“But many who are first will be last, and the last first." (Mark 10:31)
Why is hegemony struggle still prevailing in churches where all the members are expected to have a harmonious relationship among themselves as a body of Christ and having equal position in Jesus the head of the church, and different from the world that encourages competition as a principle of life? The simple answer to this question is that, the overturn of value, the title of our serial meditation has not taken place yet.
The real motive that drives us to be church leaders is mostly the passion to serve the Lord. However, the desire to receive human recognition could also be more pronounced than the desire to serve the Lord. We think the place which is the center of public is more important and desirable than the place unattractive to public. We also regard that holding a higher position guarantees the greater honor. If such idea is not so strong in the mind of the people, competitive struggle to be elders of church may not take place. This naturally happens because our value system is more inclined to the secular world. It also means that for us, overturn of value has not happened yet.
Overturn of value means to completely change the value of high status and of low status. For example, the status of church cleaning in-charge is higher than the status of an elder who assumed to have great responsibility. Can it be practically possible in the church? Of course not. No matter how much we try to bring about social and religious harmony, in religious community human discord is bound to happen. Though there are such personal limitations, we basically need proper understanding of theological spirituality and real value system of man.
Why is hegemony struggle still prevailing in churches where all the members are expected to have a harmonious relationship among themselves as a body of Christ and having equal position in Jesus the head of the church, and different from the world that encourages competition as a principle of life? The simple answer to this question is that, the overturn of value, the title of our serial meditation has not taken place yet.
The real motive that drives us to be church leaders is mostly the passion to serve the Lord. However, the desire to receive human recognition could also be more pronounced than the desire to serve the Lord. We think the place which is the center of public is more important and desirable than the place unattractive to public. We also regard that holding a higher position guarantees the greater honor. If such idea is not so strong in the mind of the people, competitive struggle to be elders of church may not take place. This naturally happens because our value system is more inclined to the secular world. It also means that for us, overturn of value has not happened yet.
Overturn of value means to completely change the value of high status and of low status. For example, the status of church cleaning in-charge is higher than the status of an elder who assumed to have great responsibility. Can it be practically possible in the church? Of course not. No matter how much we try to bring about social and religious harmony, in religious community human discord is bound to happen. Though there are such personal limitations, we basically need proper understanding of theological spirituality and real value system of man.
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