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B. The Building Blocks
1. The Visitation of the Holy Spirit
There is a river
whose stream makes glad the city of God,
The holy place
where the most high dwells.
God is within her,
she will not fall
(Psalm 46:4,5).
Our task is to establish the city of God within the city
of man, a bringing of that future into the present.
The diagrams "Leadership and Strategy Processes in a
City" show progressions in partnering churches together to establish the
Kingdom in every sector of a city. It has been crystallized from seeing
similar principles in many cities. Every step in the following processes
must of necessity be the workings of the Holy Spirit, as we work with him.
In Acts 4:23-32 the Holy Spirit moved in power after the
people had prayed with purpose and unity. In Acts 2:1 they were all in
unity, and then the Holy Spirit came. The Holy Spirit must be a present and
integral part of all decision making if significant work is to be done in
the city. The spiritual unity of the leaders of the church is the key to his
presence. The Holy Spirit may not work significantly in a situation where he
is grieved. In most evangelized cities, there will already be a move of the
Spirit that is bringing the pastors of the church together.
The living out of the word of God is the foundation of
our spiritual unity, our walking together.
The basis of unity
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a commitment to the Biblical
importance of the relational and spiritual unity of the body of Christ
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a commitment to the Lordship of
Christ and the authority of the scriptures
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a mutual and workable acceptance of
each others differences doctrinally, and structurally. This works best when
each group knows and is committed to their own doctrinal base and yet have
an open spirit to others in the Lord. They must be able to disagree and yet
willing to accommodate for the sake of wider goals.
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a commitment to share together in
complementary areas of ministry giftings. Rather than there being offense at
doctrinal and structural differences, there is delight at seeing different
parts of the body working effectively.
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brokenness and vulnerability
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trust built up over a period of time
working together on smaller projects and goals.
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renunciation of sins of
manipulation, power playing, jockeying for positions, seeking glory or
control, competition, envy, a sense of inadequacy.
The Arrogance Factor
In one mega-city, disunity was apparent in our first
meetings. Several things were evident:
Pride and Woundedness:
The leaders of denominations and
organizations were based in this city. They had vested interests and had
built their organizations while having to protect their people from some of
the others and their teachings.
Geography
There are five distinct sectors of the city.
Very few people perceived of themselves primarily in terms of the whole
city. The solution seemed to be to recognize different areas of focus as a
blessing not a hindrance. Work at developing decentralized processes then
network the leaders of these. This has also been a significant factor in Los
Angeles with five major valleys of two to three million people each.
Cynicism
We have tried it in our local area and cannot
get unity. How then can it occur across the city? We are tired of the
constant pressures to put together such processes.
Size
In this city of 1,012,027 people, with about 800
churches, to produce comprehensive unity across denominations is a task
beyond most leaders.
In such a city, any number of plans could be drawn up for
the city, but apart from the work of the Spirit, they will simply sit in a
bottom drawer. Unity and the work of the Spirit precedes unified strategy
and planning.
For I know that whatever God does endures forever. Nothing
can be added to it or taken from it. God has made it so in order that man
should fear before him
(Ecclesiastes 3:14).
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Goals That Produce unity
Beyond simple fellowship there must be some common
initiative - not just knowing about and blessing each others plans, but
working on something together. Relationally-oriented people will be happy
with networks and relationships but this will not be enough to keep the
process of growing into a well-functioning part of Jesus' body sustained.
But activists will opt out of the process.
It raises the question whether unity catalyzes
events, or events catalyze unity.
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