In June we celebrated TWO YEARS since the release of our book, DESIGNED FOR MORE... In a Deeply Divided World. Lucas' and my hope in writing Designed For More (Click Here for Amazon Listing) was to emphasize Jesus' passion (John 17): for the body of Christ to be united in love. Little did we realize where the state of our world would be today.
Our world needs our love to display the love of Christ for everyone, now more than ever. Now, just when we thought things couldn't get more divided in our nation and world, they do. It's hard to know what to think or do next. As the Church, we can be united in our value of each human life, created in God's own image, sacred and highly loved. And as we look to the days ahead, filled with division over Covid-19 and racial issues, may God grant us wisdom to love in both word and deed.
To give you a taste of the book I have included just a few excerpts that highlight our passion for unity and practical ways that we can move forward.
Check out the "Murmuration" metaphor in early chapters that give you the basis for practical steps to Christ's vision for unity.
Chapter 4: Seven Influential Neighbors
DESIGNED FOR COMMUNITY
God designed us for relationships too. Everything that God does originates in and multiplies unity. It's part of our very fabric. We are designed for common unity. This was engineered so that we would mirror God and also enjoy the beauty that other people bring into our lives. The enemy works freely in isolation, but in community we propel one another to greater faith and untapped potential (p. 71).
Often, we get comfortable with the few relationships we currently have. "I've got enough relationships" we've heard many say. Or "I don't have time" for investing in more relationships. We must ask ourselves, both as individuals and organizations, what incredible opportunities or moves of God have we missed out on because we remain stuck in our bubble or small view of the Body of Christ? Even worse, could it be that we are unknowingly being a roadblock to others when we don't expand our relationships to anticipate the movements of other believers around us?
Relationships. The answer sounds almost too simple, doesn't it? It may be simple, but it's certainly not easy. Relationships are hard. They take time. And they are not always full of sunshine. Beyond that, diverse relationships are even harder because we think we'll have to work harder, and we like our comfort zones with people who look like us, think like us, even smell like us (p. 73).
COME TO THE TABLE
Relationships take time together in the same spaces and at the same table. Step one is initiating, but then you have to show up consistently. Nobody said it had to be a boring table though. It could be the lunch table or a coffee table. Heck, relationships even grow (or dissolve!) at the ping-pong table. Gathering should feel natural, not forced. It is a time when we learn about one another's lives.
Begin by praying. Ask the Lord to show you which individuals He wants to bring together. Don't feel like you have to start with Seven Influential Neighbors right away. You may invite a few and then add more later. No agenda. Just begin with real friendships (don't worry, we'll get to the strategy, too, for you action-oriented folks!). Invite people into relationships with eternal significance- significance-these connections have the possibility of unleashing the mission of the Church! (p. 75).
KEEP IT DIVERSE
Have you heard of the diversity dividend? Some of the recent research done by the global consulting firm McKinsey shows that companies with more diverse teams significantly outperform their competition. By looking at data sets from 366 public companies from across the world, they found that companies with gender diverse teams financially outperform other companies by 15 percent, and companies with ethnically diverse teams financially outperform less diverse companies by 35 percent! This is the diversity dividend (pp. 79-80).
Your Seven Influential Neighbors cannot be all identical or there will be little learning. Just like the starlings, one of the main purposes of the connections is that the relationships will influence you. This means coming to the table with the humility to see the world through a different lens. And this runs much deeper than just the color of our skin: consider generational, cultural, theological, political, socioeconomic, or gender differences (p. 80).
We don't have to know everyone, but the first step is to know someone. Identify your influencing neighbors and let relationship and strategy increase at the individual and organizational levels. The bottom line is that if we are ever to reach the completion sphere, relationship and strategy are inseparable. The starlings know who they are, who they fly with, and the strategy behind why they murmurate. It is time we take notes from the starlings (p. 93).
In a Murmuration, starlings continually respond to their seven closest neighbors at any given time. It is not a matter of distance, but of relationship. They are on nonstop alert, watching while in flight, and basing their median speed on that of their seven closest neighbors. Even more amazing is that by their awareness of the seven neighbors, they become simultaneously aware of the movements of the entire flock. By relating well to the few around them, they develop an interconnectivity to the larger body (more p. 70).
Starlings understand the power of relationship and value what their neighbors offer. Without each starling's awareness and commitment to the seven other starlings around them, the Murmuration would be impossible.
Check out designedformorebook.com for Murmuration video and free resources.
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Mike DeVito is the Southwest Regional Coordinator with a passion to help the church work together.
