I am a big fan of working together with other Churches and ministries. For instance, at Abundant Life we have a very close relationship with the local Life ministry and have partnered together on numerous ideas and events. I see them as huge winners when you can get the body of Christ together that stretches beyond denominations.
Although partnering with other ministries and churches has some tremendous benefits, there can be some hinderances to a partnership developing. It's called Church Rivalries. I have seen church rivalries develop for many different reasons! But, the one that had the most impact on me was a local rivalry that I never thought would have heard of in the city.
I had the opportunity to visit The Vision Church of Atlanta today! Wow! It's amazing how most of the people within the facility have created their own culture of importance. And thought there was a shortage of members present today, it proved to be just as I had heard a Celebrity Pastor say..."A Circus!"
After the long service, I had an opportunity to feast with a few members at a local restaurant. Interesting conversation, they compared their church to other affirming ministries such as Tabernacle, Victory, Power Center, and a few others. The conversations continued until there was a battle between Victory (who they stated stole one of Visions Pastors) and The Power Center (Who also stole one of their Pastors). I then decided to ask the question that if all of these great people are leaving The Vision Church, what would keep you there? And the response was as silly as me having dinner with these guys. One's response, I attend because I like the drama and just being involved. These idiots were trying to recruit and even negative recruit me to come join The Vision Church. I have no problem with recruiting and pumping up your specific Church. But when you resort to negative recruiting against another godly organization, that is when you’ve crossed the line.
When rivalries develop, it can be very detrimental and dangerous to the health of any ministry. After all, every church should be in the business of bringing people into a loving relationship with Christ in which he constantly promoted that everyone mattered and everyone is equal in his eyes (i.e. the Good Samaritan and the woman at the well). When rivalries develop and tensions run high between two or more ministries, it goes counter to everything Christ believed and stood for. Christ called us to love God and love others (Matthew 22:36-40). You do not need to be a rocket scientist to realize when rivalries start, loving God and others is not always displayed. Therefore, instead of bringing people together and uniting them for the kingdom of God, we resort to bad-mouthing great ministries like Tabernacle, Victory, and The Power Center, and so many others.
Oh be careful what you say......
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One of the sessions at the Fellowship was on this very issue and Bishop did some extensive training and teaching. “There is enough of everybody to have some of God, if that is what your are seeking after. There is no reason to recycle members.”
ReplyDeleteThe Deacon, Marietta
I never knew The Vision Church was a circus neither did I know that we keep "drama" at our church.
ReplyDeleteIs this Elder Tim (a previous disgruntled member of The Vision Church) writing these blogs?
Bless Your Heart Anonymous....
ReplyDeleteIn the book, The Way Of The Bootstrapper, they present nine action steps that are essential for building a successful life.It reveals that steps that we take represent the necessary movements that take us from one position in life to another.
Unfortunately, I hate to disappoint you, but I am not the author of this blog. I read it on a regular and its actually some great Information that a-lot of Pastors/Leaders (including yours) could benefit.
Anyway, Steps are indicators that we are moving toward some end, or that we have decided that our pursuit of some course of action requires that we step away from something in order to move toward some greater position.
There are many steps between where we start and where we stop in life. Sometimes we step-down, as John the Baptist did when Jesus came on the scene. Other times we step in because what’s happening around us is not conducive to the achieving of goals that we have set for ourselves. We might have to step-out, leave, as the Prodigal Son did, in order to appreciate what we have left behind. But in order to accelerate and increase your advantages, you must step-up. You can not make any progress or move forward without taking the first step.
Leaving TVC was my first step and to identify me as a disgruntled member of TVC, is a false statement. There are those who say that no church member ought to express opposition to the pastor's decisions. Some say that the pastor is the Lord's anointed, and to question his ministry, or his decision making, or his integrity is simply rebellion against God.
Not so. No pastor is beyond the scope of scrutiny. Further, it is not the questioning of the pastor that is the problem. Rather, it is the response of the pastor to the questions that is often the problem. Many pastors, whether it be for personal insecurity reasons, fear of exposure, or a false understanding of "church unity," will deal harshly with those who question their leadership.
My decision to leave TVC was somewhat bitter-sweet considering the fact that I was one of the 12 founding members and the person responsible for them obtaining the building in which they/you currently rent. Never the less, I can assure you it was not because I was disgruntled, I disagreed with things taking place behind the scenes in which I'm sure you're not aware. And for myself, It was a prayerful decision to leave becauase these issues were a battle I decided not to fight.
I wish TVC the best in fulling the call God has placed before them.
Love ya
Elder Tim
A Founding Member of TVC
Who Decided To Take His Action Step To Achieve Success!
Ok, Guys/Gals calm down, but I have to give it to Elder Tim! Great Response! It amazes me how people feel that someone is disgruntled when they leave a church....I'll save that for next weeks blog....
ReplyDelete