Coffee Anyone
I love coffee in the morning when the weather is cold outside. At the office I have two coffee makers. My favorite one is a Bunn Automatic and the other; I don’t know its name. It does not make a good cup of coffee. There is one problem, the warming plate on the Bunn is broken and so does not keep the coffee hot after it is made, thus the need for the second coffee maker. So I make the coffee in one and then transfer it to the other, not a big deal. There are times when I am so inclined to get a new Bunn and forget the other “just warmer” coffee maker but the cost is prohibitive. So I live with the diversity.
Yesterday while making the coffee I thought about the difference between the two makers and associated it with the church. We do not have all “Bunn church members”. For example, some are gifted by God to make things begin but do not have the gifting to continue it. Others do not have the gifting to begin things but once they learn the vision they can keep it going. Nether is more important than the other is. They are both needed to enjoy the “church coffee”.
All too often we try to make everyone the same and we lose the beauty of diversity and the power of unity. The church has been designed to be different in gifts and function but congruent in purpose and goal. Trying to squeeze everyone into the one cup only frustrates and confuses the wonder of the Spirit in individualizing and unifying the church at the same time. The Body is unique in this. If we are one in Christ, we will communicate. And if we are individual in Christ we will animate.
If this is not understood the one who begins ministry with vision is criticized in not continuing what is begun. They are unfaithful, quickly bored, or light. The one who supports the ministry begun is looked down on because they may not have creativity, vision, or ingenuity. Both critical spirits are wrong and blind. God makes and continues ministry with different abilities and gifts. Why is it such a struggle to like and admire the God-given differences? Fear? Impatience?
So let me ask you. How is your coffee? Are you allowing your “coffee gift” get cold or old? Are you using what God has given to you? So if you are one who begins, begin. If you are a supporter, support. We will only be blessed, happy, and productive when we use our gifts and enjoy others do the same.
Enjoy diversity! Delight unity!
Yesterday while making the coffee I thought about the difference between the two makers and associated it with the church. We do not have all “Bunn church members”. For example, some are gifted by God to make things begin but do not have the gifting to continue it. Others do not have the gifting to begin things but once they learn the vision they can keep it going. Nether is more important than the other is. They are both needed to enjoy the “church coffee”.
All too often we try to make everyone the same and we lose the beauty of diversity and the power of unity. The church has been designed to be different in gifts and function but congruent in purpose and goal. Trying to squeeze everyone into the one cup only frustrates and confuses the wonder of the Spirit in individualizing and unifying the church at the same time. The Body is unique in this. If we are one in Christ, we will communicate. And if we are individual in Christ we will animate.
If this is not understood the one who begins ministry with vision is criticized in not continuing what is begun. They are unfaithful, quickly bored, or light. The one who supports the ministry begun is looked down on because they may not have creativity, vision, or ingenuity. Both critical spirits are wrong and blind. God makes and continues ministry with different abilities and gifts. Why is it such a struggle to like and admire the God-given differences? Fear? Impatience?
So let me ask you. How is your coffee? Are you allowing your “coffee gift” get cold or old? Are you using what God has given to you? So if you are one who begins, begin. If you are a supporter, support. We will only be blessed, happy, and productive when we use our gifts and enjoy others do the same.
Enjoy diversity! Delight unity!
posted by ipastorwill at 1:18 PM
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