16 Jun, 2023 ‘MISTAKEN’ – ‘And Jesus then explained the parable to them’ (So offensive!)
‘MISTAKEN’ – An offensive comical parable? Why?
The topic of the parable – in case this was missed, is the way that ‘unity’ often works in the body of Christ in each city and town. Because the topics is so sensitive, I will make a few points here – but somewhat carefully.
The parable seemed to me to be immediately polarising amongst first audiences. Some said they laughed so hard it hurt. Others maybe felt it wise to stay silent – and in the mix there will be offence.
I think this cuts to the core of the issue.
So it is clear – I’m positive toward the ‘unity space’ of the NZ Church
While I do believe there is a problem for the NZ Church to consider and discuss, that doesn’t mean there aren’t amazing things being done in the unity space.
- Blessed is the man who can hold one thing in one hand without letting go of what is in the other!
I’m not a bystander in this also. I’m part of the Church and active in the unity space – so any criticism here is equally a criticism of myself. The question is, what is the ‘lid’? How could we get more ‘functionality’ into our unity? What’s inhibiting the next stage of development – and maybe also, What’s hindering us from seeing it?
At the core of our own work is the idea that thinking that leads to behaviour. We work with awareness that change in thinking can produce a change in behaviour naturally.
- If we can identify and then focus on augmenting one key idea or area of thinking – if this has been discerned correctly, this small change can catalyse other changes naturally over time.
So – in the unity space, what needs to change?
My book, ‘In One Spirit’ (free online) was written to address some areas we saw in 2017.
The wider purpose of that book was to try to catalyse a shared vocabulary and framework for ‘united function’ – to enable a more coherent conversation on the topic across our nation.
Eight national trips to visit pastors’ groups have also been undertaken with considerable intent to ‘seed’ some specific ideas / raise some specific questions. There have been some VERY positive developments across our nation in this time. Principally, most shifted from what I call ‘coffee unity’ and ‘prayer unity’ to a recognition that the goal has to be ‘functional unity’. What can we do together in service to our mission that we cannot do apart? This was an identifiable change, and we would suggest was a significant change in thinking.
The next step – as I saw it – would be to consider how we adapt within the way we engage in ‘unity’ – to create a wider context for united function. A core idea here relates to ‘what could we be together that we could not be apart?’ However, I’ve discovered a hindrance – and it’s more of a ‘wall’ than a ‘hurdle’. I’ve ‘tested’ this wall in numerous ways across the past few years. I now believe there is a flaw in our human nature that – if not recognised and discussed openly and regularly – will leave us stuck roughly where we are.
No matter how much effort we put into building unity, to see new things happen – I think we’re hitting a common lid. Great effort won’t shift this ‘lid’. A new way of thinking is needed.
From a leadership perspective there is therefore a choice to make. If a person’s work were in the unity space I see two possible approaches; Do they (a) continue to encourage everyone for their valiant efforts in the unity space, or (b) try to get that limitation on the table for discussion?
I feel an obligation to speak up for a greater vision and potential – for the sake of the gospel. I believe some further subtle changes in our thinking and values as church leaders across this nation are needed.
These changes would be more in our DNA than in our practice – but could change the nature and DNA of our practice. That is the point.
A key measure of unity
I suggest that a key measure for our unity is our ability to see and embrace simple and sensible ideas within the unity space. If we resist genuinely simple and sensible ideas that could deliver results, the question has to be, “Why?” “What is behind that?”
In my experience, there is a significant challenge getting simple and sensible ideas heard or considered in the unity space. Often they cannot even be perceived – which has begged the above question many times for me. This applies to all levels of church leadership.
There is something inherent to the nature and DNA of our current paradigm of ‘church’ that hinders our ability or desire to engage in this important conversation. A kind of ‘token unity’ results – in which there is a pursuit of relationship as if it were a goal, supported by some prayer and a very occasional united endeavour. I am suggesting this is well short of the mark – while I’m not suggesting a lot more work is needed. Different thinking is needed.
It’s about a culture that is within us as New Zealanders, Westerners and those influenced by a Western Christian way of thinking). It’s also about ‘human culture’ – by which I refer to our fallen nature. Culture can be very difficult to change!
How ‘good’ or ‘bad’ is our current unity?
Only God can answer this. For me, I’m both positive toward our unity and deeply sad at what I believe we’re not seeing.
I see a range of plausible goals we could embrace together – and very easily. But it’s not a conversation we’re yet able to engage.
As noted, in my experience this hindrance applies at all levels of church life, denomination as also in unity groups – but, interestingly, not so much with church members. It is as if we ‘do unity’ how we think we’re supposed to do unity. Any conversation that goes beyond that boundary in our thinking is not our responsibility. As a result we’re disinterested. ‘What could anyone possibly tell me that I don’t already know?’
Within the mix, some also consider any hope that our unity might engage more intelligently or meaningfully in our cities an idealism – meaning unrealistic. This thinking is quite widespread – even amongst people who are fans of ‘coffee unity’ and ‘prayer unity’. Discouragement and disappointment from attempted unity efforts have left their mark.
If there is no eagerness for more – or grief over the challenges we are facing and failing to engage with – or over the plight of the lost multitudes – there is no inherent motivation within us to engage, even if we are pastors of churches, or leaders of movements. We’ve seen it all before. What could anyone possibly tell me that I haven’t heard before?
So we attend unity meetings while having an actual ‘disbelief’ in the practical potential of our unity in our hearts.
We encourage ourselves with the idea that, if we pray and are united, God might do all the needed work for us by his Spirit. There is much of this- while simple and sensible things we could do remain unheard (despite efforts to change that) and unconsidered.
These comments hardly scratch the surface – but we’re all busy people, right? “We don’t actually have time for this!”
But how important might ‘this’ be?
We therefore continue to reduce unity to coffee (relationship amongst church leaders) and prayer – with an occasional united action – exactly akin to the indictment uttered in the parable! And we think we’re doing doing awesome!
To put it directly, we’re not actually ready to consider taking responsibility for the lifting of Jesus’ name and reputation in our cities or nation. We’d rather just stay in our corner, growing our own congregation – being the kind of Christian leader our church movements and church culture esteems.
It’s about culture! (We are within one).
If there were voices suggesting a different path, we might not even hear what they were saying – even if we listened – again, because this is about a way of thinking. We are within a church culture.
Anyway – that’s enough said.
I guess we now go back to looking after our own bedrooms and an occasional project together – with little regard for the needs of our own properties, leaving the lawns unmanaged, weeds growing, fruit trees untended, dog and chickens hungry – yeah?
Prayer will fix it anyway, right?
Our relational unity will bring God’s favour and fix all that other stuff eventually too, right?
In fact, we could meet and pray and worship for hours – and change the world, true?
…Or might the mission Jesus gave his Church have begun with the word ‘Go’? Might intelligent action actually be needed? Might we actually be capable of more?
For further reflection…
The book ‘In One Spirit’ speaks to some foundational values that undergird a commitment to the (united) Church. It was purposed to provide a framework or vocabulary for this conversation.
As a specific statement re some possible changes in perspective:
“There is one Church, it has a needed united function, that function is both larger and more important than we’re giving it credit, that function (which is based in our health together as united churches) also being possible without an authority structure (big statement!) but only if we have certain healthy boundaries clearly defined and understood in the way we work together – and (so the point isn’t missed) this is all something that we’ll naturally overlook in our human nature because we’re conditioned by both our prior experience and also the instinctive ‘independence’ of our human nature to serve one congregation, or one denomination, or one pastors’ group, or one unity movement as the priority.”
There are numerous values and ideas in the above lengthy sentence. Each has implications regarding how we ‘do church’, and on our accountabilities and priorities. Were values adjusted, I believe a platform for a new range of synergies and innovations would result.
TO CONCLUDE
Much good is happening.
I believe more is possible than we are even aiming for.
We are maybe 20 to 50 intentional conversations away from seeing that.
What it will that take?
Personal comment: With 14 years given to networking, and a huge amount of thought given to this very matter, I don’t have an answer. My best guess and hope is that God’s Spirit might work in his leaders to break their hearts for the lost in a fresh way. If we could see just how deficient our current efforts and paradigms are for the task God has given, maybe then we’d be ready to actually consider new ideas and ways of thinking. Certainly it is my view that there is far too little brokenness over the ‘lostness of the lost’ in the NZ Church. Various infections in this body have served to dull our sight of and numb our hearts toward our very mission! We engage in tokenism and think we are doing well. We aren’t actually broken. We aren’t desperate. We aren’t ‘hungry’. We aren’t disturbed by what we see.
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For other articles by Dave on the same topic of – CHURCH UNITY
2024 – The LID of our unity is in what we can SEE
2024 – To further unity there is a needed context
2024 – SLT Leadership statement – Nest areas we intend to innovate within
2024 – Attitudes that sustain unity
2024 – How is the strength of unity to be measured?
2024 – Application from the Bible Society’s new data
2023 – A unity reflection: What if we were more strategic in our PRAYER
2023 – Roy Crowne – A voice for unity – Unity finding its voice in the CITY
2023 – Fresh vision for local Church unity
2023 – Invercargill’s Community Service Day – a unity story
2023 – Family relationships – an under-utilised gateway
2023 – The election is over – so WHAT NOW? (A specific strategic proposal)
2023 – For a united Church – there are leaders we cannot see
2023 – “Mistaken” – An offensive comical parable? Why?
2023 – “Mistaken” – A comical parable about unity
2023 – Four characteristics of leaders who take city-wide unity from talk to action
2023 – The quiet before the storm (Perspectives that shape how we lead)
2023 – STORY: How Gisborne churches united to serve their flood-affected region
2023 – STORY: NZ churches can shine when it counts (Napier flood report)
2022 – One Church? FIVE factors that enable pastors’ groups to turn theory into practice
2022 – A SWOT Analysis of the NZ Church in relation to its outreach
2022 – Four national goals that can be easy ‘wins’ together
2022 – A vocabulary we can agree on (This one is a particularly important FOUNDATION if coherent national discussions on unity are to one day take place)
2022 – Principles for managing necessary agenda in pastors’ groups
2022 – Introducing ‘HeLP Project’ (for pastors’ groups) – the what and the why
2022 – Key pulpit themes in view of the global reset (Finding direction in changing times)
2020 – It’s time to take responsibility to educate our own children and youth again (On united direction and strategy – for city change)
2020 – Kingdom minded – It’s more radical than many think
2020 – STORY – The Auckland delivery
2020 – A need for new media platforms – not more voices (How do we address the increasingly left-leaning and also anti-faith bias of public media?)
2020 – A vision for national Church unity (What might REALISTICALLY be within our reach to achiEve – if we merely thought differently?)
2019 – ‘In One Spirit’ – The purpose of the book (Written at the time of the book launch and press release)
2019 ‘In One Spirit’ – full book FREE online
2019 – United we stand (A blog just prior to the release of the above book, ‘In One Spirit’)
2017 – Pastors’ groups – a home visitation idea (best suiting smaller towns)
2017 – The call to influence culture (It’s about the way we think)
DAVE MANN. Dave is a networker and creative communicator with a vision to see an understanding of the Christian faith continuing and also being valued in the public square in Aotearoa-New Zealand. He has innovated numerous conversational resources for churches, and has coordinated various national nationwide multimedia Easter efforts purposed to open up conversations between church and non-church people about the Christian faith and its significance to our nation’s history and values. Dave is the Producer of the ‘Chronicles of Paki’ illustrated NZ history series created for educational purposes, and the author of various other books and booklets including “Because we care”, “That Leaders might last” and “The Elephant in the Room”. Married to Heather, they have four boys and reside in Tauranga, New Zealand.