I cannot remember hardly a time in my life that I was not part of a team.
I played Little League baseball when I turned 8.
I played Pony League when I turned 13.
I played basketball when I moved into 9th grade all the way through my Junior Year in college.
I was married on June 16, 1973 while still in college (thus one reason why I quit playing basketball).
I became an Associate Pastor when I graduated from Bible college in 1974.
I played softball for a number of years. I even umpired for 3 years.
I have pastored churches until the present.
Each team had its ups and downs. Some still do. 🙂 Some had their stars who played fairly with the rest of the team. Some had stars who played well by themselves. The former won games. The latter lost them. When I was pitching in Little League, I pitched several one hitters, but the crowning achievement was the no-hitter I pitched against Longs in the Championship game. While playing basketball my Junior Year in college, I averaged 20+ points per game and 15+ rebounds per game. Sounds impressive.
BUT ALL THAT WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED IF I THOUGHT FOR ONE MINUTE I WAS THE STAR AND COULD DO IT ALL!
A no-hitter is quite an achievement, but no pitcher can take credit for it alone. Scoring buku points is worth accolades, but no player can take credit for it alone. I learned while watching the Tour de France that even though one man may be the go-to guy and wears the yellow (overall), green (sprinter), polka dot (hills), or white (best new rider) jersey, it takes a team to accomplish those jerseys. (No comments about PEDs). 🙂
To stand apart from the competition, you must first stand together as a team.
I saw that quote the other day and it ran around in my head (hitting brain matter thank you very much). 😉 I thought how essential teamwork was to every working organization-assembly lines, ball teams, marriages, families, music groups, and….of course…churches. We already have a Head (Jesus) so there is no need for someone to clamor for that. What we do need is for each individual member to pull their weight-from the ball boy, to the water boy, to the cheerleader, to the “stars”, to the individual players, to the coach. Trust me when I say I have been part of teams churches where such was not the case. Glory hounds. Inciters of bad blood. Under-miners. (Not a word but you get the point). Pouters. Disrupters. Obstinate. The truth is the church needs to function as a team if we ever intend on fulfilling God’s commission for us.
Do you think your church functions as a team? Do you have any thoughts you care to share?
I have been part of 3 different churches in my grown-up Christian life. I think each functioned well using team work. Thankfully I have not been part of a “poisoned” church. As I have mentioned a few times here and elsewhere, most churches that I have attended seem like they would be better served if they reduced the number of the greeters and volunteers that cluster in the lobby by a factor of 10. Too many freakin’ folks on the team!
I chuckle at your reference to too many folks. There are some who struggle tons to have even one or two. 🙂 Glad to hear you were part of churches that functioned as teams.
Amen to that. It takes each part of the body to function, and it gets ugly when the parts want to work autonomously!
Ugly is a good word Stephen.
Amen. And one problem is that one rotten apple can really affect the team. Also, I always wondered how to spell buku, but now I know. And I find it amazing that the most tested athlete in the history of a sport who never failed a test can have his standing in a sport tainted by the word of two people who failed tests and were banned from the sport. Never mind that the most tested one is a jerk.
Very true about the one rotten apple Larry. As for your reference: I totally agree…on all counts. The latter statement is one reason why I think he was pursued by the president of the USADA.
Living in community stretches us, and can be painful. Some important parts of our sanctification can only happen when we work with others.
My church works as a team more than I’ve ever seen in a church. That was never emphasized in other churches where I have been.
Glad to hear that your church works as a team now. Sure is nice to see I am sure.
“To stand apart from the competition, you must first stand together as a team.” That’s a great quote. Our church, in the last couple years, has seen a lot of pain and has had to go through a lot healing. Praying it will reflect more of this team atmosphere in the near future.
Sometimes the pain is necessary to get a church to the point of cooperation and being on the same page. Praying along with you.
Yes my brother, if we don’t work as a team within a local body AND with other churches then we are not being as effective as we could be (if at all). I love working with my pastor and the other leaders of our small body…truly a joy.
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12
I can see you being one to work alongside with.
Oh man… The stench of human pride is overwhelming everywhere… Satan uses our weakest link like a chain itself; to enslave the person and beat the people around them. It’s not more prevalent than in the church.
If it’s all about you or me, then there is no peace and joy, there’s also no success. I’d really like to hear how you rid or deal with satan’s pawns. I know it’s harsh, but isn’t it true?
Stench of human pride is a good way to put it Floyd. Satan’s pawns is even better. 🙂 Maybe be harsh but often true.
Considering I’m not in a church right now I’d have to say the team is working fine. 😉
And as for thoughts…well…I know exactly what you’re talking about here. The challenge I’ve seen is not when the people you described at the end are in the congregation but not leadership…it’s when the obstinate, undermining glory hounds have the titles “Pastor” or “Worship Leader” and thus abuse their position. Anyone who challenges them becomes the “underminers” even if they’re the ones acting in a Biblical manner.
Smiling at your first remark jason. Not smiling though at the truth of the glory hounds statement. It is way too true. It sometimes is a fine line between calling an ace and ace and being a troublemaker.
Hi Bill,
The job of the church body is to come up into the image of Christ, I think. When the church leadership allows anyone and anything to attend and have a part in it(saved, unsaved, wicked, those living by the flesh, worldly) and then the leadership allows worldly methods, values, and goals to be the focus point of the church, there is going to be difficulties.
Darkness and Light do not work well together at all, yet this is what the church leadership expects to happen. It won’t happen.
Either the church will become godly and the wicked will leave, or the church will be overtaken by worldliness and the believers will eventually leave.
The church’s team cannot be the same and look the same as the worldly teams. Otherwise it is a worldly team and does not belong with believers.
Relationship is what you find in families. Relationship with Christ is what is lacking in the churches of North America. This needs to be focused on before more numbers are added.
Criteria for the ‘team’ needs to change. Proven character, godliness, and Christlikeness are the criteria, among other things. (Right now, the business man, the accountant, the entrepeneur, the social elite, the rich, the socially influential are mostly the ‘team’ in the church if they choose to be. It is no wonder that believers are having trouble with this in the church.
The metaphor for “team” is a group that works together. No thought is given to how it works/functions as to “worldly” ways or not. I am using it as saying “we need to work together.” If I was misunderstood then hope that clears it up.
Bill,
There really is no ‘team’ in the church. A few are making all the decisions and directions. There is very little if any imput asked for and considered by the majority in the church. If this is done by leadership it is usually a token effort.
I agree with an article I happened to read recently saying that church members in general give far more than they receive from the church system. What church leadership wants from most people is simply attendance and tithes. They don’t want too much input from most who attend the church because these leaders already know what they are going to do or not do.
This is way too much authority for leaders in the lives of believers. Leadership has let this happen and in many cases has encouraged this to happen. Then leadership is complaining that church members won’t work for them as well, in order to keep a worldly organization going.
This is harsh talk, but I think that it needs to be said and talked about. Of course, anyone who does talk about this in the church will be considered an enemy and considered to be undermining the leadership.
What a vicious circle. It will come to an end one day, just not the way most people would like to see that happen. Most people would like to see important changes made by leadership.
I think in some ways your view is clouded by your experience. When it was time for our renovation, we carefully included a Building Team that had the pulse of the church. i did not decide. The elders did not decide (except when it came to overextending our $$$ and we nixed that). All along we tried to include and inform. That is a team. It is true that many make token efforts. On the 23rd I plan to share my vision with the church, as do the elders (we are one in them). We plan to inform and include. Maybe this is different than many but I/we try hard to include everyone (at least those who want to know). We are more interested in them than just their tithes and attendance. We do allow for disagreement as well.
Teams are incredibly important. I think our church family does good with the concept, but there’s always room for improvement. I don’t know if we’re as bad as 80/20 (80% of the work done by 20% of the people), but it is still disproportionate. That’s a great quote too. Thanks for the thought-provoking post, Bill!
The 80/20 rule is put out there as the norm, but I know not all churches get there-good or bad. I think you put it well jason: there is always room for improvement.
Sad to say we have been in several churches that are pastorial leadership only. And sad to say we have had leaders in our mission that operate that way…there is always contension because there is alway pride. I think God showed us team work from the beginning, The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. Blessings.
I think pastoral leadership alone is dangerous and not even Scriptural. Sad that it also reeks havoc on the mission field.
Every church is going to have its shining moments. Every church is going to have areas of improvement. Overall I’m very satisfied with my church. What I find amazing is that the 80/20 rule applies no matter how big or small the church is. 20% of the people doing 80% of the work. Not sure how that applies to tithing but I’m sure tithing is similar.
I agree. Let’s focus on doing what is in front of us at the moment. A lesson I’ve had to learn over the last 2 years. Stay consistent and obedient. If God calls you to bigger things, then great. But you may have to stay put for awhile too.
thanks Bill!
You are so right Craig about every church having its shining moments. Unfortunately, what many hear about are the not-so-shining moments. It is important that we work where we are and allow God to do the expansion work (if He so chooses).
I do believe our church functions as a team, and we are a part of the team, which is always fun! And, I can tell that OVCF is a TEAM…anyone who walks into your service would be able to see that immediately! Great post!