How to Manifest That We REALLY Are "T4G!"

"We are brothers in Christ united in one great cause — to stand together for the Gospel. "I have posted a number of articles where I have asked the question: Are we really together for the gospel?  I pose the question because too often evangelical church leaders do not manifest the fruit of Christian unity and spiritual intimacy.  I am not thinking about the biblical intramural critiques that are given concerning varying theological positions or various approaches to ministry (philosophy of ministry) within our respective churches.  I am also not promoting unbiblical ecumenicalism (such as ECT or Mormon/Evangelical oneness).  I am talking about the way in which we shepherd-leaders receive parting members from other evangelical churches.  Or the effort we make to encourage a fellow shepherd-leader, especially those who are going through a difficult season of ministry.  Or the way in which we come together to manifest our common affection for the true Head of the Church (Jesus Christ).  Or the way in which we support the church discipline efforts of other Christian congregations (Matt. 18:15-17; 1 Cor. 5; Titus 3:10).  Or the way in which we band together after a regional tornado or school shooting devastates our local community.  Or the way in which we pray for other local ministries by name during our weekly prayer meetings.  I am thinking about practical external manifestations of our common salvation in Christ.

One of the things we should pray for is that the 10,000 church leaders who gathered last week for the "TOGETHER for the Gospel" conference will flesh out their Christian unity and their like-minded gospel togetherness in more intentional ways (John 17:20-23). 

These TGC/T4G events don't mean much if our unity only consists in us attending conferences together.  The Bible-centered, evangelical church today is often too independent and is often too self-focused.  Heaven will not be this way so why not enjoy each other's fellowship in the here and now?

 How do we begin to address this problem? Here are 10 Practical Suggestions:

1) Demonstrate the love of Christ in personal ways.  Pick up the phone when you hear through the grapevine that pastor so and so in town has been diagnosed with cancer.  Write or visit Pastor Jones in the hospital.  

2) Call a fellow brother-shepherd when his former music minister unexpectedly shows up some Sunday looking for a new church home.  Ask questions and treat other ministers as you want to be treated (see also suggestion 7).

3) Set up a fellowship of quarterly meetings with like-minded pastors for the sake of mutual encouragement.  

4) Host a local pastors/wives get together at your house.  

5) Invite the new evangelical pastor who just moved into the neighborhood out for breakfast.  Be a good neighbor to his family.

6) If you have many gifted preachers in your church try and serve other ministries that are not so fortunate and who could benefit from pulpit supply; (Morningstar Church has served us in this way on many different occasions).  OR consider participating in a summer pulpit swap with like-minded Bible expositors in your area.  

7) If new visitors left another church's fellowship in a fleshly manner (Gal 5:19-21) shepherd them to go back and make things right before joining a new fellowship; (Don't passively participate in the all too common Christian "hit and runs" that further divide the Body of Christ).  If you failed in this area it is not too late to make things right; (I have had to ask another Pastor's forgiveness before).

8) If your local church is blessed financially consider extending a scholarship to a faithful Bi-vocational pastor in your area who could benefit from an event like Shepherds' Conference or T4G (but who can't afford it).

9) Come together with other like-minded churches for community Bible Conferences or for a joint Good Friday service.
10) When possible, coordinate with other like-minded youth ministries and/or Awana groups.  Summer Camps, Winter Retreats, VBS', and Awana Grand Prix's are often enhanced when different churches serve and fellowship together.  This is especially true for smaller congregations.

I have found that professing evangelical churches often function as if we embraced religious Darwinism. It's the survival of the fittest. It's lets grow my ministry even if it's at the expense of undermining yours. It's your loss is our gain (praise the Lord!?!). It's, can I say, "a sheep eat sheep world out there."  These things ought not be this way.  We are not cutthroat CEO's trying to increase our margins while driving out the competition.   Ministry is not a game of ecclesiastical Risk or spiritual Monopoly.  We are TOGETHER for the gospel (see affirmations and denials) united in one great cause (Matt. 28:18-20; Col. 1:28-29).

Before closing I should add that I am grateful for the faithful band of brothers and for the larger Body of Christ who has served me/us so faithfully.  God has used these pastors/churches to help revitalize our ministry.  I have posted a few articles thanking God for the 'other's orientated' care we have received over the past 8 years; (they remind me of the generous spirit displayed in 2 Cor. 8:1-5).  

Here are a few related articles:  A Team Effort: How God Used Other Local Churches To Help Revitalize FBC.

Bring in the Reinforcements: Steve Lawson Stands in the Gap

How Local Church Leaders Undermine the Shepherding Efforts of Fellow Brother-Shepherds (by Russell Moore)