Jump Start # 1356

Philippians 2:2 “Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.”

  It seems that congregations have good days and bad days, just like people do. I know of several congregations right now that are really doing well. They are growing, their spirit is soaring and things are on the upswing. Some of these places are have issues with where to put everyone so plans are underway to add on to the building. Exciting times. I also know of several congregations right now that are struggling. They are going through some problems and with some, people are leaving. There is a sour spirit and a negative feeling at the moment and things do not seem to be getting better. It’s hard to get excited about worship when things are tense and there is a feeling that some are kept in the dark and things are not right.

Now all of this connects us to our verse today. This one passage sure emphasizes togetherness and unity. Notice the words found here: Same mind and same love; united; intent; one purpose. Paul wanted the Philippians to all be going in the same direction. He wanted them to be the same on the inside as well as the outside. He wanted equality of love and thinking. Those thoughts are noble, Biblical and hard to do sometimes.

Here are a few thoughts:

1. Congregations are separate from one another. This is the way God designed them. Each congregation is independent. There is no hierarchy that ties everyone together other than Jesus. There is no central headquarters that sends out memos on what is to be preached each week. Money does not flow back and forth between congregations. No one beyond the congregation determines when and where the preacher comes from or when it is time to go. Very, very few faiths operate this way. Most run like a franchise or a business model. God’s way is best. If one congregation is diseased it will not affect the rest. So, I can not base what is going on in my home congregation as the standard for what is going on in the rest of the congregations. I’ve read articles such as: “The church is losing it’s young people,” or, “The church isn’t growing today,” which are broad generalities based upon the observation of a few congregations. Can’t do that. What is happening at one may not be what is happening at another. So one congregation may be doing well and another one may be stinkin’ – at the same time.

2. Each congregation sets the tone for the atmosphere and temperature among the brethren there. When I say temperature, I do not mean the air temperature, but rather the mood, the attitude and the spirit. Our verse reminds us to be united in spirit. Every home and every congregation carries a certain temperature. It just takes a few moments among the people and you feel it. Some are very cool and it shows. They look down upon new faces. Others are very warm. They are what I call a “huggin’ church.” Lots of hugs. Lots of smiles. Lots of folks hanging around because they like to be around one another. How does a church get that way? It’s from the people but especially from the leadership. Huggin’ preachers and huggin’ elders set the tone for huggin’ members. Warm churches understand that we are all on a journey together and we are not all at the same place. Patience and love are the order of the day. Cold churches are like sitting down at the dinner table with mama. She always has something to say about us and it’s usually not good. Get your elbows off the table…chew with your mouth closed…say ‘please’…finish your peas. Mamas are like that. Some churches just like that. As soon as you walk in, folks have their radar guns pointed at you. They look at the clock when you walk in, seeing how close it is to starting time. They look at how you are dressed. They look at which Bible you brought today. They look at where you are sitting. All that pressure creates tension and uneasiness. A person feels like that they not only have to please the Lord, but they also must pass the test of all these brethren who are watching them. The temperature of a congregation can be changed. It takes some doing and a lot of leadership and some teaching and especially some patience and time, but it can be done. Cold churches can warm up. Stiff churches can start huggin. Judgmental churches can put down their radar guns. It can be done, I’ve seen it. These things do not happen naturally, nor over night. But with the right folks at the helm leading the way, you would be amazed at what can be done. One of the first things people notice and say, “This is not the same church.” Nope. We are trying to be like Jesus.

3. This unity stuff is hard because we are different and we begin with the notion that our way is a pretty good way and everyone just ought to follow me. The problem is everyone else is thinking just the same. Two being one was first introduced in the marriage concept that God gave us. Two separate people, with different backgrounds, families and experiences, come together and become a husband and wife. Two becoming one—it involves more than just the physical side of marriage. It includes the thinking, the goals, the intent, the purpose, the journey. I read one writer who said the problem with the two becoming one, is which one. That’s where trouble begins. We dig our heels in and expect the other one to change for us. This stains a marriage and it strains a church. We are different but we can be one because of Jesus. He is the model. He is the standard. Women can look to Jesus and learn. Married men can look to Jesus and learn. Gentiles can look to Jesus and learn. Even though Jesus was not a Gentile, married, nor a woman, we still can learn and change because of Him. His heart, His compassion, His love, His devotion, His holiness are all things that all of us can learn and become. The one mind, one spirit and one voice that the N.T. teaches is not my mind, spirit and voice, or is it your mind, spirit and voice. Rather, it’s Christ. When I have the mind of Christ and you have the mind of Christ, we will be the same. When we both speak the voice of Christ, we will be the same. When we both have the spirit of Christ we will be the same. Problems arise when one of us or both of us no longer have that Christ-like quality in us. Our oneness suffers. We can’t be united upon my thinking nor your thinking, because our thinking tends to be slanted toward us. It must and only be united around Christ. This is how differing people become one. Everyone puts on Christ. Everyone acts like Christ. It can and does work. I’ve seen it. Forgiveness and grace and love and compassion fill the air. Gossip and judgmental spirits die out. They become no longer welcomed among a group that is acting like Jesus.

Folks can get along. Folks can gel together in Christ. Paul said so. The N.T. shows us that. It is happening today all over the world. Maybe it’s time for some of us to put down the tomahawk and pick up the peace pipe. Maybe it’s time to walk in the other person’s shoes, to see what he is going through. Maybe it’s time to stop pointing fingers and open up your hand in an apology. Maybe it’s time to forgive. Maybe a good ole’ hug is in order. Maybe it’s time we thought less of self and more of Christ.

Oneness. Unity. Getting along. This is necessary if a congregation is going to grow. This is necessary if a congregation is going to please the Lord. This is necessary if a congregation is going to make an impact in the community. No one likes a fussing and fighting church, except Satan. He’s the only one that smiles at disasters!

Be like Christ.

Roger