Neglected Key to a Thriving Church

"Sound in faith, in charity, in patience." (Titus 2:2)

Ah, patience ... how many attempts to build a New Testament church have failed because of it? How many assemblies shrivel up when the adrenaline rush of the new adventure fades?

As the new wears off, thankfulness turns to grumbling. Differences and disagreements loom larger. "Praise the Lord for likeminded families!" gives way to "Maybe we need to find a group more in line with our convictions."

It is the critical point in any new work ... when families start to realize that the church of their dreams exists only in their dreams.

You know, that shining church on a hill where....

• All the families look like they stepped off the cover of a homeschooling magazine.
• The Bible teaching is always riveting, deep, and eloquent, but all the men have opportunity to exercise their gifts and grow in ministry.
• Doctrine is emphasized, but it's always my view of doctrine.
• Forbearing one another in love is a nice theory, but never actually needed.
• God fills the quivers with lots and lots of children, all of whom come ready-equipped with godly character or somehow attain it without any messy growing process.
• All the families have pristine standards of godliness in dress, music, television, movies, and books, but there is not a streak of legalism to be found.
  

Sigh ... wouldn't it be nice?

Not really. For one thing, stewing in our own perfection would get boring after a while.

Plus, God knows that really to grow in love and Christlikeness, we need to spend some quality time with those two Bible "bears" ... bear and forbear.

So, since there is not the perfect church, there is ... patience.