The greater good

A couple of words have been important to me as I continue on this journey of Christian leadership and they are: greater good. I really do understand that we need some guidelines by which we can monitor the journey, but as I will be talking about on Sunday morning; the Christian journey is ALL about grace.

From time to time I will quite deliberately choose to ignore some particular parameters that, chances are we have wrestled over in previous times. I am well aware that this causes some consternation, but will continue to rock the administrative boat for what I perceive as the greater good. We are an organisation that needs rules to move forward but must never forget that we live not by rules but by grace.

Jesus once said: ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish but to fulfil.’ What does it mean to be people of fulfilment? Fulfilment is quite a delicious word don’t you think? I dream of a community that is committed to fulfilment. Not fulfilment for themselves but for all.

Making your goal the greater good means that the rule book becomes a resource not a gospel. It becomes a vessel of hope instead of an anchor around our neck. Oh yes, we have agreed that this is the fence line; but for the greater good we might have to occasionally just push it off line a little. Occasionally that which is well entrenched might have to be inconvenienced just a little bit for something that is new and has the potential to bless.

I love the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus in Luke 19. The opening lines of this yarn make it quite clear that Jesus was passing through and had no intention of any great delay. It was a little cheating tax collector up a tree that changed his plans. His disciples were checking their Iphones and Blackberries to see if they had this stoppage slotted in while Jesus organised lunch! Now, you might make some adjustments to your schedule for an unforeseen opportunity to catch up with friends or a worthwhile new contact; but lunch with a tax collector!? Come on.

Here is the bit that so many Christians still, for reasons absolutely beyond me, do not get. IT IS NOT ABOUT US!! It is all about the greater good. When Jesus told a story about a banquet where the honoured guests didn’t turn up, the host said to go out and hunt the streets and alleyways for anybody to come; credentialed or not. Greater good.

For anyone taking notice you will see that I am happy to bend or even break a rule, to ensure that the road is made clear for people to find the kingdom of God. Yes, I do have a different expectation for those who are already a part of us and that expectation is that we see that the greater good is paramount and that grace is our watchword.

Is this a recipe for anarchy? I don’t think so but then again I have become convinced that I live at a different address to some. My goal is and has always flowed from that same story of Jesus and Zacchaeus. At the end of this little interlude Jesus gave us his job description: ‘For the Son of Man came to seek out and save the lost.’ That’ll do me. How about you?

To seek and save the lost is a tough gig. It is easier to serve the already saved and keep the regular customers satisfied. Seeking and saving is dangerous. It could get you crucified?