Go It Alone... part 2

This is part 2 of a 2-part blog series written by a new friend of mine. His name is Tim Cole. Over the last ten years Tim has been involved in school work (both in the UK and in the USA with LifeChoices), teaching and speaking, missions, evangelism, prophecy and most of all worship. He has worked for several Churches in the UK, in Maidstone, Kent, where he was the Worship Director's Assistant, and in West Horsley, Surrey where he was Worship Leader. You can find him on the web at www.timcole.org.

CLICK HERE to visit part 1

 

Go It Alone (part 2)

One of the most familiar pictures of the Church we find in the New Testament is in 1 Corinthians 12, the church as a BODY.  Paul is trying to teach the Church in Corinth about appropriate use of spiritual gifts. The core of what he is saying is that NO ONE person has all the gifts and no person can experience the fullness of God's Spirit in isolation. Every part of the body needs every other part. He paints a picture of how the Church should operate, a community of INTERdependant individuals who only experience the full power of God when they come together. One has a message in tongues, one has the interpretation, another has a prophecy and still another a word of knowledge. On their own these things have some use, but brought together and exercised together, they have immense power. God designed it that way. He chose, by His Spirit, to give each of us different gifts, but in order to fully function we all need each other. Personally I believe one of the failings of the "charismatic" movement is that it can elevate individual personalities and gifts instead of realising that the gifts themselves - when exercised Biblically - have a deeper purpose. The point of the gifts are to help teach us how to live and co-operate in Godly interdependence. In short, the point of the gifts of the Spirit, used correctly, is to produce the fruit of the Spirit.

As I said in part one, it can be hard for us to admit that we need other people. It can be especially hard for leaders. We get afraid of admitting we need others… what if that means they don't respect us or they question our decisions? Often that fear is unfounded. The reality I have seen is that leaders who are honest, vulnerable, humble and share their own weaknesses have an ability to bring incredible release, freedom and healing to others. In my experience, I've seen that they tend to gain the respect of others, not lose it. In contrast those who try and go it alone - creating a plastic persona of perfection, keeping everyone at a distance while trying to dazzle and impress, look successful for a while but often crash and burn spectacularly, damaging a lot of others along the way. The isolation and pressure to carry too heavy a burden alone crushes them.

The truth is none of us can do this alone, and we are not meant to. I need your help and you know what? You need mine. That's not weakness, that's not wrong, that's exactly the way God intends it.

 

What are ways your serve interdependently? In what ways are you tempted to go it alone?

Comments

[Bill (cycleguy)]

Tim: I have appreciated both posts (but chose not to respond yesterday). I hate to admit it but in many ways I am a loner. I am an extreme extrovert but when it comes to ministry and getting help it has taken me a long time to learn to ask for it. As I have gotten older I have learned to delegate (a hard thing to do) but when it comes to multiple staff I find it much easier most of the time to say, "Do it yourself Bill." Over the years I have come to value accountability but that hasn't been easy either, especially when it is hard to admit one needs help. Talk about a cycle!! Anyway, thanks for the two posts. Thanks Scott for giving Tim a chance to blog. I wish Tim God's blessings if he chooses to continue (and will put him in my Google Reader). :)

[Timscole]

Hi Bill thanks so much for your comments and your willingness to be open and vulnerable. As I said in a comment yesterday, I agree that these "beasts" tend to come in cycles. We can think we've killed the beast of insecurity or pride only to find a changing situation breathes new life into it.

I think Scott is doing a great thing with this blog in providing not only resources but a place where people feel safe to connect and share, being vulnerable and transparent. I'm really grateful for the opportunity to contribute.

We really are "better together". God bless you Bill and thanks again.

[Jim F.]

I am currently dealing with a situation where I could say "I will do it myself" but in that I see that I would be robbing others of learning and growing. I want to learn and grow and I want others to do the same. I want people to see interdependence in action. This comes from the fact that I have learned from those I have worked with in the past that those I have worked and for - I have seen the damage that comes from micro-managing and from those who do it alone. I do not want to repeat those mistakes and that is what I am reminded of when I want to do it alone.

Thanks Tim and Scott for the post.

[Scott Couchenour]

Here is a helpful resource if there is an issue with delegation. I've found it very insightful and puts delegation in the right perspective: http://bit.ly/c2MNpo

[jasonS]

I pray we understand this more and more as the Church. The kidney isn't weak because it needs the other parts of the boy to function. It was designed that way. We are not weak because we need one another, we are only fulfilling our purpose. God designed us to be strengthened by and useful to one another. I want to embrace that more fully!

Thanks Tim (and Scott).

[Michael]

I just wanted to encourage Tim and thank him for the last two days. I have enjoyed both very much.

[Scott Couchenour]

I would like to echo Michael's comment and publically thank Tim for taking the time to put this content together. I trust it will be used by ministry leaders to eliminate burnout from their journey.

God bless, Tim! Keep the conversation open......