Going

A church is a going place that needs going leaders. So how do we "Go"? What seems to be an obvious and simple question is really the catalyst to quagmire! I cannot offer all the answers, but I will press on with my thoughts and solicit your input as we journey on together trying to be people who GO. I do think that "going" is as much attitude as it is action. Before anyone goes about fulfilling the calling of Christ, they must have that calling in their mind. It must compel them to march into live realities. We often think of it as sweet, but let's remember the definition of love that is far from easy to live up to: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). This is not attitude for good times or for when we are getting our way. It is for times when we are tempted to be unkind, when we want to boast, when we have a quip or a barb for someone whom we regard with anger. It is for times when are willing to injure others with our words or inattention. It is for times when we no longer trust or hope or want to persevere in the calling. It is for times when we no long believe the best in the other person. Going people are loving people. Love moves us to GO, and no other motive will allow us to move beyond self gratification. Leaders must lead, and they must do so from the platform of love. A decision has to be made. Is this a 'going' church, or is it a hospice? If we are here to go to our community, then steps must be made in that direction. The leaders will set the pace. They will communicate clearly to the Family that this is who we are, and where we are going. And every person is needed as we do and be what God has called us to do and be. I'm sure some heavy discussions are needed among elders and preachers and deacons and others about this and what it all means, but the leaders must lead the way. Elders and Preachers must work together as a team, not working at odds with one another. Mature Christians will signal the way to weaker Christians as they join in with the going. When there is no consensus on where we are going ... and no clear word from the leaders, chaos rules. Inevitably there will be some who will not follow, who will only criticize, and who feel very threatened by all of this going. We should expect it. After all, we have spent many many years tending to our own needs and attempting to make everyone happy. We are poor students because for all of our studying about how to make everyone happy, we have yet to pass the test. When we realize that this is not our calling, and we answer the true calling of Christ, some will stumble. In love, we will try to bring them along. But if we are going, they must choose to come along, or be left behind. I have some suggestions for us to consider in terms of a protocol for going leaders, but I will save those for another post.