Have you ever heard of the crazy and cruel experiments of Frederick II? He was King of Sicily from 1198, King of Germany from 1212, King of Italy and Holy Roman Emperor from 1220, King of Jerusalem from 1225, and King of the Crazies. He had a great curiosity for science, but the inhumane lengths he would go to gain knowledge were insane.
Perhaps most disturbingly was an experiment he embarked upon that, he hoped, would prove what the original language of mankind was. He was convinced that Adam and Eve spoke German. In his eagerness to discover humanity's original tongue, he gave a group of newborn infants over into the care of nurses who were given strict instructions on how to raise them. The nurses were ordered not to interact with the children other than when absolutely necessary; the infants could be fed and bathed, but no more. Above all, they were not to be spoken to or cooed over under any circumstances.
Frederick never got an answer to the question he posed. The original language of mankind remained hidden from him because the children all died. They died of starvation. Not starvation of food. But starvation of any form of affection, warmth, and basic interaction. They died of isolation.
Humanity was created for community, communication, and companionship. And I believe the local church, as a living organism, likewise needs connection with other churches, or she will die of isolation. I think that is even more true in our post-Christian culture. Too many churches are dying of isolation.
One of several reasons I moved from being a pastor of a local church to being a "pastor of pastors" in a local association Network is that I firmly believe we are better together. I think the health of local churches depends upon their connection to other local churches. I believe this is supported by what we see in Acts and read in Paul's epistles.
But for a church to see her need for other churches and thereby cultivate a gospel-driven togetherness, there need to be a few shifts in thinking:
The competition to cooperation shift. Churches are realizing they must stop viewing their sister churches as someone battling them for the same market share and instead recognize that the community will only benefit from more healthy churches as opposed to less. This shift will lead more churches to share their facilities, do joint outreach, and have strategic partnerships.
The customer to community shift. If churches view other churches as competition, it only follows that they also view people as customers. For too long, churches have treated people like consumers by catering to them with attractional and pragmatic methodologies instead of seeking to meet deeper spiritual needs through authentic, relational, and gospel-centered interaction. This shift should lead churches to embrace their unique contribution to the advance of the gospel while partnering with, and learning from, sister churches that have been blessed with different strengths.
The isolation to collaboration shift. Churches, quite simply, cannot thrive alone. We are called to be co-laborers in the Kingdom, so we need churches to lock arms for the gospel's sake and actually work together.
Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” (John 4:35-38)
I feel very blessed to be a part of a Network where we see collaboration, community, and cooperation. We desire to continue fostering even deeper gospel-driven unity.
Brothers and sisters, we need each other. We are better together. And when we demonstrate kingdom collaboration, we testify to the nature of our God and exalt His gospel work:
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all 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. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me." (John 17:20-23)
May none of our churches die of isolation. We are united in Christ, we are united for Christ!