Better Together: Connecting With God And Each OtherSample

Like Minded

There's a funny YouTube clip called “Shoot Christians Say” and while it didn’t make the video, if we shot the same video in many Christian circles, the phrase “like-minded ministry partners” would make the list. Have we distorted the meaning of “like-minded” that Paul had when he mentions it to the Philippians? Do we focus too much on our own style, our own approach?

“Like-minded” isn’t necessarily about agreeing 100%, it’s more about having the same goal and purpose. We may go after ministry in vastly different ways than another sister organization, but our goals of reaching lost souls for Christ are closely connected.

Paul follows up the phrase “like-minded” with… “having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.” Do our potential partners see us as being one in spirit, having the same love? If we were to analyze the way we collaborate with the body would we be more “like-minded” or “self-minded?”

Have we hurt our chances of true collaboration with our own skewed view of what it means to be connected?

Reflections:

• Where have you seen collaborating fail because of your desire to be more “self-minded” than “like-minded?”
• Who needs to be on your list of potential “like-minded” partners? Are there people or organizations around you who share the same goal and purpose?
• How can you strive to be "one in spirit and of one mind" in your daily interactions and collaborations?