Denominations

The the apostles and elders with the whole church decided .... 

Acts 15: 22

Denominations seem to me to be a necessary evil. Too often they create separation between believers where there should be unity. Too often they quench the Spirit by resisting the bold vision of Christ, rather than holding high the cause of Christ for all to see and follow. Too often their decisions are about control rather than empowerment of people and churches. 

That is why para-church organizations can be so useful. Free from the controls and restrictions of church orders and administrative controls, they can empower people to boldly pursue Christ's mission. 

Yet, we stand on very shaky ground when we take a solely negative stance towards the denomination, because the problems we see there are the very same problems found in every church, and the very same problems found in every human heart. Our denominations will only be more godly than they are, when we are more godly then we are.

The challenge is that I might have a clearer view of Christ's vision, and be so taken by this, that I will be prepared to take positive steps to obey my Lord.

The perils of pride in leadership

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you can to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task.

1 Corinthians 3:5

The greatest temptation of a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to rob our Lord of his glory. We do that in many and subtle ways. Our thirst for applause, recognition and status are powerful motivations that we never fully over come this side of heaven.  Our foolish pride is greatest limiting factor to the success of our work for the Lord, and needs to be repented of daily. 

Who are we as ministers? Firstly and fundamentally, we are redeemed sinners, no better than any one else, and just as desperately needing God's grace as our fellow human. As Dr. Timothy Keller often says, the cross of Christ tells us we are more sinful than we imagine, but more loved than we ever dared to dream. That in itself should check our pride. 

Secondly, as Paul says in the above text, we are only servants. The work we do is God's work, as he has assigned it to us. He is the author of faith, and therefore of any success we might see in our ministry. How can we boast in it? How can we look at other ministers with envy when they have greater success ? How can we focus so much on the numbers in our churches? How is it that we take pride in our status as ministers? How is it that we desperately need to be noticed? God forgive us for our stupid, stubborn and sinful pride!

It is enough that we belong to Christ. And it is a great privilege and joy to be his servant in ministry. May the Holy Spirit work in us and help us to fight pride in our lives, so that we may rather be servants of humble child-like trust, who live for God's glory alone.

The Power of Christian Hope

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. 

It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 

where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.

Hebrews 6:19-20

C.S. Lewis writes in his book Mere Christianity that we all long for something better than what we have in this life. He says:

Most people, if they really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acuetly, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise. The longings which arise in us when we first fall in love, or first think of some foreign country, or first take up some subject that excites us, are longings which no marriage, no travel, no learning, can really satisfy. I am not now speaking of what would normally be called unsuccessful marriages, or holidays, or learned careers. I am speaking of the best possible ones. There was something to be grasped at, in that first moment of longing, which just fades away in the reality. The wife may be a good wife, and the hotels and scenery may have been excellent, and chemistry may be a very interesting job: but something has evaded us.

Christians have the hope of a new heavans and new earth, in which we will share God’s glory and joy with new bodies in a new world and a new age. 

What difference does that make to us now? A very great difference. The hope we have gives us great pleasure and great rest. We love our work and work hard to do our best, because we do it all for our Lord. Yet we are not stressed by it because we don’t need to perform or achieve to feel good about ourselves. This hope also gives us courage and strength, because we serve the Majesty of heaven & earth who is in control of all things. The hope we have also enables us to relax, laugh, sing and celebrate together. Our God reigns and nothing can separate us from his love now and forever.

That’s the power of Christian hope.