When Me Becomes We
Acts 16: 6 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. 7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. 8 So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas. 9 That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.
The above verses may not have much significance to you right now, but they will. In verse 6, the writer Luke, speaks of Paul and Silas and uses the word "they", which shows he was not travelling with them. In verse 9 after Luke comments on Paul's vision he apparently joins them in Troas and begins to travel with them to Macedonia to follow the vision Paul saw in verse 9. It makes sense that Luke would join them because he is a Gentile believer and they are taking the message to many Gentiles in Philippi, a Roman Colony. Now there are four on this journey including Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke. The vision given to Paul has now been reacted upon by the other three and they journey across the water to Neapolis, the city in the colony of Phlippi. Paul's mission team is expanding and they are very focused on their mission. Their support of Paul's vision causes great success in the future travels to share the gospel.
Our modern-day version of this Me Becoming We are a testimony and plan God uses many times in churches. God sometimes gives a vision for sharing the gospel and becoming the church to one man and that man reacts to it in faith and then the vision is shared and accepted by others who come alongside this person. A lot of trust has to be a part of becoming a stimulus to make the vision work. If prideful and judging people get involved the vision will most likely die and never take shape into what God has planned. Yes, well-meaning, but prideful, jealous church people can either kill a successful vision or spur it on to completion. Ministers of today's churches must first have a vision and then those in their church have to join in on that vision and the Me Becomes We. The following of the visionary is not without discernment and wisdom that involves praying for and encouraging the one God has set aside or called to complete this vision. Because pride can enter the one God has called and they can become conceited, power-hungry, and self-gratifying and that is not God's plan at all. A lot of trust is needed by those following the vision and the need for the Word of God to be followed to the extreme is necessary. Me will never become We if the vision is not a shared vision that involves much training and humble leading.
When Luke joined Paul and the others he had to fall in line with Paul's thinking and purpose, knowing they would face much opposition at times. Me will never become We if the We is not in it for the right reasons and is not willing to follow leadership. In fact, the We can make the ministry effort a miserable experience for the Me. Hebrews 13:17 Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them a reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. This verse at times is a difficult pill to swallow in today's church fellowships and the enemy is devouring many a church fellowship and many a minister to keep a church from living the WE part as it should. When the man of God is not trusted or followed we have things happen like the increase in suicides of ministers or ministers quitting the ministry. I know that many ministers have not done right at times in realizing God's vision for the church, but we cannot throw out the premise that God DOES call ministers, not just hires them. In that call, those ministers have the responsibility to keep themselves pure and deep in God's Word and in prayer. A hired minister won't do that, but a called minister cannot help but do that. There IS a major difference!
So let the Me Become the We and let's move forward together, encouraging and challenging each other to greatness for the cause of Christ. So much has been given to establish the church and the church must thrive and grow and reach more and more people with the gospel. We can only do this when we mirror the journey of Paul and his companions and take the gospel message to our world.
The Pilgrimage Continues
David Warren