Devotion 5.21.15

Inspired by the Men's Retreat - Four C's That Interfere with Our Relationship w Christ - Causes

The Baldrige Award for Performance Excellence is a prestigious award given to a company or organization (public, private, non-profit) that exemplifies excellence and quality.  The seven criteria are easily understood but difficult to master.  The trainers for Baldrige often remind all participants in the training that the idea is organizational excellence and not an award.  As an examiner, I learned quickly that many people will pass through the training, but few companies or organizations attempt the award.

There is a story within the circles of the quality movement, as it was once called, of a company that dedicated much of its resources to get the Baldrige and accomplished that goal.  It then promptly went out of business.  Why?  In the pursuit of the award, it forgot its business. 

The book Good to Great (Jim Collins, 2001) introduced us to the "Hedgehog Concept." Simply put, the "hedgehog concept" is about simplicity.  As he puts it, "A Hedgehog Concept is not a goal to be the best, a strategy to be the best, an intention to be the best.  It is an understanding of what you can be best at."  Consequently, great companies have an ability to determine what fits within their business and deliver it because it helps them be what they are best at.

The Third C, Causes, are many in churches.  A cause is an idea, an activity, a plan of action, a goal, a program, a ministry, or some other kind of function in the church that has ownership from at least one individual and usually more.  Churches have taken on causes that do two things: Serve the mission of the church or serve the cause.  As causes grow in size and in number, does the church have the ability to say, "This cause no longer serves a purpose.  It should be re-purposed or ended."?  Causes, and feuds over causes (usually started because someone asks, "Why do we do this?" or "Do we need to continue doing this?"), can have an adverse impact on the true function of a church.  In essence, we start worshiping the cause.

Paul's words about this are a stark reminder of our true purpose and the causes we have chosen to address and their purpose:  "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.  But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.  Only let us hold true to what we have attained."  (Philippians 3:13 - 15)

We pray for our causes, that they serve Christ and Him crucified, and we pray for those who lead our causes, that they keep the main thing the main thing when it comes to that cause.  We celebrate those causes that have achieved their purpose, and we celebrate those causes that have done well but no longer continue to serve Christ and Him crucified.  We pray for guidance as we look for or examine current ministries that bring the Word of God to people and strengthen the faith of those they reach.
We pray that no cause divide us, only strengthen us as Christ's body.

Hope Men's Ministry