And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”
John 3:26 (ESV)
Lord Jesus, John’s disciples responded so like we do regarding our churches. I hear in their words to John this sense of urgency regarding declining membership to another ministry. John’s response to them affirms this, telling them in so many words that he himself could only have the followers that God has given him, and that Jesus’ ministry must increase. They were worried that their ministry influence was diminishing, and they brought their concern to John.
As I have reflected upon this over the course of this week, I must confess that there is this spirit of competition that seems to persist in the church, where members appear to be vying for status. “So and so goes to my church” or “we have this many members” or “this person is our pastor” seems to pervade our thinking. We are caught up in a spirit of “one-up manship” where we appear to be trying to convey one church better than another, with the one we are going to being viewed as on top.
In this thinking we miss what is the main purpose of the church: that Christ might be lifted up, lives changed, and the good news go forth. Like a buffet dinner being laid out for the masses, the church is meant to be all things to all men, meeting the different experiential tastes of all. There is something for everyone, ensuring that the central message of the gospel is heard and understood by all.
As I go into the weekend I pray for Your church. I pray that there would be a spirit of unity that holds us together, having the same mind, bound by Your love, walking hand-in-hand to Your will and way (Philippians 2:2). I pray we might even be one as You and the Father are One, sharing a oneness with You (John 17:21), our hearts sincere, filled with compassion as we pursue the things of You together (1 Peter 3:8). Give us a mind that puts others before ourselves even as You put us before Yourself (Philippians 2:3-4). It is my prayer that we, as Your ambassadors and representatives here on earth, might be that city on a hill that cannot be hidden, but TOGETHER demonstrate to this dying world what true unity and commitment look like. We are Your body here on earth. Help us to put aside pettiness and jealousy (Galatians 5:26), and instead live in harmony with one another to Your glory. Amen.