The Trinity and teamwork

In April, on the flight back from GBIM board meetings, I read a doctoral thesis that needs to be broadly circulated—“God and Teamwork: Implications of the Unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit for Christian Ministry Teams.”
Utilizing a biblical theological approach, Roger Peugh examined all Scriptural passages where at least two persons of the Trinity are mentioned. From these texts he distilled principles about how the Father, Son and Holy Spirit harmoniously and flawlessly participate together on mission, even though, as Roger says, “we can scarcely imagine the issues that God faces.”
Negatively, in the godhead there are no pride or related attitudinal problems, no selfishness or self-seeking, no power struggles, no sinful or self-driven competition, no jealousy, no evil suspicions, no lack of trust, no ulterior motives, no hatred, no resentment, no communication problems, no miscommunication, no misunderstandings, no lying deceit or exaggeration, no tension, no backbiting, no slander, no gossip, no put downs, no griping or complaining about situations or other teammates, no work related problems, no failure, no laziness, no unfaithfulness, no disappointment, no betrayal, no insecurity, no negative surprises.
Positively, the three persons of the Trinity enjoy unity of being, love, trust, submission, honor, respect, fellowship, communication, mutual support, faithfulness, loyalty, clarity regarding personal identity, all functioning simultaneously.

Whew, talk about a utopian spiritual community!

digging teamwork in Dijon

J-P says, "Teamwork makes me strong!"

Sadly, American evangelical missions are characterized by discord that clouds our collective luminescence. Missional teams talk about birthing spiritual communities, but all too often do not connect the dots between teamwork and spiritual community.

Our unity wordlessly declares that Jesus was sent by the Father and that He loves the people of the world. But if teammates do not palpably love each other why should others to believe that the Father loves them? (see Francis Schaeffer, "The Mark of the Christian") If we talk about teamwork, but cannot get teams to work, what makes us believe that we will do better with spiritual communities?

Jesus prayfully expressed it to his Father this way
(The Message John 17:21-23):

“The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—
Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us.
Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.…
I in them and you in me.
Then they'll be mature in this oneness,
And give the godless world evidence
That you’ve sent me and loved them.”

So to practice teamwork and give some examples of evangelicals of common heart and vision serving Christ together on mission, a friend and colleague, Tom Barlow, will be making contributions to this blog.

Tom (above) and I have been on mission together in Europe for over fifteen years

To start things off, Tom will be sharing practical examples of some Grace Brethren colleagues who are serving with other evangelical groups on mission in Europe. (Tom, himself, is partnering with the American Church in London, England.) Of course, he has his own style and focus; and I am quite confident that the diversity Tom brings will be both refreshing and appreciated!

May our missionary God be pleased with this micro-example of collaborating together to the glory of Jesus.