People on Mission #3

I ended my last post posing a question, "Do you like, love, stand people?"  Let's decide this is no longer a question we wrestle with, we've come to the conclusion that though people are flawed and there are some we prefer over others we've made a decision that we like, love or at the very least can stand people. 

The first obstacle we face before we move forward on mission is can we be on mission with people that aren't perfect.  I'm not trying to be presumptuous, obviously I know that people aren't perfect, it's just so much more easy to be on mission with those that are a little more sanctified than others, OK maybe that is being presumptuous.  But isn't that what we're looking for?  Aren't we stuck at a crossroad of imperfection that either we cross bravely or we go another direction.  Didn't Paul and Barnabas face this same challenge after their first journey together.  Young Mark just wasn't up to the challenge and when that arrived at Pamphylia he took off.  There was what the writer of Acts refers to as "a sharp disagreement" that arose between these two friends.  The Bible never clearly assigns a winner or looser just that they both moved on separately.  We can see that later in scripture there was restoration between these parties, but nevertheless Paul wasn't able to work with Mark in his current weaknesses.  How hard it is it work with people that are as imperfect as you are?  The Bible clearly supports the doctrine that we need to be working together in unity, the question is how does that actually happen? 

The answer to that question comes from the understanding of our identity.  I'm not talking about what is on your drivers license, lets be real I don't know how anyone can be identified looking at that photo.  If we can see people in their true form; meaning how that person is seen by Christ, it will allow us to see beyond peoples weaknesses.  My father (Keith Stroup) once told me that if I can't work with someone through their weaknesses I might as well stop trying.  A persons weakness is only an opportunity for God to reveal His strength.