Cooperation

Written by cycleguy on February 19th, 2014

There is a story from the Peanuts comic strip you might have heard before. Lucy and Linus were arguing because Lucy was trying to push her will onto Linus. He was balking. After one particularly hard push by Lucy, Linus looked at her and said, “Why should I do what you want me to?”

Lucy showed him her five fingers. Then with words said slowly and with malice she said, “See these fingers (as she wiggled them)? Separate they are nothing. But c-u-u-u-u-r-l them together and they are a force powerful to behold.”

“What else do you want?” Linus says. And as he walks away he stares at his fingers and says, “Why can’t you guys get together like that?”

Makes me chuckle every time. Also makes me think.

Wednesday afternoon I met with a bunch of community people for my first time in what is called “Systems of Care.” While I know there were other people of faith there, I was the only “professional” one. People from the “Y”, several counseling centers, a school counselor, an Aging agency, a women’s ministry leader, a woman involved in giving help to pregnant moms and dads, and others. Our purpose? To do something to help, especially young people, find help they might need for mental and physical health. People and organizations who won’t always agree on ideology, but who have a common goal of helping our community.

That also speaks to the idea of the church cooperating, not so much with other organizations, but within itself. Unity is often a long-forgotten memory of many churches. Sad. Jesus once said love is the greatest testimony we could give…”if we love one another.”

It is important for the church to cooperate with organizations in the community (as long as no compromise takes place).  It is even more essential cooperation takes place among those who call themselves “the church.”

Do you feel your church cooperates with others? How about within?

 

17 Comments so far ↓

  1. Daniel says:

    Let’s hope something useful comes out of this that actually helps others. More meetings none of us need.

  2. the Old Adam says:

    We can barely get our people to church on Sunday…let alone get involved with other organizations.

    But…it is a good idea.

  3. My church definitely does, like no church I’ve ever been a part of.

  4. Betty Draper says:

    Yes, the church we attend does bind together with other organizations to help in many ways. Also they seem to have opportunities for the church body to come together and help each other.

  5. You are so right. Cooperation toward loving and helping people is such a beautiful and needed thing. When I was pastoring in Juneau, I asked several community organizations like Big Brothers/Big Sisters and some local organizations to come speak to our church people. It was great. We have to encourage these things because there are so many needs that don’t fit into a Sunday morning setting (and aren’t supposed to). True religion is taking care of the widows and orphans and there are plenty of hurting and desperate people who need what we have. Good thoughts, Bill. Thank you.

    • cycleguy says:

      What a great idea jason! I have to admit I have not done that. Gonna have to consider that as a big challenge for me. Thanks for the idea. 🙂 And yes, there are plenty of hurting people.

  6. Kari Scare says:

    Yes, my church cooperates with others and within. My pastor is involved in several community organizations (Rotary & Chamber), and we have several programs that serve the local community. Within, the church loves the unlovely (I’ve been one of those), and our pastor has put on the church sign, “Sinners welcome here.” With all that being said, I do think we get to a point of complacency too in that we don’t challenge for change enough, if that makes sense. We are great at loving people in but not as great at loving them into growth. But, the unity we have is strong, and I believe it’s going to continue growing.

  7. floyd says:

    Our church really does reach out to other churches and willingly sends some of their best prospects out to other churches. As new churches start, even ones without affiliation, with proper doctrine, the leaders willingly ask the people attending to pray about going to the other churches. The more they do that the more the church seems to grow.

    We, all of us, are the church.

    • cycleguy says:

      I like that attitude Floyd. So many churches are tied to themselves and unwilling to sacrifice people to help another church. Your church will continue growing because it is outward focused.