, both parties need to be contributors in that relationship. It's a coming together for unity of purpose and commitment to the process. There is commonality of goals and a joining of skills and connections to pursue and accomplish them together.

Can such things happen in an organization where membership is not a clearly defined distinction of the people involved? Sure. But it also gives opportunity for people to more easily disconnect from an organization. In a formal agreement, if any point something occurs that prompts my disagreement, there's an obligation to resolve whatever is happening. Otherwise, without an established agreement, one can simply say they disagree and leave.

People may not know there's a problem. They don't have an opportunity to understand the problem. Address the problem. Correct the problem.

The bypassing of that simply 4-step process, not only kills relationships, but ultimately, it will destroy a community. Continued disconnects that go unresolved for indefinite periods of time dissolve whatever the people or organization was coming together to accomplish in the first place.

So, pray this #communitySaturday, that the church would be a place where people are unified in purpose, vision and mission. For an ever increasing commitment to the cause of Jesus Christ and the advancement of the kingdom of Heaven. Pray that the church community would be a force for good, bringing benefit to the communities they serve as the express the love of God through the establishment of relationships. Pray the church would be strengthened, not allowing problems to go unnoticed and uncorrected. May the enemy not gain a foothold, where personal preference, attitude and ego dominate the church culture; but that Christ alone would be glorified.

For the advancement of the Gospel
And on the Earth
As is the kingdom of Heaven.

- PNC