I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel... Philippians 1:3-5
Did you hear about the mountaineer who decided to go it alone?
He was with a group who had planned to do a winter climb of K2, the world’s second highest mountain. This meant they had to complete the ascent by the end of February - and if you think weather conditions in Britain over the last few days have been difficult, well, I dread to think what they must have been like on that mountainside.
Unfortunately, there were various delays - nobody’s fault in particular - time was running out and they had barely got going. Disagreements and tensions flared up about what they ought to do. Whereupon the go-it-alone climber decided to do just that - to go it alone. He didn’t discuss it with his team-mates; in fact, he didn’t even tell them what he intended to do. He just went.
Did he make it to the top? No. Did he make it back to the camp where the others were? Yes. Did he apologise for his action? No. Did he stay with the team for another try? No. He headed back down the mountain - and I don’t think his colleagues were sorry to see him go.
The reaction from the mountaineering community as a whole was largely critical. Most climbers felt he had been reckless and selfish, and had let the team down. I doubt if he will receive too many invitations to join climbing parties in the future. You can admire his bravery, of course; but it’s hard to feel any great sympathy.
If you’re part of a team, you must function as part of that team - that is, as they say, the bottom line. And this principle is vital when the New Testament talks about the church. You can define the church in various ways - as a body, as an army, as a family, for example - but the idea of a team is also good.
Paul had a very soft spot for the church in Philippi; his letter to them is full of affection and appreciation. And he hits that note right at the start, telling them how he thanks God for “your partnership in the gospel”. The Greek word he uses is koinonia, which is often translated “fellowship”, and which certainly includes the idea of team-work. It’s obvious that he greatly valued the support and co-operation of the Philippi church.
This implies that if we are Christians, God expects us to be good team-players. Does that describe you? If not, I suggest that you need to do some serious thinking.
The Bible simply knows nothing - either New Testament or Old - of solitary believers: either you were part of the community of Israel, or of the community of the church. No loose cannons, no prima donnas, no individualists. It’s no accident that when Jesus sent out the twelve to preach the gospel, he sent them out in twos; we never read of him sending out anyone alone.
Two thoughts occur to me, one negative, one positive.
The negative thought first: the church is a community of people who don’t necessarily like one another. What matters is that they are joined together in a task they all care about and believe in. Yes, hopefully they will all get on well, and there will be much Christ-like love. But there are bound also to be differences of opinion and tensions, and the key thing is not to pretend they aren’t there, but to handle them in a gracious, mature and loving manner.
I read somewhere that Gilbert and Sullivan, the composers who wrote those massively successful comic operas in the Victorian age, couldn’t stand the sight of one another in their personal lives. The same has been said of footballers who form a brilliant goal-scoring combination. Both of which examples show what can be done. Let not the church fail where the “world” can succeed!
The positive thought is this: when Christians do succeed in working lovingly and harmoniously together, the sense of achievement is one of the most fulfilling things you could ever imagine. It may be the “spiritual” work of faithfully praying together or leading a children’s group; or it may be the “practical” work of running a food-bank or doing the cleaning - whatever the work is, it joins us together in a deep and satisfying relationship.
Speaking personally, I can only say what joy I have known over my life as a Christian - plenty of fun and laughter as well as the more serious stuff - through the people it’s been my privilege to work with.
I can’t help feeling sorry for that go-it-alone mountaineer, however irresponsibly he acted. I wonder if, deep down, he already regrets what he did. But I feel even more sorry for the solitary Christian: how much joy he or she misses!
Make no mistake, any Christian who opts to go it alone will one day regret it bitterly. Just make sure it’s not you!
Lord Jesus, teach me to be a loyal, responsible and enthusiastic member of the team you have gathered about yourself, loving my fellow team members, and rejoicing in the task you have called us to. Amen.
Did you hear about the mountaineer who decided to go it alone?
He was with a group who had planned to do a winter climb of K2, the world’s second highest mountain. This meant they had to complete the ascent by the end of February - and if you think weather conditions in Britain over the last few days have been difficult, well, I dread to think what they must have been like on that mountainside.
Unfortunately, there were various delays - nobody’s fault in particular - time was running out and they had barely got going. Disagreements and tensions flared up about what they ought to do. Whereupon the go-it-alone climber decided to do just that - to go it alone. He didn’t discuss it with his team-mates; in fact, he didn’t even tell them what he intended to do. He just went.
Did he make it to the top? No. Did he make it back to the camp where the others were? Yes. Did he apologise for his action? No. Did he stay with the team for another try? No. He headed back down the mountain - and I don’t think his colleagues were sorry to see him go.
The reaction from the mountaineering community as a whole was largely critical. Most climbers felt he had been reckless and selfish, and had let the team down. I doubt if he will receive too many invitations to join climbing parties in the future. You can admire his bravery, of course; but it’s hard to feel any great sympathy.
If you’re part of a team, you must function as part of that team - that is, as they say, the bottom line. And this principle is vital when the New Testament talks about the church. You can define the church in various ways - as a body, as an army, as a family, for example - but the idea of a team is also good.
Paul had a very soft spot for the church in Philippi; his letter to them is full of affection and appreciation. And he hits that note right at the start, telling them how he thanks God for “your partnership in the gospel”. The Greek word he uses is koinonia, which is often translated “fellowship”, and which certainly includes the idea of team-work. It’s obvious that he greatly valued the support and co-operation of the Philippi church.
This implies that if we are Christians, God expects us to be good team-players. Does that describe you? If not, I suggest that you need to do some serious thinking.
The Bible simply knows nothing - either New Testament or Old - of solitary believers: either you were part of the community of Israel, or of the community of the church. No loose cannons, no prima donnas, no individualists. It’s no accident that when Jesus sent out the twelve to preach the gospel, he sent them out in twos; we never read of him sending out anyone alone.
Two thoughts occur to me, one negative, one positive.
The negative thought first: the church is a community of people who don’t necessarily like one another. What matters is that they are joined together in a task they all care about and believe in. Yes, hopefully they will all get on well, and there will be much Christ-like love. But there are bound also to be differences of opinion and tensions, and the key thing is not to pretend they aren’t there, but to handle them in a gracious, mature and loving manner.
I read somewhere that Gilbert and Sullivan, the composers who wrote those massively successful comic operas in the Victorian age, couldn’t stand the sight of one another in their personal lives. The same has been said of footballers who form a brilliant goal-scoring combination. Both of which examples show what can be done. Let not the church fail where the “world” can succeed!
The positive thought is this: when Christians do succeed in working lovingly and harmoniously together, the sense of achievement is one of the most fulfilling things you could ever imagine. It may be the “spiritual” work of faithfully praying together or leading a children’s group; or it may be the “practical” work of running a food-bank or doing the cleaning - whatever the work is, it joins us together in a deep and satisfying relationship.
Speaking personally, I can only say what joy I have known over my life as a Christian - plenty of fun and laughter as well as the more serious stuff - through the people it’s been my privilege to work with.
I can’t help feeling sorry for that go-it-alone mountaineer, however irresponsibly he acted. I wonder if, deep down, he already regrets what he did. But I feel even more sorry for the solitary Christian: how much joy he or she misses!
Make no mistake, any Christian who opts to go it alone will one day regret it bitterly. Just make sure it’s not you!
Lord Jesus, teach me to be a loyal, responsible and enthusiastic member of the team you have gathered about yourself, loving my fellow team members, and rejoicing in the task you have called us to. Amen.
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