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Don’t Let Competition Destroy the Gospel

If you’re like me, you often find yourself pondering things that church leaders are fearful to let people know they even think about. For me, on some Thursdays, I’m going to make my dangerous ponderings known. For those who have been courageous enough to climb out of the denominational box, the local church box, the box of legalism, and the cultural Christian box, these musings will create a healthy conversation. For those who find their identity in or make part of their income based on the topics and ideas that I’m pondering, these contemplations may create some tension.
 
Please know that I am not attacking any ministry, ideology, or person. I’m simply scripting questions that I myself am wrestling with.
 
Today’s question…“Is competition eradicating the gospel?”
 
Too often, competition creeps into Christendom. Pastors find themselves feeling as though they’re competing with other churches for members. Church staff members compete for volunteers. Para-church organizations compete for dollars. Christian bookstores are competing for customers. Christian record companies compete for sales.
 
I know that many will say that competition is healthy and motivational. But, the truth is, competition seldom leads to unity. In most instances, competition creates strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, and dissensions. Oh yeah, the five descriptors you just read are described as “works of the flesh” in Galatians 5. And where these things exist, unity has a hard time coexisting. But unity in the body of Christ is a necessity if people are going to believe Jesus is who He said He was.
 
One of Jesus’ final prayers finds Him in the Garden in conversation with God the Father requesting, “…that they may be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.” (John 17:21-22) Jesus continues, “I in them and You in Me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent Me…” (John 17:23-24a) When Christians live in unity, perfectly one, the world knows that Jesus was sent by God and is the Son of God. This is an undeniable realization that anyone must embrace in order to become a follower of Christ.
 
The body of Christ being “perfectly one” is essential if not-yet-followers of Christ are going to come into a relationship with Him. But is it possible that competition has eradicated the church’s oneness? And in so doing, is it eradicating the gospel?

I don’t know the answer to this question. I’m just thinking out loud.


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rhowerton@churchleaders.com'
Rick has one passion… To see “a biblical small group within walking distance of every person on the planet making disciples that make disciples.” He is presently pursuing this passion as the Small Group and Discipleship Specialist at LifeWay Church Resources. Rick has authored or co-authored multiple books, studies, and leader training resources including A Different Kind of Tribe: Embracing the New Small Group Dynamic, Destination Community: Small Group Ministry Manual, The Gospel and the Truth: Living the Message of Jesus, Small Group Life Ministry Manual: A New Approach to Small Groups, Redeeming the Tears: a Journey Through Grief and Loss, Small Group Life: Kingdom, Small Group Kickoff Retreat: Experiential Training for Small Group Leaders, and Great Beginnings: Your First Small Group Study, Disciples Path: A Practical Guide to Disciple Making. Rick’s varied ministry experiences as an collegiate minister, small group pastor, teaching pastor, elder, full-time trainer and church consultant, as well as having been a successful church planter gives him a perspective of church life that is all-encompassing and multi-dimensional. Rick is a highly sought after communicator and trainer.