COMMON GROUND
July 14th, 2009 | Michael Q. Pink
I am wrapping up my trip in Nashville with Henry Blackaby, Winkie Pratney and many Christian coaches, mentors and disciple makers. In the meantime, one of our rainforest business coaches, Jerry Henline, does some very important work in supporting missionaries and churches so I asked him to write this blog about the connection between business and church life. He has called it, Common Ground…
“Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord,
but also in the sight of men.” (II Corinthians 8:21)
“Let all things be done decently and in order.” (I Corinthians 14:40)
There is little disagreement among Christians as to WHAT our directive is in Scripture, but we become disagreeable to a large degree, on HOW we go about achieving that objective. That’s another way of saying “though methodologies may differ, the message is always the same.” We even define denominations by it. However, I believe these two verses provide the common ground we should be standing on when it comes to ministry objectives. Being honest before God and man, and doing things decently and in order.
These verses also provide the platform for implementing the principles Michael Pink reveals to us in Rainforest Strategies, not only in business, but in ministry as well. I know there are negative connotations to the suggestion of applying business practices to ministry, or the church, but it’s an “honest thing.” Churches and ministries have buildings, vehicles, equipment, employees and budgets just like businesses. If it all belongs to God, and it does, why would we treat one any different than the other? Jesus said, “wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”
Jerry Henline is a Certified Rainforest Coach and founder of Missionary Logistics, an organization dedicated to serving churches, missionaries and non-profit organizations; providing tools and assistance with logistics, strategic planning and analysis for issues that inhibit productivity and fulfillment of purpose utilizing the growth principles found in the rainforest.
Whether at home, or the uttermost, they are available to coach you through the process of finding practical solutions to fulfill your God-given mission, and honoring Him by doing things “decently and in order.” Visit www.missionarylogistics.com to learn more about the services and resources they provide.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:23 am
This is so true. I have seen many believers get offended when a church puts certain business principles in place as if a ministry can just “float” along, not have goals, boundaries, etc. in place. I love this blog because it helps me realize I’m not some strange Christian with strange ideas about bringing Jesus Christ into everything. Especially since He IS everything.
July 14th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Great post Jerry. Using principles from the word of God and applying it to business is what attracted me to this blog. Using the analogies from the Rain Forest for these same principles is unique and helps me to “see”.
Good stewardship in a local expression of the body of Christ follows from many of these principles. The danger is when “business” principles from the world systems are applied to governance and leadership in the Church. Those in authority in a local church should be the greatest servant of them all instead of a revered clergy. Scripture makes it clear that we are all in the priesthood of believers. Why is there a false caste system of clergy and laity?
July 17th, 2009 at 11:06 am
To Michael Pink,
In view of the fact that Billy Graham was involved in the retreat with Christian leaders that you mentioned, perhaps you can answer why Billy Graham, on Larry King Live, seemed to back away from Larry King’ s question about the necessity of accepting Jesus Christ as personal savior for a person to go to heaven after they died. Larry is of course Jewish and does not openly believe in Jesus or confess him as personal savior. And Larry is getting up in his years and has had heart problems so he wants to know what to expect when he dies.
Billy Graham’ s answer that it was up to God as to who goes to heaven seems to “back away” from his ardent preaching of the past that insisted upon a person accepting Jesus as personal savior to escape hell and to go to heaven after a person dies. Joel Osteen seemed to take the same position a Billy Graham when Larry King asked him a similar question about what is required for a man to go to heaven when he died. Many Christians were shocked by Joel’ s response and suggested that Joel is not saved and is bound for hell.
What do you think is going on in Billy and Joel’ s minds? Has there been a paradigm shift in their thinking regarding heaven and hell as has taken place in Pastor Carlton Pearson’ s mind and heart regarding unbeliever’ s burning in hell forever?
I believe there has been such a paradigm shift in Billy’ s and Joel’ s thinking just as has occurred in Carlton Pearson’s and in my mind and heart. And, in my case, I know that this shift has been orchestrated by the Holy Spirit. God has revealed to me from scripture that Jesus took the keys of death and hell from the devil when he died on the cross. And Jesus is now in the process of abolishing death and replacing hell, which has always been here on earth (beneath the earth), with God’ s kingdom as Revelation 11:15 indicates. Everything that God has been doing throughout human history has been a great mystery to most people but now in these end times God is finishing his great mystery as Revelation 10:7 prophesies and also as Jesus prophesied that everything hidden would be revealed.
I believe God directed me to read your blog of May 29, 2007 that talked about the mystery of God. In that blog you seemed to have some understanding of God’ s mysteries and the truth that it is God’ s glory to conceal a thing and the honor of kings to search out a matter as King Solomon, the wisest man, wrote in Proverbs 25:2.
I await your reply.
In His Majesty’ s Secret Service,
David Thompson
July 18th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
To Michael Pink,
I also would like to hear your take on David Thompson’s view of everybody gets saved no matter what they do doctrine.
John