Competition In The Church

We live in a world where there is constant competition, whether for food, or a mate, business, or political power.   Unfortunately, many times people reach a point where winning a competition becomes the most important thing.  A famous coach said, winning is not the most important thing, it is the only thing that matters.    People with such an attitude cheat, even crippling or killing a competitor who might beat them.  It is important for us to realize the competitiveness is a result of man’s sin.  It is not a spiritual gift, and when it comes into the church, it causes problems. 

We see an example in Matthew 20:20-23.  “Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.  And he said unto her, What wilt thou?

She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

They say unto him, We are able.

And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.”

James and Johns mother was quite ambitious for her two sons, asking that they receive the highest positions in the heavenly kingdom.  Jesus asked if they thought they could fulfil his position and do what he was here to accomplish.  Like many competitive or ambitious people, they were not about to admit someone else might be able to do something better than they could, insisting they could do anything he could.  Jesus went on to warn them that they would experience some of same experiences he did, but that even when they did, it would not entitle them to the rewards they were asking for.  Those positions were reserved for the ones God the father had chosen.   Caligula became emperor in 37 Ad, and appointed Herod Agrippa I king over Judea.  Acts 12:1-2 describes Herod having James killed, and Herod died in 44 AD, as described in Acts 12:23.  John would be imprisoned on the Isle of Patmos as described in Revelation 1:9, which he wrote about 93 AD, some thirty years after Jerusalem had been destroyed. 

Ambition and competitiveness invariably causes conflicts in the church, and as Matthew 20:24 tells us, it caused conflict between the apostles.  “And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. “  Jesus intervened, teaching a very important point about church leadership, in Matthew 20:25-28.  “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.  But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” 

Jesus pointed out that in Gentile cultures such as the Roman Empire, there was a very strong hierarchy, with each person answering to their immediate superior.  Among Christians there is to be no such hierarchy.  Ultimately, each person is directly accountable to God, just as God had originally planned for Israel.  Judges 17:6 and 21:25 both tell us, “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”  Israel’s choosing a king was an act of rebellion against God as I Samuel 10:19 explains.  “And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us…”    Only after they rejected God’s plan did Israel begin to use a system like other “civilized” groups. 

Leaders were to be chosen because they served others, helping them accomplish things that were needed, rather than making the people do what they wanted.  It was the example Jesus set before the disciples, more concerned about his followers than about getting his own way.  As we see in Matthew 23:8 they were not even to use titles which set one above another, because we are equal before God.  “But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.”  There is no place for competition or ambition in God’s church.  If they are serving the Lord as they should be, we should be playing on the same team.  If they are not, we are not playing the same game, and don’t need to worry about what they are doing.