Ecclesiastes 4:9 reads, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.”
There I was in yet another muddled matter where I had thought that I had it all together only to find out that I needed a second set of hands. I thought to myself that I could manage this heavy recliner by myself until I got to the doorway. with no place to set it down and no way to open the door I was in a difficult situation.
Human ingenuity can get me out of this, I thought. Maybe if I kick the door with my foot someone will hear me? Maybe I could haul it back to the truck and prop the door open? Maybe if I just stand here somebody will see my need and come to my rescue?
I was barely able to stand so kicking the door with my foot was impossible! Well, I couldn’t muster the strength to carry it back to the truck! Waiting for somebody to rescue me never happened.
What happened next was a disaster. You could imagine! I just got in over my head!
Bad planning on my part. Being a Lone Ranger is not healthy. I know that about myself and yet I continue to behave this way. Instead of making several trips I try to carry all the groceries in at one time. Instead of asking for assistance I try to muscle it all on my own.
So what’s my point? Read on.
“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.” - Andrew Carnegie
I think that’s the metaphor for what often happens among our churches. We tend to believe that because we have an existing congregation and because we have resources that somehow are able to carry the entire load by yourselves. Pastors are often overwhelmed. I traveled over 40,000 miles in 2019 meeting with Pastors. I met with hundreds of Pastors one on one. I’ve averaged well over 17 ministerial groups each month. I think I know something about Pastors. Besides all that, I served as a pastor for years.
We find ourselves carrying a heavy load all by yourselves with no one to rescue us and with not even enough strength to carry-on. When it comes to reaching our communities we tend to believe that “if only” they would come to my church; and we know how that goes. Yep, just like my own experience I illustrated, it results in a disaster.
Most churches average under 100. Churches that are large struggle with the prospects of finding enough volunteers to carry on the ministry.
What if I told you that there’s an easier method?
In John 17 we find that Jesus prayed for unity. He took his disciples to a higher level of thinking. It wasn’t about who is greatest among them but about who is willing to serve. Jesus demonstrated true love by laying down his life and often we fight about preferences and ideas that don’t really matter in His Kingdom.
I believe that there should never be alone ranger in God’s kingdom. God doesn’t call us to be isolated but calls us into community. We act as if we can carry it all alone but if we are truly honest we would realize that we need each other; even if they’re from another denomination.
Recently I have been caught up in reading an incredible book that I recommend every pastor and church leader read. The book, entitled, Rooting for Rivals explores this very topic. It’s a book that challenges us to work together. As one of the authors puts it: “To focus on our unified mission and tenaciously pursue it. To do more together than we ever could do alone.”
Looking at this from the outside in, many question why the church seems to be more divided than ever before. Having been involved in ReviveINDIANA, doing prayer and evangelism, one of the biggest questions that people ask is what church are you from. The look of amazement comes over their face when we say, “We are actually from several churches.”
The authors of the book, “Rooting for Rivals” shares a startling statistic:
When they began doing the survey in 1973, 43 percent of Americans said they placed a “great deal” of trust in “the church or organized religion.” Today, just 20 percent do. In 1973, just 7 percent said they placed “very little” trust in the church. Today, 24 percent do.
The authors, and I agree with them, believe that there’s a reason that the general public don’t trust us (the church). It is because we are not unified as described in John 17.
No matter the ministry thrust, like that of ReviveINDIANA, what matters most is that we come together. My fellow prayer partner and friend, Brian Daehn recently said, “There is no unity without a purpose.”
So, I invite you to help me, and I help you. Instead of carrying the load all alone and isolated from community, let’s do it together. I’m certain that it starts with prayer but what happens next is up to us in cooperation with God!
For now, let’s pull together!
