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About Jesus Steve Sweetman My Journey Through The Ecclesiastical Maze Part 37 Three
Men On A Relational Journey If you’re confused
about functional relationships, let me be a story-teller for one
chapter. Emery had been part of a
traditional church for years but of late has been discouraged and
frustrated over what he calls political maneuvering and corporate style
management of church affairs. He
has a mid-management job with a mid-size corporation.
He now concludes that modern-day church life looks more like his
world of business than the pattern set forth in the Bible.
He stepped down from leadership at his church a few months ago
and was saddened that no one in the congregation seemed interested in
knowing why he handed in his resignation.
Emery has two close Christian friends named Ralph and Jack.
Ralph has been outside of the traditional church for five
years now, and enjoys his day of rest every Sunday.
Jack on the other hand is a part of a community church and is
quite happy where he is, and unlike Ralph he is very busy every Sunday. One Monday these three
men met at a local coffee shop. Emery
told the others that the previous day was his last meeting at the church
he had attended for years. Ralph
placed his coffee cup on the table while his heart sank to the floor
when he heard Emery’s words. He
and Jack knew what that church once meant to Emery, but Emery was no
longer happy with the business of church.
Jack was the first to
respond. “So what’s
next?” Emery hung his head while
answering, hoping no one would notice the tear that was attempting to
slip from the corner of his eye. “I’m not sure Jack.
Church has always been a big part of my life, but I just seem to
have a hard time with it when I read something altogether different in
the Bible.” It was obvious to Ralph
how Emery felt. “You feel
pretty bad about this, don’t you Emery?” With his eyes focused
downward on his coffee cup Emery replied, “after being there for two
decades, I am very relieved from the stress of it all, but still it’s
breaking my heart.” “They’re going to
miss you around there Emery”, Ralph said.
“You did a lot for that church.”
“I
suppose,” responded Emery in a sad tone of voice. Ralph’s heart was
heavy. He felt for Emery.
He had experienced all this a few years back.
As he glanced at his fidgeting fingers, he said, “Emery, two
thoughts people have when someone leaves a church are, who’s going to
fill his job, and we’ll miss his tithe.” Emery shook his head and
sighed, “maybe that’s why no one was interested in why I stepped
down from leadership. Their
thoughts were consumed with my replacement and the loss of some church
income. Nevertheless,
even though I’ve left the organized church, I still want to
serve Jesus.” Ralph was glad to hear
that. “Many people simply fade into obscurity at this point Emery, and
you never see them again, but that’s the worst thing they can do.”
Jack wondered what Emery
might now do. “So if you
still want to serve Jesus, how will you do that since you’ve left your
church?” Even though Jack’s
question was directed towards Emery, Ralph jumped in with the answer.
“You can still serve Jesus outside of traditionalism.
There’s absolutely no doubt about that.” Jack turned from looking
at Emery to catch Ralph’s eyes and asked, “how’s that Ralph?” “It’s all about
functional relationships,” answered Ralph. Both Emery and Jack were
curious. Jack asked,
“what’s that?
Is it the latest Christian fad, or is it new age stuff?” Ralph got a laugh over
that one. “No, it’s not
new age, and it’s not the latest fad, although I do recognize that
many churches like chasing the latest Christian fad.
It’s actually a pretty old way of thinking.
It’s New Testament thinking, something many churches have
neglected and that’s why many Christians have never heard of it.
The three of us have been friends for years.
We’ve done lots of things together.
We’ve gone on countless fishing trips.
We’ve golfed together. We’ve
done a bunch of stuff
together. We’ve been a
great support for each other, as is the case right now.
But there’s one thing we’ve done little of together.
We’ve left that to the organized church.” Emery wasn’t catching
where Ralph was heading so he asked, “so what haven’t we done?”
Ralph didn’t leave his
two friends guessing. “We
haven’t done much in the way of serving Jesus as three friends. Like
most people, we’ve served in our local church groups in jobs they have
created for us. So this is
my suggestion. Let’s get
together next Saturday and ask Jesus if there’s anything the three of
us can do for Him together. It
doesn’t have to be a big deal, although if Jesus asks us to do
something, I’d consider that a big deal.” The three met together
the next week. They
weren’t sure if they heard anything from Jesus so they got together
two more times. After the
third session of prayer they felt Jesus had something for them to do as
friends.
Now six months later the
three men were out for coffee again talking about the journey they had
been on together over the last few months.
All three men felt Jesus asked them to reach out to a poor family
in town as well as providing a weekly Bible study for a few people who
wanted to understand God’s Word. Unlike their coffee time
before their three sessions of prayer, Emery was now smiling.
“I can’t believe how well I feel now. Six months ago I felt
so down and out, and now I actually feel like I’m doing something
meaningful for Jesus. I’m
glad you came up with this idea Ralph.”
Ralph couldn’t let that
comment pass. “Emery,
Emery, you know that wasn’t my idea.
It’s New Testament thinking.
We’re all individual parts of the Body of Christ.
We all have our own specific job to do as well as working with
a couple other body parts to whom we are joined.
The traditional church hasn’t joined us to each other.
Jesus has. It’s the
Holy Spirit that unites us in both friendship and function no matter
what organization we are a part of.” “Oh yes, Ralph.
You’re right as usual,” replied Emery. “Ralph is always right,
Emery”, added Jack. “I sincerely doubt
that”, responded Ralph as he laughed off the compliment.
Emery looked over at
Jack. “So what about you Jack? You’re still a part of the
traditional church. How do
you feel about what we’ve been doing?” Jack responded by saying,
“I think it’s great. I’m
still involved in the organized church, but it’s clear that I have
this special bond with you two guys and what we’ve been doing is very
rewarding for me, although there are some at the church who wonder why I
need to be involved outside of our church.”
“That’s typical,”
chuckled Ralph under his breath Emery spoke up by saying,
“I feel so much closer to
both of you and at the same time I feel our friendship is functioning in
the Body of Christ.” A huge grin flashed
across Ralph’s face. “You’re
so right Emery. That’s
what the Body of Christ is all about.”
“Preach it brother”,
responded Emery as he pounded his fist on the table as if the table was
a pulpit and he was a preacher. “Jesus
has joined us together, not just to go on our fishing trips, but to do
something for Him. We have been joined together in functional
relationships.” “By the way”,
interrupted Jack, “when are we going on our next fishing trip, or will
Jesus still let us do that?” “Sure He will,”
answered Ralph. “Jesus
went on a few fishing trips Himself. We are joined to one another in
friendship just as much as we’re joined in service to Jesus.”
At this point Ralph picks up the bill and goes to pay the
cashier. As the three men leave to
join their wives who were shopping next door, Emery says, “hopefully I
have some money left after my wife is finished shopping.” “Well at least you
don’t have to give money to the church anymore,” laughed Jack as he
patted Emery on the shoulder. “Not so”, answered
Emery. “I still plan on
putting aside the same amount of money each week.
I’m just giving elsewhere, to individuals and groups who need
it most. And I really
don’t care about the tax receipt anymore.” This story explains the
meaning of functional relationships. Each
one of these men had a friend that the other two men didn’t have in
common. Ralph had a friend
named Brian. Emery and Jack
really didn’t have a close friendship with Brian although they knew
him. Ralph and Brian visit
an elderly man in a nursing home. Emery
has a friend named Peter. They sing Christian tunes along with a few
secular songs together in a local pub. Jack
and his friend Paul joined a small art gallery with the hopes of
inspiring budding artists, and sharing Jesus along the way. Thus the
chain of functional relationships extends outward throughout the Body of
Christ as it was meant to be.
For those who are happy
in the traditional church and see no need to change anything, that’s
fine, but I’d suggest this. The
time might soon come that outside pressures will close many traditional
church doors. If this
happens, the story of this chapter will become very meaningful.
Jesus functioned relationally with the Twelve and with others.
So did Paul, Peter, and the rest of the early church.
You might be forced to live this way at some point as well, and
if you are forced to live this way, consider yourself fortunate and
blessed to be a functioning member with your friends in the Body of
Christ.
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