Does Alignment Of The Church Matter?

"Does alignment matter?" We like to say yes, but let's look at alignment for a minute. What is alignment? "The act of adjusting or aligning the parts of an organization or device in relation to each other." In other words, alignment is relational. Let me explain, it is relational in the sense that all parts must have a relationship with the other parts. Then, it is relational in the sense that all those parts have to relate to the purpose or goal of the organization or device. That is a lot of relations right? But think about it, we have all had the visual test in elementary school where we have identify the item that does not match the others. Like a picture of four birds and one of the birds is different that the others. You are asked to identify the one that is different or does not align. Now picture this, you have a four part band. The band begins to play, but something just does not sound right. Three of the members are playing one song and the drummer is play a completely different song. It may not be that either is playing their songs wrong, but they are not playing the same song. No matter how good the drummer is, if he/she does not align with the rest of the band, their performance will be a disaster. What is the problem with the bird and the drummer? They are not relational to the other parts. Now, let me say this. alignment does not mean all the pieces must look the same. Take the drummer for example, he/she will look different then all the other members of the band and all the other members will look different as well. But it does not mean that alignment is not necessary. Alignment in our churches are as critical as alignment in a band. We would not sit and listen to a band play four different songs at one time, we would get up and walk out. But we have for some reason accepted misalignment in our churches. We know that something is not right, we can identify the parts that are not relating and the "song" stinks. Yet, we will continue to endure. Churches become ineffective because all the members, though different, are not aligned with each other. We have rejected alignment in our churches because we see it as control, pastor control, deacon control, or personal control. But alignment is a biblical operation of the church. It is not about control, it about being biblical or not. It is about being in the will of God or not. It is about being effective and directional. How does alignment in the church look like? Colossians 1:18 says, "He (Christ) is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning fo the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything." 1. Aligning with head of the church, Jesus Christ. That means we as the church all to align ourselves under His authority and leadership. Ephesians 4:11-15, "And He (Christ, the head) personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God's Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ's fullness. Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head - Christ." 2. Aligning with the leadership Jesus has set under Him. The apostle Paul says "He." This is a notation that Jesus, who is the head of the church, has personally placed leadership in church. This leadership is to align themselves with the head which is Jesus. Again, this is relational. If the church is to live its purpose, it must align with primary leadership, which is not the deacons, not the sunday school teachers, or the highest contributor, it is Jesus Christ. Jesus has personally set leaders over the church that are/should be aligned with His leadership and through them leads His church. 3. The church/saints align themselves with the leadership Jesus Christ has appointed. We don't like this one. We expect the pastor to be aligned with Jesus and set our expectation of that really high. Yet, we resist to align ourselves with their leadership. We say things like, "They sure can preach the word, but I don't know if they are leading our church right." We admit they are responsible in the greatest treasure the church holds, teaching the word of God correctly, but turn and question their alignment with Jesus, because they make leadership decision that don't align with ours. When you read that statement it sounds crazy, right? But that is what we do. We want to skip the part about aligning with direct church leadership and go straight to "the head." Let me say this, in our personal journey with Jesus we should, but when it comes to the church as a whole, we are to align ourselves under the leadership Jesus Himself has placed over us. Watch this, Ephesians 4 says, "for the training of the SAINTS... until we all reach UNITY in the faith" Jesus has purposed to but direct church leadership over us, "for the training of the saints (members of the church)." That pastor is there for a purpose to lead the body of Christ. And when we don't align with His leadership we are not in "unity in the faith." When we reject the leadership that Jesus has place over us, we are rejecting the leadership of the head of the church (Jesus). That is a hard pill to swallow, but one we must. If alignment does not happen in the church we are rejecting the authority of Jesus Himself. If alignment does not happen in the church, we will not be unified and then sound like a band that is playing different songs at one time. Trust me, those looking at the picture will identify those that are not relational and will not sit and listen. Alignment matters in the church, because it represents the very nature of God. God will demonstrate His triune nature through a church that is aligned. On the other hand, the church that is not aligned in all its parts will misrepresent God. This is where those looking at the picture we show, identify the ones that are not in a relationship with the other "birds." Alignment matters in the church, because without it there is chaos. The church in Corinth drove that point home to us. Paul say, some are of this guy and some of this guy, etc. But what Paul was addressing was Godly alignment, therefore ungodly chaos. Alignment matters in the church, because it allows the church to accomplish its goal; to glorify God to the community it is placed in. Churches that are achieving this goal, have taken the pill of alignment and choked it down. It may be time more of us accept the reality that it maybe tough, but the benefits out weight the personal challenges. These are also churches that realize it is not about them, but about Jesus. They are willing to submit to His authority and His leadership. We can not be in the will of God and out of the will of God at the same time. Does alignment of the church matter? More than we realize.