In-house Politics vs Out-house crisis

 In-house politics vs Out-house crisis

One of the things that seems to be so clear to me since the day I got saved until now, is how busy the church is fighting each other, and how un-busy it is at fighting for the lost.

It seems to be all about in-house politics rather than the out-house crisis that Jesus Himself asked us to focus our attention on. It seems like most leaders and wanna be leaders would rather fight for a position within the church or a ministry, rather than keeping the main thing the main thing. In-fact, I hear the message adopted by so many so often ‘Keep the main thing the main thing’ but unless those preaching it have foolishly come to believe that the main thing is to behave like a territorial dog fighting for its patch, or a local school bully fighting for his turf rather than being a local church minister and fighting for the hurting, dying, marginalised and desperate soul bound for hell, then all I see really is a whole load of fancy talk and not a great deal of world changing love.

Until we reason in our hearts that whatever it takes we will remain secure in God’s presence despite our position or despite other peoples opinions then we will remain forever bound in a in-house battle rather than being effective in a out-house battle. The battle going on inside our 4 church walls with our petty little insignificant problems being blown up out of all proportion because we have become so insecure that we think we have to try and control and manipulate everyone so that we never look bad or so that another person or church never ends up being more blessed than us has caused us to lose sight of the screaming souls outside of our 4 walls unaware that they are on their way to HELL.

Rather than forgiving, releasing and blessing we resort to cursing, controlling and gossiping. Can I just say, in my personal opinion, for what it is worth? I think that Jesus HATES IT!

Jesus Christ sat at the same table as Judas Iscariot knowing he would soon betray him to death and still Jesus loved him, protected him and blessed him.

I think there is far too much Old Testament theology in peoples hearts and not enough New Testament theology.

We want to second guess every person when they make a decision we don’t agree with or because it comes at a cost to us. The Jesus that I read about in the bible that we preach from appears to me to be secure and unbothered by other peoples opinions or judgements and He seems to find no need to try and make excuses all the time or defend His reputation. I think that the minute a man feels like he needs to justify himself is the minute he loses himself.

While the lost are dying and killing each other desperate for a church that reflects the image of Christ to reach out and rescue them from hell, the church is mostly reflecting the very same hell instead. Slander, gossip, accusation, control, envy, malice etc etc. 

There is a crisis OUTSIDE our local church, a crisis that can only be solved by a local church that reflects The Christ. 

There is a crisis INSIDE our local church, a crisis that can only be solved by a person that reflects The Christ.

Will you be that person? Be the person who lets go of petty arguments, insignificant squabbles and insecurity that only ever breeds more insecurity and picks up the mantle once more ‘Go into all the world’ and CHANGE IT!

I have made a decision in my life and my ministry that I will not get involved in the pathetic in-house politics but I will get involved in the out-house crisis.  

So many meetings, so many hours, wasted, arguing about who is right or who is wrong, what Pastor so and so thinks about me and my ministry, or, why a certain person left my church and joined another one. GET OVER IT AND GO AFTER IT! The presence of God, not position, loving your neighbour not holding them back with the chains of religion and condemnation. 

This is the hour of the greatest catch in history and our nets are so broken that we are losing most of the fish.

Can we not just choose unity and honour, blessing and forgiveness, the lost and not ourselves? Can we not fight the crisis outside our church building or organisation and trust God when He promises to look after ours? Can we not choose to get excited when another church is flourishing even if we don’t like the way they do things?

If a relationship has broken down between you and another person or another church go quickly and put it right before more poison creeps in and the cancer of discord spreads like wildfire in the bush.

If your offended  choose not to be, let it go, let God, and serve the lost. Come on people, this is after all The Kingdom were a part of is it not?

Rob Joy