When the baton of leadership is passed from one generation to the next, the next generation has the daunting task of finding its own way. In that search, leaders find themselves pressed between the twin poles of history and future. These forces bring shape to present direction.
Five years ago the baton of CB Northwest was passed. Fortunately, for us who were given the baton, we could look to the One who has the poles of history and future under His sovereign rule.
We, therefore, declared our dependency on Him by going to our knees to find His will, His way, His timing and His resources. I could not have anticipated all we would go through on our journey together as an association of churches. As you read this article, we, as an association, are in the throes of making a decision to adopt a new identity document. This document would serve as a foundation for defining the depth of the covenant relationship between CB Northwest churches.
The journey we have taken has been filled with lessons. The most important lesson has been a deep appreciation for those relational truths that are the building blocks for any true family, church or family of churches. Truth (doctrine), shepherding relationships (polity), and missional purpose (philosophy) are the foundational stones on which covenant communities are built.
We must build on and maintain that foundation to establish health within CB churches. Health will lead us to a passion for God and new birth. Too often we have seen the neglect of relationships and of the relational community. This has undermined the integrity of the body. Too many churches have lost sight of the importance of the foundational stones.
Isolation, independence, longing for the past, a loss of the next generation, or the arrogance of not wanting to associate with “loser churches,” can overtake a church if the foundation is neglected for too long.
The journey of finding the mind of God for the present generation, with the push and pull of the past and the future pressing in, is filled with lessons on Trinity, Great Commandment, Great Commission, the local church, the universal Church and servant leadership. Yet, with all those lessons along the journey, one has eclipsed them all. We have come to refer to this lesson as the Great Confession and Declaration.
You will remember Jesus asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it” (Matt. 16:13-18, nasb).
So what’s the lesson? The lesson is to confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and, just as He declared in Peter’s day, “upon this rock I will build My church,” He is still building His church today.
Is this generation of CB Northwest churches going to see the value of having an identity document as a foundation for defining the depth of our covenant relationship? Only time will tell. However, Jesus is still the Son of the living God, and He is building His church and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it. Thus ends the lesson, but the journey continues.
