For the Kingdom

For the Kingdom

I’m not sure about the U.S.’s fascination with Britain’s Royals. Someone suggested that since we don’t have our own, we live vicariously through England’s. But it is real. Note the coverage of their every move the last few weeks following Queen Elizabeth II’s death. I was actually at Balmoral Castle, where the Queen died, a couple of days after the funeral and the outpouring of condolences even there was staggering. Of course, she did serve as Queen for 70 years.

Obsession is almost the word. A few days ago William, Kate, Harry, and Megan appeared in public together. The press dissected every step, every expression, every move, even speculated on each motivation. There was hope in their voices. I even got in on it. I thought, you know the British kingdom would be healthier if they’d just work at getting along. Even if it was just for show, Even if it was just in public. Even if they secretly don’t like each other, for the good of the UK, work together.

I wonder about you. What about us? What about our relations with our elders, our fellow staff members, the Gospel minister across town, our leaders in the congregations we serve? Over the past 40 plus years there have been times when relations have been strained, when I struggled with an elder or a fellow minister, when I, frankly, didn’t even like some.

I well remember over 30 years ago a church leader who I had been close with suddenly began to hold me at arms length, to not smile when he saw me coming, to stop talking with me. I was baffled. I am now old enough to know that not everyone will like me. And if you don’t know that, the sooner you realize it the sooner you’ll head toward greater mental health.

I am not sure how you are in the relations mentioned above but I want to plead with you for a moment. Do all you can to make them healthy. You know the Lord’s Kingdom would be healthier if you’ll just work at getting along. Even if something about it makes it difficult, even if you may not like the way they approach things, for the good of the Kingdom, work together.

“Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice” (Philippians 1:15-18).