This follows recent entries I’ve written about appreciating gospel partnership and then defining them based on my experiences.
I felt it would be worth sharing some lessons I’ve learnt from pursuing them. In the previous entry I explored how it was worth pursuing as long as prayer was pivotal. Here are some more lessons.
Expect Opposition and Misunderstanding
Now you would probably be thinking I’m talking about the reaction of others to the partnership. You would be right in that thinking.
Yet the first port of call when it comes to opposition and misunderstanding is between us as partners in the first place. There is always the fear of the unknown. Despite having Christ in common, we still don’t really know each other. We don’t know how to trust each other. We may have had bad experiences previously that makes us wary of trusting another again.
These are real concerns and act as opposition from within to prevent the partnership fully functioning. One of the keys to addressing this was exposing it for what it is at the time. Sharing honestly with the partner where we’re coming from, and being helped to work through those issues proved to be invaluabl all the way through the journey.
What that also does is build a resistance to discouragement when the source of opposition and misunderstanding comes from elsewhere. A bond has been established. Even as Jesus said we can expect opposition for righteousness’ sake, so it’s inevitable that endeavours such as these meet with at time overt and obvious opposition, and even worse the subtle church-sponsored misunderstanding that doesn’t affirm or support what’s going on.
This can be overcome through that bond shared, and thorugh the knowledge that what is being undertaken is done in the name of the Lord for His honour and glory. This knowledge in some cases can help to particularly address areas of misunderstanding.
Let Brotherly Love Continue
If prayer is the pivot, love is the foundation of the partnership.
I am a witness that complete strangers from different walks of life with differing perspectives on a wide range of issues, can come together, share life together and grow closer to Christ and each other because of the love poured into us by the Holy Spirit. I know it, because I’ve experienced it.
Different cultures, ages … we’ve even supported different football teams. Yet the unifying power of God’s love has made those differences points for celebration rather than obstacles. Even some doctrinal differences that would have previously caused raised eyebrows are not reason to stop the partnership, but actually to differentiate between our different reading and the same Spirit that calls us to the same Body under the same Head.
That is where love is so crucial. As we share that love, so we grow in that love and my life has been enriched for the occasions in which I’ve benefited from the love shown by the different gospel partners, and that has stretched my expression of love beyond what it was previously. (Not only do I tolerate people who support different football and have different doctrine, I’ve even been able to share partnerships with people who drink coffee! Isn’t He wonderful?)
It is this love that allows us to humble ourselves and mutually submit to the other considering him of greater importance. Not always easy when you hold a view passionately and it’s not understood or not embraced. Yet these are the best times to prove the love in action. It is this love that will build bridges rather than burn them when things get tough.
There are just a few more lessons I want to share about pursuing gospel partnerships. It’ll be well worth the wait in the next entry where among other things you’ll see how the pursuit can be just a part of life.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 