One Under the Blood
We are one family in Christ. Sometimes we forget this. We make divisions where God sees amazing potential for unity. We hobble our potential because we focus on our differences as if they were a negative thing. What we so often forget is that our differences are what makes this world beautiful. If we just take a look at the twelve men Jesus called to be his close disciples, we see that he chose men who were very different. On one hand, he chose James and John, brothers whom he nicknamed “Sons of Thunder” while also picking Andrew, Peter’s brother. While James and John are known for their bold proclamations and impulsive behavior, Andrew is remembered as being a much more humble and quiet man. Our differences are not weakness, but rather our greatest strength.
Throughout my life, I have had the privilege of attending many different types of churches. Whether it was because we moved quite a lot or because I was asked to either come and sing or teach, I have participated in an array of different types of services. One thing I have noticed is that, for the most part, the service style matches the congregation. People are drawn to a worship and learning style that compliments their personality. In order for a person to grow, they must be planted in fertile soil that matches their needs. I am a very loud person. I have high energy and laugh quite easily – and boisterously. I am not for everyone. I once co-taught a Bible study with a wonderful woman who could not be a greater opposite than my personality. Where I am loud, she is very soft spoken. Where I tend to interject as many personal and hopefully entertaining stories and examples into my teaching time, she excels at listening and gently nudging the conversation. We offered the same study, at two different times. People were able to sign up for the one that fit their learning style. It was beautiful. Those who were shy and felt more relaxed in a gentle environment got the most out of their study time with the other lady. Those who were loud talkers and laughers got the most out of their time in my class. The experience was different. God was the same.
Jesus declared that “For he that is not against us is for us.” (verse 40) That does not mean that everyone who claims to be on the side of Christ actually is. We cannot forget that Jesus also warned us, “Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.’” (Matthew 7:21-23)
How then do we know how to navigate the many different leaders claiming to follow the Lord? Most importantly, we need to measure every lesson taught against the truth of God’s word. That is how we know if the leadership is teaching the truth or their own version of what they think you want to hear. However, we can look to the Apostle Paul to see how he handled people preaching Jesus that may not have had the purest of motives. In Philippians 1:15-18, we read, “Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of partisanship, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in that I rejoice.”
We are not in competition with one another. Our goal, the only goal that truly matters, must be Christ glorified, the truth told, and God magnified. In his book, The Price of Neglect, AW Tozer wrote: “Dear Lord, I refuse henceforth to compete with any of Thy servants. They have congregations larger than mine. So be it. I rejoice in their success. They have greater gifts. Very well. That is not in their power nor in mine. I am humbly grateful for their greater gifts and my smaller ones. I only pray that I may use to Thy glory such modest gifts as I possess. I will not compare myself with any, nor try to build up my self-esteem by noting where I may excel one or another in Thy holy work. I herewith make a blanket disavowal of all intrinsic worth. I am but an unprofitable servant. I gladly go to the foot of the cross and own myself the least of Thy people.”
God’s workers come in all shapes and sizes. Some of us are loud while others gently carry the message of Christ. Some of us feel comfortable speaking to thousands of people while others take a more personal approach to ministry. Some are masters of the altar call while others devote themselves to the long game and spend their life as a witness for Christ. We are not in competition. Your success does not limit mine. Everything we have, everything we are, comes to us only because of God’s grace. He has a reason for every detail about our character and every gift and talent He interwove into our story. Let us support one another and encourage unity instead of rivalry.
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
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