Are we building something together or trying to build something better?

When it comes to Christianity do we see other churches and other Christians as allies or competitors? I believe we should see each other as allies but I fear too often we are competing against one another for the same goal.

Let's compare a sports team versus a musical group to help illustrate this point. Certainly a team works together to accomplish a goal but if their goal is achieved there is also a loser. But with a musical group individuals come together to creates something, something that is beautiful, something that anyone can be a part of and, hopefully, something that impacts others. When I think about the church and the goals of the church I hope we are trying to create something beautiful, something that everyone can be a part of and something that changes lives. I am by nature a competitive person, I love to win and I hate to lose, but if I allow that mentality to creep into the church that will undermine our goal of creating something.

I have heard that worldwide there are over 1000 different branches of the Lutheran church, 1000! Now certainly we disagree on some key points and most likely we will never agree on everything but aren't we still working toward the same goal? Aren't we all trying to work for God' kingdom? Somehow we need to let our similarities define us instead of our differences. Somehow we need to let God's will lead us instead of our own because when all is said and done we are working towards the same goal and we will be much more successful if we work together.

See you Sunday,

Pastor Chris