United Hearts Serve Him

Because of our inability to submit to a Kingdom mentality, we tend to regard the church next door as our competition. Let me say this and hope it truly sinks in: the bigger church down the street or the newest denomination is not our competition.

The true competition of the church is the Budweiser horses, reality TV, Joe Camel, Powerball, and popular music. Each and every day, they sell people the lie that they can find life in a bottle, a bed, a high, entertainment, or a chance for riches.

We are not in competition against one another, but against a devil who loves it when we fight each other.  It doesn’t make me mad or jealous when church parking lots are full. Why? Because they are reaching people I can’t. They are making a difference serving the same King I am – Jesus Christ.

Even with all the churches in our city, if all the pews were full on Sunday, there would be thousands of people without a seat. That means we need more churches, and the churches we already have need to grow!

Before you throw shade at another church for invading your turf or worry yourself when a friend chooses a different denomination, remember this: the battle is not against human opponents! We have a common enemy and his name is Satan.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. – Ephesians 6:12

Yes, the Bible calls the devil “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), which means he likes to control the atmosphere. He likes to stir up discontent, envy, discord, covetousness, and competition. His favorite target? The Church.  Don’t feed into this lie from the pit of hell. The body of Christ, the Church, needs each other. Rejoice in their success and mourn over their losses. Eternal lives depend on it.