For the last several years, in a quest for a New Testament church functioning with the Order and Blessing
of those churches formed in the Book of Acts, I’ve been drawn to the study of the one requirement for that kind of church, unity.
As I studied unity, I discovered the complexities traditional, hierarchal denominal leadership interjects into relationships, specifically those relationships of pastors. One of the things that I find most interesting is the response of men who follow those who have labored to establish the churches they have been privileged to take the leadership of. I have been perplexed by the absolute disrespect our elders seem to receive from those who follow them in ministry! It is almost as if every generation of leaders feels compelled to distance themselves from their predecessors by annulling their work, and often with apparent disdain.
I have been a personal witness to far too many tragic endings to what was once a brilliant leader’s ministry and legacy. It seems that, by some unstated rule, fear causes the newcomer “Joshua” to tear down, impugn, and if necessary, totally disregard and replace the work of their city’s “Moses”. All of this, it seems, to create legitimacy for their own calling and transition into pastoral ministry.
While it is true that I have never taken an established church from a predecessor, and certainly do not know of the pressures that such a transition can create for the incoming Pastor, I have had the privilege of birthing a church plant.
So, in the process of this journey, I have asked myself what have I done to contribute to the spirit of competition, strife, contention, mistrust, confusion, misunderstanding, bitterness, etc. that permeates our city’s churches.
I have concluded that, while I have never intended to be disrespectful to my elder and the mentor of my life, I have not given him the honor he is due. In this, I have been negligent, and my negligence is sin. So, you ask, “What did you do about it?”
First, I wept and cried for three days in repentance. As God was purifying my heart and trying my motives, I began to see a picture of our city’s church history. It was then, while in this season of contemplative repentance, I asked God to help me be a catalyst to heal the breach, span the chasm, and build the bridge from one generation of leaders to the next.
Second, I called the two people I have never properly honored, the people who mentored me, encouraged me, and ushered me into full time ministry. I went to them in tears, seeking their forgiveness. While there, I expressed my willingness to go before their congregation and publicly ask for forgiveness for not honoring them the way I should have.
You see, I realized that I do not have a rightful claim on a "call" until I can properly acknowledge the sacrifice my mentors have made for me to be an honorable ambassador of Jesus Christ in ministry.
Third, I taught a lesson on unity and its importance to our church family. In that lesson, I expressed my deep sorrow over my neglect and sin, and I asked the Church of Champions to corporately pray a prayer of repentance with me for our church, for me, and for our city’s churches!
Finally, I went out and met different men representing varied ministries and churches throughout our city, seeking forgiveness and reconciliation. You see, there must be a healing among ministers. People will change their memberships in our churches. People will come and go. But we need an old fashioned cleansing from the bitterness, strife, contention, competition, hurt, and pain that many men carry because of the injustices that ministerial life has served them. Jesus only prayed one prayer that we can answer – the prayer that we would be one!
There are layers of breaches in relationships that the enemy is using to keep churches from experiencing a latter day outpouring. Where there is no unity, there is no day of Pentecost outpouring. Where there is mistrust, there is not transparency. Far too long we’ve been divided by theology, when a doctrine, belief, custom or tradition has never been grounds for separating brothers. Each of us is a peculiar individual, whose personality colors our world and exaggerates both our strengths and our weaknesses. We each have been called to accentuate a “truth” revealed to us by God through the prism of our personal understandings, life experiences, knowledge, education, exposure, etc. Some men’s gifts lead them to become expertly proficient in prophecy, faith, love, grace, administration, helps, etc. However, although we each have our strengths, personal revelations, and beliefs; none of it gives us license to dishonor our co-laborers.
I am challenged to unite. I am challenged to reach across the aisle to those who may differ from me theologically, socio-economically, and philosophically and say, “I need you.” Only by uniting together will the Church be a force for good, for righteousness, and for truth. My prayer is that the Church of Houston enjoys a "oneness" bound in humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance with one another in love, and a diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:2-3).
I am galvanized by the grace of God giving us an opportunity to host the couple who put so much into my wife and me, Pastor Jabo and First Lady Polly Green. If you want to witness a celebration – join us on August 29, 2010 at 2:00PM at the Church of Champions, 12922 Cutten Road, Houston, TX 77066.
I hope to see you there!
