Spouse B4 Friends

Wife at work. Check. Kids in bed. Check. Netflix. Check. Chocolate pudding. Check.  What to watch...Tyler Perry's Why Did I Got Married. Wait, what??

Four couples on their annual getaway to visit as friends and speak into each others lives and marriages. And on this trip... moments of truth for all 4 marriages come forward in public, ousted not by their own spouse, but by their friends who could no longer keep silent, then the airing begins.

Okay, but what's that have to do with churches being effective and efficient? Plenty, if you don't take your issues, grievances, offenses and frustrations to the source and speak to whatever kind of relationship it is, "I love you and we need to work this out."

I remember a number of years ago asking my parents why didn't hang out with other couples or friends more often and to this day, I've not forgot their response. "We are each others' best friend. We choose to hang out together, first". They have their friends and they do stuff with other couples when the schedule permits, but by and large, they live life together. Only, now interrupted by lots of time with nearby granddaughters.

So what happens in church? Does a Pastor second-guess confronting sin in one's life for fear of...who knows, now days? Are ministries being mismanaged because of "my way or the highway" attitudes?  Why are there grumblings and complaints among you is what was asked of the early church. The disciples disputed who was the greatest in the kingdom. Just as 2000 years ago, some people received Jesus and some spat on Him, so to, some churches are dealing with the same dysfunctions in 2015 as they were in 115.

Anything to get the believer, his friends who are believers, his friends who aren't believers and believers when they come together to worship... if at any point, Satan can get you to come across as less than a follower of Christ; you may still live as though covered by His grace, but the moment you don't share grace with someone else will be used against you.

I just had a moment, literally, just now... trying to close this post as it relates to the title and church effectiveness. You know what I believe the Holy Spirit just brought to the forefront of my mind? We are the bride of Christ!

So, on this #effectiveSunday, pray that believers would focus on their relationship with Christ, first and foremost. May we take the issues and struggles of life to Him, first. Not that we don't need our friends, but just as your spouse would ask why you told your friends before them, perhaps God wonders the same. Pray that relationships, between pastors and congregations be strengthened. May they speak the truth in love, whether from the pulpit or in the pew. Pray for grace to be extended and forgiveness be offered; and for those instances where the relationship ends, may we at least, insomuch as within our power to do so, live peaceably with all. Not as the world talks of peace, but as God has ordained; peace beyond understanding, that is of the Spirit and resides in the heart; overtaking the natural state of evil that without Christ we would still operate from to this day. But for the transforming power of Christ...

For the cause of Christ. For the glory of God.
May the church be the glorious Bride of Christ, spotless, yet covered in His blood.

-PNC

---