I can understand why businesses have a problem with their employees supporting the competition. That's business. It's about survival, protecting profit margins, espousing loyalty to a brand name. "You work at Barnes and Noble...we'd really appreciate it if you'd stop shopping at Borders. Never mind, they're bankrupt..problem solved." Right?
What doesn't make sense to me is when this idea works its way into the evangelical church. I'm not even talking about crossing denominational lines here, folks (which is another rant for another day). I'm talking about the unspoken idea that churches even of the same denomination, though none would fess up, are in competition with each other.
"I have someone from (insert name of other church) here who'd be willing to help out with our ministry here at (insert name of church in question). " Reply (paraphrase):"Sounds great, just make sure you don't put their name on anything identifying them as a leader." Serious, this conversation has happened. Anyone can see the huge problem, right? Wouldn't want anyone in "our" church to see us partnering with "that other church" in advancing the gospel of Christ. Can you imagine the chaos that might ensue? What if people started thinking we actually approve of that church and...dare I say it...have similar core beliefs? Could be reading too much into the conversation, but it sure seems indicative of a controlling idea.
Makes me sad. How is a mindset like this to accomplish evangelism and discipleship as prescribed and demonstrated by Christ? Instead, the competition idea seems to promote the thinking that the gospel must be advanced (under our banner) and must reach all peoples (so long as we can control it). Best I can tell, Christ called some ragamuffin bros to follow him, watch how he lived, then go and do likewise. Eventually, he turned them loose on the world and what happened? They actually went and did for others what he did for them and the gospel spread like wildfire (in much the same way it is in parts of Asia and Africa). No institutional control, no business meeting, no year-long planning sessions, and definitely no competition.
Churches, stop trying to control the gospel and let it live. Let it do its transforming work. Be a part of the Church universal rather than trying to pump your numbers and protect your borders. Your "camp" does not save people. Jesus Christ and his message of redemption for the broken and the destitute does.
Late night ranting and rambling over....reading back over it....semi-coherent thoughts.
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