Sunday, August 09, 2009

UNITED IN UNCERTAINTY

One of the things I love about being at Memorial is the elders and staff have reason to work in complete harmony; none of us know what we are doing. If anyone thinks he or she does know what we are doing, we become completely bumfuzzled as well as disoriented. We work best not knowing where we are going.

This surely doesn't speak well to those enamoured with organization; and many in church leadership roles are zeroed in on this one speck. But I must remind you that the guy tagged as the very Father of Faith---Abraham was his name---is reported in Hebrews 11 as going out not knowing where he was going.

You see, when we always know we are in grave danger of knowing because we've shot too low. We've melted to the weaker wisdom of manageable men. When we know what is going on, we will usually find ourselves stuck with something which fades in effectiveness.

On the other hand, when we try in areas which we can neither measure nor project there is such an opening to the Spirit of God to do what He wishes with our efforts.

We have great harmony among our leadership because the biggest trait we can must---even together---is weakness. We are dependent upon God. We are wishing big, dreaming big, and wanting results. But we are burnt out bt our own efforts. We get fatigued over church labor without God's leadership.

We are united; not because we are brilliant. We are foolish.....I Cor. 1:20-31. The good news is we know it. Harmony in the Spirit work is so much more productive than the frustration of trying to herd the cats via man-organization.

1 comment:

Stoogelover said...

My last preaching role, I could never get the right elders to understand this concept of truly walking by faith. They want (and still do) to manage every aspect of church leadership and try (though they will deny this) to substitute church programs for trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I don't always leave a comment, Terry, but I drop by here daily to see what you have written. It's always worth the trip!