Different Agenda

I’ve been part of a group of people where we are all pulling the same direction – or so it would seem. In a group of people there will always be disagreement with how we do things. It takes skillful leadership to keep everyone, including those in disagreement, moving toward a common goal. This scenario plays itself out in church leadership quite often. You’d think that the goal of any church is to reach lost people, but that is not the case. The goal of some churches is to keep everyone in the church happy and giving so that the church can keep going (and sometimes growing). I believe the agenda of the church should always be the “agenda” that the Founder (Jesus) set up at the very beginning. His agenda for the church was to reach out to lost people and disciple them and teach them NOT make the current believers comfortable and happy.

Jephthah had just fought against the Ammonites and defeated them when some of his own countrymen get frustrated with him. It doesn’t make sense, but it kind of mirrors what happens in the kingdom of God even today. Check this out…

1 The Ephraimite forces were called out, and they crossed over to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, ‘Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We’re going to burn down your house over your head.’

2 Jephthah answered, ‘I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn’t save me out of their hands. 3 When I saw that you wouldn’t help, I took my life in my hands and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave me the victory over them. Now why have you come up today to fight me?’ (Judges 12:1-3 NIV)

This story ends badly because evidently the men of Ephraim wanted some recognition or award for fighting against the Ammonites. I’m sure Jephthah was wondering were they were when the actual fighting was taking place. This reminds me of a story told by Max Lucado years ago in one of his books. He reminded me that we are called to “fish” for lost people. When the church looses sight of that goal, they often fight over just about anything and everything – including what equipment to use.

The Lord’s agenda is quite simple and it’s spelled out in The Word. He wants lost people to come home. He wants the church to grow and nurture young believers into mature and wise believers. The Lord will always be the head of the church, not some young, charismatic young pastor – The Church is the Lord’s Church. Any pastor, teacher, leader of Christ follower with an agenda different than the Founder/Leader should surrender their agenda to His – every time.

Hidden agendas cause misunderstanding.

Hidden agendas cause fights and quarrels.

Hidden agendas cause mistrust.

Hidden agendas cause deep division.

Hidden agendas must be called out and exposed.

Hidden agendas are almost always about self-promotion.

I think it is helpful for every leader to check their heart and review their own agenda to make sure it is in line with the Lord’s agenda. I don’t want to be a renegade follower who causes trouble, I want to be a loyal team player who promote the Lord’s agenda and His mission for His Kingdom.

Pressing On!

Dwayne