Love is an Orientation
Last week I spent 2 days in Cedar Rapids, Iowa speaking to the Linn County Association of Evangelicals. Like no where else that I have ever traveled around the world have I seen such a powerful Association of local churches banding together for the greater good of doing Kingdom work. Although ‘Evangelical’ is in their name, this wide ranging Association has Christian denominations from across the board (from the United Methodist Church to Assembly of God) who forsake their individual church’s names and instead focus on intentionally partnering with each other to live out their slogan:
Prayer. Care. Share.
I immediately resonated with their slogan because it’s just another way to communicate my definition of love:
Tangible and measureable expressions of unconditional behaviors towards another.
Give me something real. Give me something I can hold on to—something I can see, hear, feel and track. Give me a tangible faith that doesn’t just intellectualize ethereal constructs but puts hands and feet to Christ’s love in such a way that community impact is felt without a doubt of who’s doing it and why they’re doing it! And the Linn County Association of Evangelicals is living it, every bit of it. I was so humbled to be with them as I saw what the Body of Christ truly looks like when names and denominations are stripped away and Kingdom priorities are thrust to the forefront. I can now officially say that I have found a model for Unity for the body living out what it means to be the Body.
Though what struck me as sad during my two days there was how much the world and the Kingdom are missing out because most of Christianity is too concerned with structurally-centered individuality. Here’s the crazy part—the 35 ‘smaller’ churches from all different denominations tightly banded together in Linn County combine to a greater number of congregants than any other mega-church in the country, and their unified tangible actions throughout their entire County are felt louder than any mega-church as well! The question that was looking me dead in the eye while I was out there:
Is Christianity about church growth or Kingdom impact?
However you or your pastor answers that question will determine the course of finding the solution to both of those questions. I don’t care about numbers, clout or political influence—I care about impact.
As Paul once so boldy reminded the Corinthian church as I would so boldy do so now regarding our own Church: “I say this to shame you” (1 Corinthians 6:5a). So then my brothers and sisters, what is it that you and your church are all about?
If anyone is ever around Cedar Rapids, Iowa, please look up the Linn County Association of Evangelicals and check out their unbelievable, unified, Kingdom work.
Much love.
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