Dear Church,

Cynicism is a problem. Cynicism is a sin.

Where is your faith? Didn’t you count the cost?

The local church’s inability to do better than collaborate together, and partner has created the cynical church. Local church’s have become cynical towards one another. Our lack of trust… our unbelief… our doubt… is killing the members of our body. We desperately need one another to function properly as the body of Christ… the Church. The body.

How in the world has a predominantly Christian society in the 1500’s so quickly change to vastly secular or post-Christian society?

We live in a world that increasingly claims to ‘know better’ than faith and enchanted reality.

The cynical church has become so slow to trust one another. Maybe, because you’ve been hurt by the Church to some degree. But that is no excuse for our distrust. Our cynicism.  C’mon Church… how is that loving?

Didn’t you already count this cost?

Matthew 10:22
“You will be hated by all for my name’s sake, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” 

Overcoming cynicism must be approached by facing cynicism head on.

Romans 14:23
“But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.”

Cynicism a demeanor and posture in which faith cannot exist. Cynicism is a lack of trust. Doubt is present. Church, what are you so scared of? That the other church might get the glory instead of you? Why do you care? Glory should be to God anyways and when his bride is glorified, we should all win because that should be our goal!

Even if you have been hurt, trust anyway. Know that God keeps his promises. He will not forsake his bride. He has never broken any commitment before, so why do you think He will not follow through with her?

Maybe the best way to overcome cynicism is to get outside of yourself. Maybe you need to ask what you can do to partner better with the churches around you to be a better Church together. Maybe you need to have more faith that God is bigger than just your tiny church. Partnership makes you bigger, but it takes a mindset that makes you personally smaller. Church, where is our humility? Will we knock down our prideful walls and partner with one another better so that we can immersing this post-christian culture more effectively?

Didn’t God tell us that we are stronger together? That churches weakness needs filled with your strength and your churches weakness needs filled by another’s strength. Partnership is the pathway to a multi-generational and multi-ethnic church.

The Church is not yours; it is God’s. Be your part. Your critical; but do not forget you are also small. Together, we are big. Together, we are the bride.

Trust is a spiritual discipline that we build in. Partnership is the outcome of this discipline. Trust God that He takes care of His bride. Partner.