Jan 08 2009
church events of the bible 2: business meetings
The first event of the history of the church was a prayer meeting and we don’t have very many of those and don’t feel guilty about it.
The second Christian event is a business meeting and that is something we do pretty well. The irony is that I know many Christians who feel guilty about having business meetings. There is this sense that business meetings are too practical and too mundane to be truly spiritual. Somehow there is a since that a meeting focus on practical issues of leadership and church politics aren’t really Christian activities. We fail to notice that here it is in Acts, the very second recorded church event is a business meetings.
Take a look at the text. While the believers are busy waiting and praying Peter stands up with an idea:
Here are a few observations.
0. This meeting arises out of a community of prayer.
1. A leader sees the need and calls the meeting.
2. A leader connects the situation to scripture and lays out the parameters for their action.
3. Everyone participates but it is not a democracy. In the church, the believers deserve to influence the process of selecting their leaders.
4. More than one acceptable option is produced. (This is so important to me. I have seen many church decision processes get sidetracked because people are arguing over two good options and because a choice is hard to make, nothing is done.)
5. In the end they roll dice. (Let’s face it, that is crazy. I totally want someone to propose that at an upcoming meeting. Please report back and share with the restof us how that goes.
And a few reflections:
Unless you intend to be a dictator, leadership will involve meetings. The only way to include others in a process of leadership is to have meetings (and probably lots of meetings). In fact, from my experience I have concluded that many a great work waits to be done becuase no one has stepped up to call a meeting, gather the right people, set an agenda and insist that a choice is made. This event is Peter’s first important act of leadership.
So for those keeping score at home we have prayer meetings and business meetings. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
on the walk
-Ethan
