8.29.2022

A  church and its pastor and any Christian ministry leader should operate with an open mind and spirit and heart as to other churches and ministries: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Our gifts and callings as individual Christians and churches and ministries may all be expressed a little differently.  

But I’d say we best cooperate wherever possible because just as we might be entertaining angels unawares, so also we might not know how some level of mutual fellowship and mutual prayer might turn towards the gospel glory of salvation by faith in Jesus and any and all manner of miracles.

I’d also say pray for each church, and all Christian ministries, and all pastors, and encourage all Christians. There’s nothing easier and better received as a pastor or preacher- who has no responsibility to pastor another pastor’s flock- than encouraging folks from that other flock!

I pastored on the westernmost edge of the bible belt. There were several churches who relished with great joy our church’s sojourn into the effective gospel vineyard.

We sometimes had choirs who would receive invitations to play their style of music in other churches.

And the choir leaders would- at first- ask me if it was OK to go.

And I was thinking- or saying something like- “here we are in the bible belt- you don’t have to ask me permission to do your ministry. You will be blessed and they will be blessed- just go!”  

Likewise, if we Christian ministers have an opportunity to invite musicians from other churches or ministries, or invite fledgling start up gospel ministries, and preachers and choirs, or to invite pastor’s kids from the local college nearby to sing and or preach and testify, or invite in faith drama groups, let’s go ahead and do it.

When different Christians and diverse local congregations experience the mutual love and aid of another pastor and or another church, or another gospel ministry, everybody grows in faith confidence and realizes that ministry is not just for experts, in their comfy denominational or church confines, it’s for everybody.

There is also nothing more encouraging (short of the Holy Ghost) as knowing that somebody- even one pastor, or one orther gospel minister, or even one other church in town really wants you and your ministry, and or your church, and all your congregation to be blessed, to have revival, to see the salvation of the lost, to grow and “succeed.”

My experience is that while there may not be an overabundance of open doors to mutual ministry near or far, among and between churches and pastors, there is also the fatal bait of Satan- his trick of prompting us Christians to take offense at others and at each other- or take offense at the cost of the gospel, and even heaven forbid at Jesus, or at not being received or fully welcomed in one’s own church, or by other churches and ministries near and far.

John Bevere about twenty years ago wrote a book how such offense was truly "The Bait Of Satan." This is one one of Satan’s chief tricks, right up there with disbelieving the Word, digging into unforgiveness, and the willful disobedience to the Word and Spirit.

Cooperating with and gaining the favor of other pastors and churches and ministries- however few in number- could save a church and a pastor or minister or preacher from taking Satan’s bait of competition, of soulish rejection, of victimhood and from the calumny that so hinders the body of Christ near and far.

Such offense leads to closed doors and closed hearts, and eventually to ministers-preachers, and  then perhaps churches and ministries that are lacking the very supernatural life of God.

I was given this John Bevere book by a fellow pastor- not because I went out to lunch with him and swapped stories- but I suppose He knew in the Spirit that we were preaching and living the gospel and thus enjoying considerable blessings- and that we faced some resistance too, as many gospel preachers do.    

And I realized- with his help and creative encouragement- that it’s often folks outside our church or our minsitry circle, churchy or not, who give us a cup of cold water, just what we need at the time, that can really provide gospel encouragement and even open gospel doors and stony hearts.

And let’s be honest it might be that in a town and area of twenty five churches, we as a church or preacher or minister might gain the favor and prayer and cooperation and sharing of gifts with two churches, and two pastors, and a couple of music ministries, and a few individuals who like what we are doing and who God has made us. 

That's not very many! (If your keeping score!)

But that’s OK.

We could make a gospel feast- all of us ministry leaders could- with just such a small amount of extra outside help- for the harvest is rich, but the laborers are few.  

In fact, any help and any cup of cold water is cause for rejoicing- because in their gracious help- however grand or modest- we realize we are not alone, that there are fellow Christians who want the best for us, and yes, praise God, there is cooperation and love between Christians and their neighbors who also share the same faith. And by God's grace we have seen it!

I also learned long ago way back in the seminary from a German man- his name was Tobias. His point was “there will always be somebody smarter, better looking, and more successful” in the church and ministry. We pastors and churches and ministers need to get over ourselves- which is no small feat. Part of this is getting over taking offense at the gospel and the cost of it, getting over any and all bait of Satan- whatever is tempting us to take needless offense out there. And instead we should be thankful for any local pastors, and any preachers and any churches, or any other ministries, or any other fellow Christians, or any mere humans, that do welcome us and support what we are doing.

As to folks who are not generally accepted as bible believing Christians, or folks who have beliefs we don't agree with much on doctrine- we also want the best for all of them too. I personally have spent many hours ministering true bible revelation to many who have beliefs that I don't agree with. Their souls are precious too.

Jesus also said at Matthew10,41-42 “If anyone gives these little ones [us! Jesus' followers out spreading the true bible gospel message] so much as a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, then in truth I tell you he [the water giver- could be a member of some ministry or church we think is not going with the bible, or an unchurched neighbor] will not go without his reward.”

I also learned a bit about receiving help from looking at the birds of the air- neither toiling or spinning- but God providing.

One drop of water at a time.

One bird outside my rectory window would wait for a timely and graceful drip of water below an outdoor faucet.

So likewise as a pastor and a preacher I have learned to be thankful for any and all Godly help I or we as a church or ministry received from wherever or whomever (and of course firstly from God himself), even if it was simply a kind or gospel word from a stranger, or a supporting nod from a local denizen who recognized that we were actually spreading the gospel- and thereby vitally connected to our living Lord and savior Jesus Christ who died once on Calvary's cross to save us all.  

Br. Tobin