I am once again honored to be a blogger at the CMConference hosted by CMConnect. The opening session was a call for unity, a call for a community to come together to support one another.
Recently in my community there was a vicious domestic incident where a woman was killed with her two year old in the house. Afterward members of the community shared on the news about how quiet and nice the community has been. How things like this do not happen in “our community”. In retrospect, it was the second domestic incident homicide in a few months. We’ve had a barricade incident where one neighbor shot through the wall of a condo into their neighbors home, thefts, etc. I don’t want you to think that I live in a crime ridden neighborhood, I do not, but it is not always quiet, peaceful and full of unity as we would hope.
It is much the same in the church. We put on our happy faces to make it all seem well, and after an incident occurs we all say, this was such a good place when in reality, by our words and actions we have contributed to the destructive mindset causing dis-unity. What if we all worked together for the Kingdom.
If you are involved with the bigger picture of children’s ministry, or even on the local level, it can be a “cut-throat” industry. Yes I said industry, as major ministries try to one up the other, speaking poorly of each other, questioning their motives. Even on the local level, often churches cannot, or will not, work together for fear of the other church benefiting more than them. This needs to end.
Just a few words to leave you with….
Romans 12:18
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Psalm 133:1
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity
1 Corinthians 1:10
I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
Matthew 12:25
Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.
Mark 3:24-25
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
Are we showing the world a Kingdom united, or one that is divided? May we encourage, support, and help one another build the Kingdom and teach may the things of God.
