Synergy

We continued our new Lenten message series, The Worship Life, this past Sunday. Whereas the first installment dealt with the importance of a personal worship life with God, the second explored the necessity of a corporate worship life with others. In Romans 12:1-5, we see Paul draw a line between one’s individual life of worshipping God to being part of the larger body of Christ, also known as, the church.

The word, synergy, can be defined as the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. To put it simply, together we are all stronger than we could ever be on our own. That might not seem revolutionary on the surface, but when you think about what it means for us to set aside our bent toward aiming to meet our own selfish ambitions, well, it is transformative! Beyond Paul’s metaphor of the various parts of the body working together, there is likely no greater biblical example of synergy than in Jesus’ words as recorded in Matthew 18.20: “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Let’s face it, we are an imperfect people called together to do a perfect work. For some (if not many), the perceived imperfections of individual people might be enough reason to throw the proverbial baby out with the bathwater when it comes to being part of the church. No matter how hard we look or want it to be so, there is no such thing as a perfect church. True, we see problems abound anytime people get involved in things, but I think therein lies the message. When we acknowledge that we gather in the name of Jesus, recognizing others’ imperfections while acknowledging our own, then some beautiful synergy occurs! We see the importance of grace and forgiveness – that which we need to receive and that which we need to extend – being lived out in the midst of our imperfect relationships to truly be an example for others as to what it means to live a life of love, even when it is difficult. Jesus’ promise to be in our midst when we gather with others – in spite of how much we might agree or argue – provides the synergy we need to continue in our perfect work amongst life’s imperfection.

Difficult? Yes, indeed. A life of faith is difficult, but we can’t go it alone, even though there might be a definite temptation to do so. How many times have you heard or thought that you don’t have to be in church to worship God? I know I have felt that from time-to-time, admitting that some of my most spiritual moments have happened in the Rocky Mountains, at a Canadian lighthouse, on the surf in the Gulf of Mexico, and even in the self-proclaimed Happiest Place on Earth. I cannot minimize that fact that it is technically true one does not have to be in church to worship God, it overlooks the incontrovertible truth that life and worship isn’t just about us as individuals, but what we bring to others, synergized with the powerful presence of Jesus.

We need the church and the church needs us. So once we move beyond our risk aversion and actually get into community…as messy as it can be…then the synergistic presence of Jesus joins us, fills in the gaps, and encourages us to press on to be a living example of forgiveness and grace, spurring us on in, and to show, others the miraculous power of love.

I want to close with these encouraging words from Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” May we not give up on meeting together, because we need it and so do others. May we remain inventive in ways to show love for others, even when it stretches. This isn’t just about us, it’s about extending the blessings of the Kingdom of God for others, and it’s about the synergy we enjoy when we gather together in Jesus’ name and see the ordinary become extraordinary right before our eyes.

Have a great rest of the week, and I hope you’ll join us Sunday as we consider The Worship Life and prayer.