DGLT 2K12 Session 3 (2/2)

A Culture of Honour

One of the first things I shared at DGLT this year is that leadership is not about titles, and that you do not at all need a title or even a ministry to contribute greatly to this fellowship. So to wrap up our semester together, I want to restate this again: whether we have an official position or not, we are all responsible for the atmosphere, progress, and health of this community.

We are all in this together

I am not saying that we all need to find some ministry task to do at CCF, but I am saying that with our love we can all contribute to an atmosphere of faith and joy, and help take care of any concerns out of a place of peace and hope rather than anxiety, impatience, and frustration.

Acts 6:1-6 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

So the Hellenist (greek) widows were being overlooked, and who were the ones who ended up taking charge in remedying the situation? Greeks! This was not anything glamourous, they were compared to waiters after all, but they were willing to give of themselves to a need that they saw, a need that others could not or should not cover.

Now of course not everything will wrap up quite as neatly as that. New needs will arise that will require us to figure out the appropriate adjustments from time to time as God moves CCF forward, and point leaders must decide on such changes with discernment and prayer. Ultimately, however, any positive change that we wish to see will require the support and dedication of many (dare I say all) of us to realize, far more than what the titled folks can alone bring.

No one is allowed to come and tell the leaders that "I need this this and this to grow, feed me" (well, I would say first years, newcomers, and non-believers get a bye). We are all expected to contribute our love to the concerns that we see, regardless of whether the point leaders have the resources to make those concerns a priority. You all have grown far too much to be telling yourselves that your powerful love can change nothing!

Honouring each other

On that note, one of the primary ways we can foster the health of this community is to practice a culture of honour, where we recognize and appreciate, privately and publicly, the contribution and significance of everyone around us. In my experience, the people who receive that least, but would benefit us all if they had more of it, are your titled leaders.

Many of you will find out sooner or later that it is not so easy standing in that spotlight, becoming the lightening rod and scapegoat when people get frustrated over whatever it is that bothers them. So as I noted in part 1, be proactive in encouraging leaders, or any helping hand for that matter. Celebrate each other's strengths, give recognition to each other's care and love, however small. Though our asian parents likely never taught us or showed us, learn to give praise publicly, frequently, for the fingerprints of God on each other. Learn to do it beyond the warm fuzzies at retreat.

Steer people away from griping about the fellowship (about leaders or anyone else), protect each other from that. This does not mean you have to pretend that everything is always going great, but be always, firstly, appreciative of everyone's servanthood. Bring your concerns to leaders as a partner with a fresh point of view, not as an armchair quarterback with accusations of negligence. Be faithful and hopeful of what God can do with you all. I can say with certainty that God is, and always will be, with Mac CCF. Seeing the good will allow you to address the bad from a position of faith.

This verse is pretty over the top and I am pretty much preaching to the choir, but still worth remembering:

Galatians 5:14-15 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

I charge each of you, whether titled now or future or not, to maintain that sort of hopeful and honouring culture here at CCF. It is just so much better that way than otherwise.