If that thought has ever crossed your mind, here or elsewhere, you are in good company. As long as churches have been in existence, surely members of the ekklesia have wondered (if only to themselves), “Where are we going?” “What are we doing?” Or perhaps, “Why risk ruining a good thing?” Even the earliest disciples of Jesus felt some uncertainty about where things with the “kingdom of God” were headed … and they were following the Good Shepherd!
On one occasion, John the Baptist sent word from the prison cell assigned to him that he had become confused. Keep in mind, this is the same guy Jesus called “the greatest among those born of women.” (Matthew 11:11) Anyway, John sent a couple of his disciples to ask Jesus this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Luke 7:19)
Now I’m confused! Wasn’t it John who announced a few years prior, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Yep! That was him. (John 1:29)
What changed? Was it Jesus? The mission? Maybe things weren’t changing fast enough or in the way John expected? I think we’re safe to assume he had a clear idea of what it meant for the kingdom to come, he had the Old Testament verses to back it up, but he must have assumed Jesus might not be following the plan.
There’s also the prison cell I mentioned. I wonder what role it might have played in John’s uncertainty. Roman incarceration was nasty business, a painful feature of the empire intended to underscore the invincible rule of Rome. Now, I don’t get the impression that John was easily (if ever) intimidated. He was a fiery fellow! But his circumstances were surely sobering and apparently cause for reflection, even candid moments of doubt. So, the baptizer asks Jesus, “What are you doing?”
It’s hard to follow. We live in a broken world where plenty goes wrong and the surest of things don’t turn out the way we expect. If that weren’t enough, the sin of man (unleashed in Genesis 3), has embedded in each of us suspicion, skepticism, insecurity, pride … all fueling a deep sense of fear in leaders and followers alike around our lack of control.
Having said that, I’m not sure pastors do a great job expressing an appreciation for how challenging it can be to follow church leadership. No doubt I’ve missed the mark in that way. Standing poised at the launch of a second Fellowship campus in Rutherford County, I don’t want to miss the mark now.
I’m actually assuming you have thoughts … questions … maybe even concerns or doubts. Nothing wrong with any of those! I have a few of them myself! That’s why we scheduled the upcoming Reaching Rutherford information meetings September 22, 25 & 26th. You can register HERE for the one that works best for you and your family. (Be sure to read to the bottom of the page to register one of the meetings.) Those meetings are the best next step for all of us to cultivate unity around our response to the leadership of Christ in this community of faith we know as Fellowship Bible Church of Rutherford County.
My heart, and that of the men that serve on our elder team, is to follow well. As we understand it, our job titles in the body of Christ could be labeled “lead followers.” In other words, all that we strive to do as leaders should be done in glad submission to the leadership of Jesus. He is, without question, THE leader.
Consider Paul’s prayer for the church in Ephesus … “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 1:16–23)
I resonate with that in a big way. I want the truth of Paul’s words imprinted on my own heart and mind. I also long for his words to shape our posture and expectations as a community of faith.
Each of us will be tempted in the days ahead to ask, “What are you doing to MY church?” In those moments, let’s imagine Jesus asking the same question of us. Fellowship is, of course, HIS church. More than anyone, he has the right to ask. Best case scenario, we hope to be able to say, “We are doing our very best to build up his church in every way according to the blueprints given us in his word.”
I truly look forward to a new season of ministry. I’m praying for our time together in the September info meetings. May there be a profound sense of unity and anticipation around God’s calling on our lives as we follow hard after him. See you then!