The Vineyard: A Global Family

June 24, 2015

This summer Vineyard Columbus has the privilege of hosting the first international gathering of Vineyard leaders in 20 years. Many folks who attend Vineyard Columbus don't realize that we are not an independent local church, but are part of an enormous global family called the Vineyard that has 600 churches in the United States and about 2000 more churches in 75 different countries. And, of course, the Vineyard global movement is part of the much greater body of Christ that includes people from every denomination and every continent - Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. Not only so, but we are part of a family that contains members who sit on thrones and others who sit in wheelchairs; some who sleep on silken sheets and others who sleep on dirt floors; some who are in their mothers' wombs and others who have spent more than a century outside the womb. Our global family contains those who are presently alive, and also the saints who have gone to God stretching back before the Day of Pentecost to prophets like Daniel, Isaiah, and Huldah, and leaders like Joshua and Esther.

What do Vineyard Columbus members have in common with other members of God's family across the globe and across the ages? What is our family likeness?

Philippians 2.1-4 communicates some of the elements of our family likeness.

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Paul speaks first about the source of our family relationship. The starting point in our family relationship with each other is the Triune God. Paul writes that every one of God's children has encouragement in Christ, comfort from the Father's love and fellowship with the Holy Spirit. We can't connect with individuals in our own church or members of Vineyard churches across the globe, much less church members from other denominations, unless we are all tied personally to the Triune God. Good will is not the source of our relationship with each other. We cannot give out of what we ourselves do not have. We can't encourage other people unless we receive encouragement from Christ. We can't relieve another person's pain unless we've been comforted by God's love. And we can't achieve intimacy with another unless we first have discovered the fellowship of the Spirit.

Paul then speaks about the standard of our family relationship in verse 2 when he says:

Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.

The Bible is always a both-and book. The standard of our relationship in God's global family is always truth and love - likeminded in essentials and charitable in non-essentials. We come to Christ as we are; but those who come to Christ never stay as they are. The Christian life is a radically both-and life because the cross of Christ reveals both the love of God toward sinners and the wrath of God toward sin. Our God is light and love.

Paul then speaks about qualities that destroy relationships.

Philippians 2:3 (NIV)

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.

Eugene Petersen in his book, "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction," said this:

One temptation that [comes]...with some special flourishes in America, is ambition. Our culture encourages and rewards ambition without qualification. We are surrounded by a way of life in which betterment is understood as expansion, as acquisition, as fame. Everyone wants to gain more. To be on top, no matter what it is the top of, is admired. There is nothing recent about the temptation. It is the oldest sin in the book, the one that got Adam thrown out of the Garden and Lucifer tossed out of heaven.

The sand in the gears of our relationship with each other is what the Apostle Paul calls "selfish ambition." Selfish ambition is the culturally approved view that we always must end up on top, and that we've always got to win.

Finally, Paul mentions the ultimate condition for our family relationship.

The Apostle Paul writes:

In humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Humility is the prerequisite for healthy relationships in our global family. Humble people don't think about themselves all the time and they are not dominated by focus upon their own needs. They're not always asking what's in it for them or how their perspective can win the day. Rather, humble people ask, "How can I meet your needs?" "How can your concerns surpass mine?" "How can I focus on you?"  Humble people are confident in God. They've heard God's evaluation of their lives. They're encouraged by the Lord. They're comforted by the Father. They enjoy communion with the Holy Spirit. They're not clingy, needy or desperate for others' approval. From a place of intimacy with God, they're able to move out in strength, laugh at themselves and celebrate being part of God's global family.

That's what we will have the privilege to do July 6-9 -- celebrate being part of the global family called the Vineyard!