By Ken Love and Florida Church of God Ministries

Editor’s note—Views expressed in the following op-ed do not necessarily reflect those of Church of God Ministries, Inc., or its affiliates (in this case, we offer an enthusiastic Amen! to the spirit of this article). We publish op-ed features to provoke thought, stimulate healthy discussion, and inspire us to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did. We’ve asked to hear from a diverse range of voices across the Church of God movement. This op-ed features one of these voices.

That is who we have always been—a movement moving in the Holy Spirit. A movement is not a collection of independent churches. It is built upon a real connection of interdependent churches.

This has been coming for an elongated season: our growing independence. Many of us have sought connection elsewhere in other affinity groups. The Church of God always had a value of connection—“We reach out hands in fellowship to every blood-washed one.” While that is beautiful, where did we lose our deeper relationships, our high value of connection? Fewer people now attend gatherings, regional or national. Some have lost hope. We look elsewhere for connection and direction.

It’s time to come back! The Holy Spirit is blowing across our movement. Yes, we are real and we are messy. We take offense and can easily live in division. Still, we are a movement, the Church of God! We will have to be humble, forgiving, and committed in spite of hurts, offense, etc. But, if we choose each other, walk in biblical holiness, listen to the active Head of the church, the sacrifice and challenges will be worth it.

The Lord is calling many of us back to this movement, higher than our individual assignment, to become all the holy church is in the Scripture, witnessing to the world and the dark powers of the wonder of our God and the reigning Christ (“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:10–11).

There is more at stake than we realize—too much to just go our own way!

The time is now. Come back to the movement. Choose the value of this holy community. Others of us have joined, and are joining, together. How about you and your church? We are not abandoned. The Spirit of the living God is breathing life. Come, get a fresh breath!

We are a movement! To be so calls us higher than to be a loosely connected group of churches. Our autonomy does not imply independence! However, that seems our direction. Over the years “loosely connected” was a description often used of our nondenominational stance. Loosely connected really implies no real connection. The only connection is when it fits my dreams, desires, and goals.

This is a call to connection, to choosing to be connected whether it serves me or not. The 1 Corinthians 12 description of the body can more clearly identify what this might imply. The hand doesn’t always need the eye. But sometimes it does. And in our connection those times are often unexpected, sometimes unforeseen and, yes, at times, critical. But all of that is at risk when we choose our loose connection, our independence, over mutual interdependence.

Unity in Ephesians 4 is a holy reality. The call of Paul is to maintain unity through the bond of peace. Following Ephesians 1–4 it surely becomes apparent that Ephesians 2, breaking down the dividing wall of hostility (and independence and arrogance) is to be held as precious in living our calling (Ephesians 4:1 and following).

The unexpected connection can be a moment of insight one church shares with another completely unaware of the wisdom. There is wisdom in the larger body only accessible when we are together. Merely speaking a challenge can often stir others to know where the resources can be found.

So easily we can overlook the kingdom richness in another dismissing their lack of success. Or we can back up in intimidation. And the movement suffers!

Where do we start in this coming back and renewing ourselves as a movement?

1. Confess our pride and activate the Ephesians 4 call to humility.
2. Choose to value the larger body, not just our assignment.
3. Prioritize the opportunities to be together, regionally and nationally.

Ephesians 4 describes the qualities necessary for this kind of calling/ movement: Humility, which is most lived when we submit when we are frustrated, hurt or confused; patience and gentleness and bearing with each other while we work it out.

Those are challenging qualities of the heart, but there is no other way. Let’s be a movement that chooses times to be together, that looks for the hand of God upon those who are different, that bears with each other working out our salvation together (Philippians 2).

A number of us are going. Want to join?

Ken Love serves as regional (state) pastor for Florida Church of God Ministries. Article originally published by Florida Church of God Ministries as a two-part series on the Church of God movement. Republished by permission. Learn more about Florida Church of God Ministries at www.flcog.org. Learn more about the Church of God movement at www.JesusIsTheSubject.org.