Relationships v.s. GEOGRAPHY

We continue to give thanks for the ministry of Tina Jaison and her "rethinking" ministry in the city. This is reposted from her blog:http://missionjesusstyle.blogspot.com

RELATIONSHIPS v.s. GEOGRAPHY

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
    the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it on the seas
    and established it on the waters.   PSALM 24:1-2

When we believe this to be true, why is it that we still impose human territories on what belongs to the Lord?  

There are a variety of ways to create boundaries between what is the Lord's and how we identify what is ours...

Countries - States - Counties - Parishes - Zip Codes

Personal Possessions - Businesses - Government

As a mission developer in a metropolitan area, I am watching a dilemma unfold... 

We're in a generation where people travel long distances from the places they live to where they work, play and worship.  The challenge often is that the great majority of a person's relationships are not near the church where they worship, sometimes traveling more than 10, 20, 30, and sometimes 60 minutes!  

History has shown that the best way to reach new people is to plant new churches, but... 

What does that say to the established churches?  How can we begin to reconcile the framework of geographical boundaries that fit the patterns and lifestyles of former generations?  Generations before were not as mobile as we are today.  

 Foremost, stay focused on the most important matter -  eternity! 

As followers of Jesus, we must be constantly reminded that the division of territory
is not based in possessions or geographical boundary, but in spiritual kingdoms.  

Paul reminds us:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  

EPHESIANS 6:12

Congregations and the members in them are in the midst of this dilemma. 

Where is our mission field?  

Around the church building? 

 In the neighborhoods where people live?  

In the places where people work?  

In the groups where people play and volunteer?
How much do I invest if they won't come to my church?

As followers of Jesus, 

we are called to sow seeds of faith
into the lives of people, wherever they are

and trust the Lord to bring the harvest,
knowing that HE will connect them to a community of faith
where they can grow and become seed planters in His kingdom.

When the nurturing of faith comes through a genuine caring relationship,
it is most likely that a person will want to be where you are.

I hear the words of St. Paul coming through loud and clear as I write this morning.  I can imagine that he is hot, delivering these words with every bit of conviction and passion that one senses in his writing:

For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.  I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.  So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.  The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.  For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.  For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  1 CORINTHIANS 3:4-11

Our role is to each be about our assigned tasks and 

give ALL the glory to the Lord for any harvest that is reaped.  

Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.  1 CHRONICLES 29:11 

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