Today we will be discussing Healthy Community Dynamics that nurtures loving, accountable, and reconciling relationships within the community and intentionally working toward oneness in Christ to remove division.

An incident happened in my country recently that I found parallel to what we will be studying today.

A gentleman named Gorge Floyd lost his life in a “conflict” with police. The officer and his abuse of authority fueled the rage and anger of a nation, dividing and challenging our understanding of “justice”.

Conflict is a part of life my brothers and sister. I’m sure we all have experience that in the past and unavoidably will experience it in the future. But as much as conflict may be part of life, “Division” should not be. That’s what we will focus on today.

I don’t know of a leadership model that will totally eliminate disagreements or personality clashes in any community, any organization or ministry. But I know that we have an amazing model of how to address “division” and reconcile relationships within ourselves, our ministry and ultimately our community. We find that model in Jesus.

What an amazing teacher Jesus is and what a great handbook the Bible is. And such comfort it is to know that every time in doubt, we can open Gods’ book and find the answers we need.

Managing conflict and division is no exception, and Jesus delivers one of my favorite examples on the Sermon on the Mount:

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar.  First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”  Matthew 5:23-24

Oh, how hard it is at times, to see the plank in our own eye’s friends, isn’t it? We just witnessed a shameful example of that in our own backyard, regardless of the color of our skin, our race or social status. That is what Jesus challenges us to do. To create an environment that encourages community members working through their relational differences. A Christlike leader has to devote himself or herself to learning how to do just that.  In other words, to remove division, we must love our way through conflict

I get it friends, it is often emotionally and mentally challenging to reconcile relationships, keep the community accountable and be loving at the same time. That is why we need to relay on the Holy Spirit and focus on keeping an eye toward positive closure instead of magnifying the guilt or the judgment.

Through ILF, each one of us will have many opportunities to minister to our community, to work with others through relational, spiritual and even personal differences. Especially the ones who do not share the same faith and spiritual value as we do. Remembering what Brother Roland mentioned a couple of weeks ago, our role is not to be the Hero in the community but to be the Friend of the community.

Jesus continued the Sermon on the Mount saying

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.  He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”  Matthew 5:43-45

One of the most well-known Christian ministers in America was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

He delivered a sermon in 1956 based on this very passage of Scripture. The sermon’s title was “Loving Your Enemy.”  Through the course of his sermon, Dr. King suggested three ways by which we can do just that.

First, we must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive.  Such forgiveness doesn’t mean that we ignore the wrong committed against us.  Rather, it means that we will no longer allow the wrong to be a barrier to the relationship.  Forgiveness, according to Dr. King, “is to create the environment necessary for a fresh start and a new beginning.”

Second, we must recognize that the wrong we’ve suffered doesn’t entirely represent the other person’s identity.  We need to acknowledge that we all, possess both bad and good qualities.  We must choose to find the good and focus on it.

Third, we must not seek to defeat or humiliate the wrong, but to win his or her friendship and understanding.  Such attitude flows not from ourselves, but from God as his unconditional love works through us.

As followers of Christ and as members in ILF ministry who seek to lead as Jesus led, we must remember that the more freely we forgive, the more clearly, we reveal the nature of our heavenly Father.

As members of ILF’s holistic ministry, we are followers of Jesus Christ and our mission is to uphold God’s vision of making his name known. No matter what our gifts or calling, no matter where we are, and no matter who we encounter, “we are witnesses to the saving grace of our Lord Jesus”. This should be evident in all we do, in our words and our works, and at all times.  We have to withstand the temptations that separate us from God, from one another and from the communities that we serve.

“We cannot say we love God if we do not love our brothers” 1 John 2:9 and true love comes from the inner transformation of the Holy Spirit.

To help us grow into and harvest the *fruit of the Spirit*, God wants to help us improve our attitude and emotions towards one another. As leaders and members of ILF’s holistic mission, we should uphold and model this truth as we serve ILF communities.

The bible says in James 3:1-2 “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check”.

The words of Jesus and James remind us that being among the teachers in a ministry is more than having natural or spiritual gifts; That’s why James warns us about teachers (and leaders) serious responsibilities. Because there is an additional measurement of character for teachers in order to impact, shape and maintain Healthy Community Dynamics.

Click to download the audio version of “Healthy Community Dynamics: Part 3”

Place every area of individual and community life under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, without distinction between “sacred” and “secular.”

What does that really mean to us without distinction between sacred and secular. not only as the members of ILF organization but as Christians who are called to go out and make disciples of all nations in Mathew 28:19.

Colossians 3:23–24 says: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving”

We are called to love the Lord with a whole heart. We are to serve the Lord with all our strength and honor the Lord in all we do.  Friends, It is the Lord Christ we are serving regardless whether we minister the “sacred” (a fellow believer) or a “secular” (somebody who does not share the same faith and belief system as we do.)

In short, as members of ILF ministry, we believe in serving all God’s children. With a non-judgmental attitude, we build relationship with and through community service where all our actions are based on the genuine and Christ like love. We share the inclusive love of God with everybody. Muslim, Christian, young and old, all belong to the kingdom of God. It is not our job to judge but to serve and share the love of God.

And we’ve seen the result friends.  The great spiritual reward in living as a true biblical community during the past 4 years. The transformation of the hearts, of the lost souls who have chosen the Lord as their savior in our villages. The blessings of what God has done through ILF projects providing education, medical care and farming to name a few. This is how working with the community, by serving sacred and secular alike that represents the heart of God.

Let’s not forget that Holistic leaders free themselves from the selfish ambitions, Holistic leaders love with no judgment, holistic leaders are not prideful and only seek to please the Lord with a servant attitude.

Friends, it is easy to get lost in our social status at times, leadership position, title and even authority. That is why the holistic leadership model asks us to place every area of individual and community life under the Lordship of Jesus Christ

We have seen in practice that the biblical vision of community, has the power to bring us more in line with God’s will. We’ve had the privilege to take part working with community participation in all ILF projects. It is this biblical vision that will transform not only the community but our lives and our ministry… one soul, one heart and one life at a time. Respecting, working through and with real and unique members of the community who take the journey of faith together with us, challenge the way we understand our own identity and our purpose, encouraging us that every task we ( as a ministry) attempt would be much more biblical and effective in Jesus name.

So, my challenge for you this week is:

Share an example of how you have used the principal of serving the community, sacred or secular with Christ-like love. Can you share an individual testimony?

God bless you all, be safe and we’ll see you next week.