Dear Grace Community Church,
It is Monday morning, July 27, the day after our vote on the proposed building addition and transfer of funds into our capital depreciation account. As I sit at my desk writing this letter I find myself thanking God for all He has done for Grace Community Church. Obviously each of us have individually received His amazing grace in the forgiveness of our sins and the promise of an eternal home with Him in Heaven. Praise God! But He has also been kind and gracious to who we are together as a community of believers in this local church. We have so much for which to be thankful.
The vote tally from yesterday’s meeting is as follows: Item #1 (capital depreciation funds transfer) passed 137-1. Item #2 (Building addition proposal) passed 114-24. As I spoke to our chairman, Fred Melvin, after he informed me of the tally, I was mindful of the many deacons’ meetings and prayer times of the last couple of years. Although there was always an agreeable spirit and genuine Christian humility that governed these meetings, there were many times when the men simply had differences of opinion on how best to proceed. That was not at all surprising, for the issues we were considering were very complex and there were many different ways to look at them. It wasn’t that one view was correct and the other views were wrong, it was just that there was more than one reasonable solution to consider. Folks, here is a good saying to remember:
Having true unity does not require absolute unanimity,
and having unanimity does not guarantee unity,
The word “unanimity” means “complete agreement by everyone in a group.” Over the years I have been in many deacons’ meetings where there was NOT unanimity, but there was still an atmosphere of unity (a sense of oneness in Christ). I have always found this to be refreshing and encouraging. Naturally there are times when unanimity is comfortable and even preferable. However, there is no spiritual challenge when you always have constant unanimity. Unity comes easily in those conditions. But there is something very special, and very Christ-exalting, when Christians have differing opinions but are committed to building and preserving unity. The fact that unity is a greater challenge when there are differences makes that unity much more precious and valuable. I believe this is part of “growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18).
Grace Family, our current Sunday morning series is THE POWER OF A PRAYING CHURCH. True unity (a sense of oneness in Christ) requires the power of God. As we yield to the Holy Spirit He shapes our hearts and minds in such a way that unity (a sense of oneness in Christ) binds us together with a shared commitment to exalt Christ above all things, and to fulfill the words of Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” May we pray to the Lord for the power to keep His Word!
I honestly believe that sometimes the Holy Spirit doesn’t want us to have unanimity on every issue (I don’t mean the gospel message and morality, for we should have unanimity there), but that He always wants us to have unity. Having unity even when there is not unanimity can deepen the roots of Christian humility and love. I have seen this at deacons’ meetings and I have seen it many times at Grace Community Church. Let’s be careful to protect our unity, for it is rooted in the bond we have together in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Folks, thank you for your prayers on behalf of Grace Community Church. Keep praying! And thank you for your patience with me. Over the years I have heard many stories from other pastors about heartache in ministry because of unresolved conflict among believers that was not brought under the authority and the wisdom of God’s Word. I have had continuous reason to thank God for His goodness and faithfulness to Grace Community Church, and how He has enabled us to work together by His grace and for His glory. It is good to be a Christian!
Grace to you, Pastor Jay