Labels

I remember mornings where four pastors used to eat breakfast at 6 am every Saturday at the Two Trails Diner in Standish, Maine. We were diverse: one an older, bi-vocational pastor of an American Baptist Church, one and older, bi-vocational pastor of a reformed church, one a younger, bi-vocational pastor of an independent baptist church, and me, a young, full-time, new-kid-on-the-block, Southern Baptist church planter. And we made up all the evangelical churches in town, save one. And all together our congregations would have totaled about 250 in a town of 10K. Some of us had kids, some grandkids. Jim's wife died during that time, I had two children. Some of us where very conservative, some were borderline moderate/liberal. Some were denominational, some not. Some pastoring a long time, some where pretty green. Some were strongly calvinistic, some arminian, and some of us were in between.

There, used as many labels as I could.

Each week we would do what evangelical Christians do best--meet and eat. We would read a book together and discuss it. We would hold each other accountable in our ministries and families. Friendships were forged, hurts were shared, prayers were prayed, and lots of pancakes and eggs were consumed. Differences in opinions came up, and were discussed, but we realized we were on the same team. And as few of us as there were there, we didn't need to shoot each other. In fact, we had a lot of special services together, and were edified.

Seems as though now, here in the Bible Belt, we draw lots of lines. We condemn a lot of enemies in house. Denominational lines and politics shatter a lot of good fellowship. Now don't get me wrong, I do not advocate ecumenism. And I have a lot of doctrinal convictions that do divide. But sometimes I think back on the beautiful comradery of four servants engaged in a battle together for the advancement of the church and the souls of men.

Interestingly enough, that carried over into the churches. And their fellowship was similarly attractive.

"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." -Jesus

I miss that often.

Churches Come Together

Psa 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!

Tonight our church, New River Baptist Church, and Fair Haven Primitive Baptist Church (my friend Matt Strevel's church) came together in a unique service. We spent Sunday night together watching and listening to Josh McDowell (via DVD) exhort us to speak truth through relationships and evidence. The content or occasion wasn't really that important, just the unity (in two different denominations). And I don't mean to get all ecumenical and sing cum-by-ya on you, but it was really great! Our two congregations blended, interacted over the word, laughed together, then fellowshipped afterward for over two hours. There was a deeper unity felt tonight because of our common Savior, common goal (glorifying Christ through the spread of the gospel), and our common hindrances and failures in the task set before us. My prayer is that the sweetness of the fellowship remains for future joint ventures, and that the fruit of repentance will bring forth disciples in our congregations from the truth that we heard preached tonight. Truth through relationships, I think that's what he preached about...