Why "Kingdom First Aid"?

Every day I hear of new ways God's Kingdom is "wounded"...
Churches unable to work through conflict. Church members leaving a church fellowship in anger, never to return again. I've heard stories from people who for one reason or another have had such a bad experience at a church, they have said they will never go back. It's too painful for them or they couldn't find what they were really looking for which was a fellowship of believers fully surrendered to the Lord and focused solely on Him.

There have been other wounds to the Kingdom, wounds to the ministers. Pastors attacked for one reason or another and forced out of their pastorates. Ministers making decisions based not on what they hear God asking them to do but instead on what a group of congregation members are wanting them to do, succumbing to their fear of loosing their jobs. I have personally experienced the stress of personal attacks by church members disgruntled by my choices, attempting to undermine my leadership. I have also seen first hand the pressures placed on pastors and the negative impact it has on ministers and their families. Some of these wounds are so deep these wounded ministers will leave vocational ministry all together.

Finally, each of us as Christians experience times of hardship, painful moments rendering us "wounded" and unable to serve in ministry the way God desires us to. It may be an actual physical affliction such as an illness or hardship within our family. Or it could be a sin that is in our life that we can't seem to get control over or become free of. Wounds to individuals can be inflicted by others or unfortunately, we can wound ourselves.

What is the result?
In each case the result is the same. The Kingdom is wounded and God's people are distracted from our purpose; to commune with God and share the good news of Christ with those who have not heard it yet. What better way to prevent those in the Kingdom from accomplishing this purpose then to fracture the fellowship and create disunity among our ranks. Each time we allow another wounding or we succumb to it, the Kingdom is weakened a little more and we are farther away from our goal.

The Purpose of "Kingdom First Aid "
My purpose in writing this blog is to attempt to assist in the healing process for Christians, the churches they attend and the ministers selflessly serving who have experienced the pains of such wounding, to help give "first aid" where needed. Sometimes this "first aid" may be in the form of encouragement, but other times it will be through the discussions of various topics applicable to the "battles" taking place within God's Kingdom. Each entry will be topical and I encourage feedback and dialogue. I am far from an expert in this area and would love to hear your thoughts and more about your own experiences.

My goal is to help strengthen God's Kingdom so that we may get back to accomplishing what God placed us here on earth to do. At the very least it is to network those who have been wounded and remind the wounded that they are not alone in their struggles. There are others out there, just like you. All of us have been wounded at one time or another. Finally, it is to not only triage current wounds, but to be preventive in nature in order to lessen future wounding.

This is a grand purpose and massive goal, but one I feel called to by God. My prayer is that God would show me how best to accomplish this and for the Kingdom to be strengthened through this ministry.

Finding A Kingdom View

I remember when I was in high school and living under my parents guidance... I would ask permission to do something and the response would always be, "when you're eighteen." Each time I would think to myself, "What? Is something magical going to happen when I turn eighteen? Will a magic wand be waved over my head and suddenly I will be wiser and more mature, able to take on the responsibility I was requesting?" As my eighteenth birthday approached I can remember anticipating this moment with anxious excitement, looking forward to being different. The day came and went and sadly I felt no difference. I was the same person my parents had said no to. I thought the same way, made the same choices, inside I felt no change. The only thing that was different was that now my parents saw me as an adult and therefore I was given the freedom that comes with such a title. The responsible daughter had always been responsible. The only thing that changed was my title from "child" to "adult".

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord I think the same thing tends to happen. We expect to feel something different. We expect to be someone else. But the reality is while our core essence may be made new by the choice we have made, our habits, how we think, what we do with our time... are harder to change. It's a life long process of refinement and growth. We may have gained the title of "Christ Follower/Christian" but the Lord still has a lot to accomplish in our lives in order for us to experience the fullness of this title.

One of the attributes that God has been refining in me as a Christ Follower is the ability to see things through God's eyes. When I'm standing in line at the store, driving to a doctor's appointment or listening to the conversations of those around me I find myself asking, "How does God see things? What are His thoughts, His desires, His Kingdom needs right now?" Each time the first thing that tends to happen is an overwhelming feeling of love toward others comes over me. Almost as soon as that feeling surfaces a wave of sadness will follow quickly behind it. Sadness for those who won't spend eternity with Him. Sadness for the hurt and pain brought into the world through sin.

Having a Kingdom View is one in which we strive to see things from God's perspective. We are concerned about the things He is concerned about. We spend time doing the things He would do. We respond to others with the same response He would have. We are more concerned about the needs of His Kingdom then we are about our own needs.

A Kingdom View is an attribute every Christ Follower must obtain but it is an attribute that doesn't come from our title. It is something that has to be developed and sought after. It is an attribute that keeps us grounded and centered in His will. And I believe it is the one attribute that all others flow from. Without a Kingdom View, Christ Followers will never fully experience everything God desires for us. We will never attain the ability to become more closely matched to our Creator.

"Lord, make my eyes new. Let me see what You see. Let me respond in the same way You respond. Let Your priorities be mine. My life is not my own. It is yours."