Talking Points with Pastor Lucas: Go First! Collaboration
We live at a time when technology makes networking and collaborating easier than ever. Social media, instant messaging, email, and video chat makes planning for things like community outreach events, youth groups, or church meetings timelier and more efficient. Of course, technology is no replacement for incarnate ministry. Our Lord’s own incarnation teaches us that. But it does aid us in our incarnate ministry.
Collaboration and networking should be welcomed and embraced. We live in what is being called a post-Christian world. It is the understanding that “Christendom” has ended. That’s different than Christianity. Jesus promised His Church will always remain and that the gates of Hell will not prevail against His Church (Matt. 16:18). Christianity will always remain. However, Christendom refers to the alliance between church, state, and society.
In 3132 AD, emperor Constantine legalized Christianity and it became the official religion of the empire. Soon Christian doctrine and teaching began shaping the behavior and thought of culture throughout the realm. Eventually the link between life and faith dominated and was considered inviolable for almost a millennium. In fact, “Christendom” became a defining feature of western culture: daily life and commerce transpired under a pervasive Christian veneer. During the Reformation, features of this church and state alliance began to look different depending on the region one lived, but it remained for hundreds of years more. Churches of various confessions enjoyed both privilege and widespread influence in public morality and thinking. Likewise, social pressure ensured general conformity to Christian virtue, and biblical standards were the widely accepted norm.
But now no more. Christendom has ended. The ancient political and cultural alliance with the church is over. Now, Christianity is no longer accepted as the predominant religion or cultural belief system shaping public norms and behaviors. In fact, segments of the broader American culture are even hostile not just toward the tenets of Christianity, but toward Christian churches in general and, at times, personally toward individual Christians. Simultaneously, denominations across the U.S. (including ours) are declining in membership. Reports indicate many congregations are aging and shrinking, with a significant number closing (the MN South District closed twelve in the last four years). As a result, congregations report difficulty paying fulltime pastors, let alone a staff of multiple church workers.
That seems like a lot of doom and gloom. But it should not surprise us. Jesus told us we would have trouble in this world (John 16:33). If anything, it’s simply a wake-up call for the Holy Christian Church to be bold and audacious in being the Church. After all, the New Testament church did not have the benefit of Christendom. The book of Acts records how even when the church was persecuted it grew all the stronger and more vibrant. Therefore, perhaps losing our privileged position in culture will help us become even more robust in our mission of saving souls by the proclamation of Christ the crucified.
To be sure, we have the promise of Jesus to be with us always, even to the end of the age (Matt. 28:20). We need not fear. We are not alone. But we also have one another. That’s why networking and collaboration are so important. They are a reminder we are in this together.As Paul reminds, “we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:5).
Collaboration is one of the four tenets of the MN South District Go First initiative. It’s acting upon the conviction that Christ has called us to be united as the body of Christ. Again, as St. Paul says, “20 there are many parts, yet one body,” where the 21eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ 22 On the contrary…God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another” (1 Cor. 12:20-25).
We need not let the troubles of our time intimidate us. We serve a Lord who looked death in the face and did not blink. We trust Jesus to inspire us to action. That allows us to trust others and inspire them to action. We do this through His Holy Spirit and His Holy Word which lead us forward as the body of Christ—to be His hands and feet, His eyes and ears, His mouth and heart-- to a broken and dysfunctional world desperately in need of healing, forgiveness, and hope.
The goal of the Go First! initiative is to unleash the potential of our congregations in the name of Jesus. We want to bless, not to impress. We want to grow and not simply show. As the body of Christ, we want to complete each other rather than compete against each other.
Look to collaborate with your sister congregations and sister schools. Look to network with your fellow pastors and church workers. We are in this together. I’ve previously shared examples of others collaborating through shared youth groups, starting an urban outreach center, and cooperating on a food drive. Congregations and schools are also considering ways of how they can share church workers. I’d love to hear about your collaboration.
Take on the challenges of our age in the confidence of our Lord, who took on sin, death, and the devil in our stead. Walk through these troubles together as the body of Christ, and in the confidence of Christ, whose very body was raised from the dead and is now ascended on high.
As difficulties and troubles come, so do the opportunities for collaboration do as well. We, though many, are in this together united by our Lord as the body of Christ. My challenge to you and your congregation is Go First!
Rev. Dr. Lucas V. Woodford