Have you ever wonder how God feels about competition? Recently I noticed a local church’s mailer was in direct opposition to another church’s mail that arrived a few days earlier. I thought it was strange at first then I connected with the intent, although they seemed to be in opposition they were affiliated ministries. This realization increased my puzzlement. Could two ministries be so different and still be in relationship? Doesn’t the bible say in Amos 3:3 (nkjv) “how can two walk together unless they are agreed”? I checked biblegateway.com and it does say that… Now the puzzle: Are these two ministries with very different opinions agreed? Although this may cause alarm, I think the answer is “yes, they are in agreement”. Here’s way I say that.
We focus on the differences between denominations, ministries and people. God does not and in this case these two churches decided to follow God’s example. Although they differ in opinion on several things, one being a traditional denominational church and the other a contemporary church, they agreed on a few critical things: One, lost people need Jesus, two not everyone worships the same and finally not everyone accepts Jesus the same way. They agreed on the critical, important things, like, everyone needs Jesus, they also agreed about the reason for difference and diversity within the body of Christ. From that point an association was necessary. They banded together to reach the lost within their community. I’m not sure how they worked out the why and how but they did. One approached things from a traditional angle the other from a contemporary slant. As I looked at the second mailer, the (traditional one) I prayed for both ministries to reach the lost within their community. If they decided on unity how could I side any different?
In His service and yours,
-Tim
