There is a saying that I hear often during our meetings at work, not just from our group, but from training videos and workshops from other sources as well, that goes like this, “Teamwork makes the Dream work!” I would consider it to be an accurate statement, because you can say you are a ‘team’ all day long, until you are blue in the face, but unless the members of said team are acting as a team, you will not see the benefits of what an actual cohesive team can offer. There must be agreement, mutual understanding, and cooperation for there to be a viable team. Being in one accord, having a mission, and a vision, allows you to have something to strive for and work toward, together. It is therefore not a team at all if it is only in word, but not in deed.
I was recently promoted in my employment, which meant, though I stayed in the same Department, I moved to a different Division. I am so thrilled with this decision, because my new co-workers really seem to be a team in word and in deed. They are incredibly supportive of one another; they are all on the same page regarding daily tasks as well as short and long term goals. They have a clear mission and vision, and all work together with transparency, accountability, and clear communication. This is a dream for me, because in my last position, the supervisor would constantly and readily state that we were all on the same team, but her actions and attitudes did not concur with that profession. There was no communication, no clear vision, no instructions, or direction given, as to what the position required or as to what the expectations were. Outcomes were not set forth to understand what needed to be done to get the tasks accomplished, much less in any cohesive way. However, the reprimands and criticisms were sure and certain to come our way at any misstep. My new role has afforded me the ability to see what real teamwork should look like. We recently had the opportunity to attend a retreat for the members of my current Division, where we were able to come together and meet everyone on the team, since we normally work from home. It was a delight.
My husband and I pastored a church in Indiana for over nineteen years, as I have mentioned in my previous articles. We had a wonderful congregation of people who genuinely loved God, us, and one another. They worked together and met on a weekly basis, for various events, which included our regularly scheduled services of course. We found out rather abruptly, that though they were all in accord and on the same page, it all changed when we began to discuss doing renovations to the church facility. Topics up for discussion were new carpeting, paint, furnishings, flooring in the fellowship hall, bathroom redo, and so much more. This led to discussions of should we, could we, why, when, who, where, and what. This led to the specifics of what colors, what styles, what types, and the list continues. Literally everyone’s opinions began to surface, even those who we thought were the quiet, demure, and contented ones of the group. Because the group became so incongruent, we decided to form a committee to take suggestions from everyone and oversee the final decisions. Getting people to agree on who the committee members would be was a riot as well; however, once a vote was taken, they accepted the outcome, sort of, and this helped keep the peace, even if marginally. Not to leave you hanging, I will say, it all worked out in the end even though the choices would not have been our personal druthers. Then again, that is the point, it is not about individual opinions when you are a team.
The dictionary definition of incongruency is, not harmonious, suitable, or proper, lacking congruity, incompatible, not conforming, disagreeing, inconsistent story, not coming together, lacking propriety, unsuitable, The word comes from the antonyms, congruous, from the Latin word ‘congruus’, meaning, ‘to come together’ or ‘to agree’ that was first used in English literature in the early 1580’s. Synonyms are, amiss, improper, inappropriate, inept, incorrect, unsuitable, unseemly, disagree, inconsistent, or untoward. We have heard the statement we can ‘agree to disagree’, and as a last resort this may have to be where some conversations end; however, when trying to work together and get a job done with a team or group, it causes awkwardness and disharmony, even if those words were spoken. Agreement and harmony or the lack thereof, goes deeper than mere words. There are unspoken factors that come into the equation of true teamwork, such as, bonds of relationship, having chemistry, a spiritual connection and agreement, as well as having the same goals, objectives, and desires to see a project through.
We see the formation of the New Testament church beginning in the Book of Acts. There was no vote taken as to what was going to be done after the ascension of Jesus Christ. He had already given them a clear directive and plan to follow. This put them all on the same page, with an unobstructed vision and purpose. Acts 1:1-14 tells us, “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, it is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost comes upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.”
Full disclosure and understanding of all the ins and outs are not criteria to being in one accord or working together toward the same goal if trust has been built among the team members. This was the case in this account. The disciples and followers of Jesus trusted him implicitly as their leader who would not steer them in the wrong direction. They did not really know what the promise was going to be that they were supposed go to Jerusalem to wait for, but they believed that He would send it because he had always kept his word. The account of this is given in Acts 2, which was only ten days later, on the Feast of Pentecost, fifty days after the Passover, and when they received the promise, they recognized it immediately and were all in agreement. Acts 2: 1-16 tells us, “And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, “Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, these men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.”
Peter continues to preach a long sermon and then gave them clear instructions of what they could do, to also be recipients of this wonderful gift, if they could come into agreement and obedience with the directives that Jesus had taught them. There was no incongruency regarding paint color, or what carpet style they wanted to have in the upper room. They realized that they were the church, and that they had a message to share with their world. They were in one mind and one accord. They all cooperated, all waited in Jerusalem as they were told to do, and saw the vision and mission fulfilled. However, we see how the ‘dreamwork’ began to fall apart when the ‘teamwork’ halted as individual opinions began to creep into the church. They say that opinions are like noses, everyone has one. This is not bad in itself, and may neither be right or wrong, because we were all created to be unique and diverse; however, when we stop contributing and cooperating, and begin to try to assert ourselves as the ‘know all, be all’, things become scattered, shattered, messy, and chaotic very quickly.
Just as we have a point where we are brand new babes in Christ when we are first born again of water and of the Spirit, so were the apostles and believers at the inception of the church. We must work through things, gain knowledge and understanding of the word and the power and authority we have in Christ, and grow in the Lord just as they did. We often learn from our mistakes and imperfections as well as from our differences and disagreements. We can look at scriptures and readily see so many incongruencies amongst the new believers. We see this in Acts 9:22-30, “… Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. And after that many days were fulfilled; the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night and let him down by the wall in a basket. And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him and believed not that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him forth to Tarsus.” People were hesitant to embrace Paul, because of his boldness, but Barnabas spoke up for him. However, later during their travels Paul and Barnabas also had strong disagreements.
Paul had to learn some hard lessons about the benefits of congruency and harmony among brothers. Acts 15:36-41says, “And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought it was not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and did not go with them to the work. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so, Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.” Later in his ministry, we see Paul has learned from his mistakes, he begins to see the value of teamwork and ministering together, and his actions show how he admits that he had been wrong. 2 Timothy 4:10-11 says, “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica: Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.”
The Bible tells us regarding the Kingdom of God, in Matthew 11:12, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” However, we know that a successful army or military force is built on teamwork and congruency. They are broken down in to groups that can work together seamlessly and be so in sync that they appear as one. Unless they are in accord, they will see bitter defeat in battle. The enemy of our soul knows that if he can sow just a little disagreement, chaos, and strife into the camp, he will prevail. Though Gideon was going up against a foe whose numbers were ‘like grasshoppers’ scripture tells us, all he needed was to follow the plan of God. He went into battle with only three hundred men who were with one mind. Each had a pitcher, a torch, a trumpet, a mission, and clear directives. Collaborating with each other, their leader Gideon, and most importantly the Lord of Hosts, won them the victory that night!
In Matthew 18:15-19 Jesus gives us a plan for conflict resolution in the church, “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go, and tell him about his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglects to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” What a powerful impact we can make on our world when we work in harmony and put our differences aside. We should make every effort possible to restore relationships and congruency. A song I used to sing in Indiana, written by Reba Rambo and Dony McGuire, comes to mind, called, ‘Wounded Soldier.’
See all the wounded, hear all their desperate cries for help. Pleading for shelter and for peace. Our comrades are suffering, come let us meet them at their need. Don’t let a wounded soldier die.
Chorus:
Come let us pour the oil, come let us bind their hurt. Let’s cover them with a blanket of His love. Come let us break the bread, come let us give them rest. Let’s minister to healing to them. Don’t let another wounded soldier die.
Obeying their orders, they fought on the front lines for our King. Capturing the enemy’s strongholds. Weakened from battle, Satan crept in to steal their lives. Don’t let a wounded soldier die.
When we begin to see incongruency creep into our lives, homes, churches, jobs, and communities, we begin to turn against one another and destroy everything we have been working toward. We see historically when people begin to riot because of disagreements in government they begin burning down establishments around them, so blinded by anger and hate they cannot see that they are only hurting themselves. They are tearing down the very community that serves them. They are ‘eating their young’ like animals, killing their own soldiers. Then when it is all said and done, they are left with nothing but piles of ruins and rubble. This is seen not only in ancient history, but in our current, local newspapers as well, because we cannot learn to work together and work in harmony. People hang on to wars fought decades or centuries ago, physically, emotionally, or spiritually, as if they were there personally, or are still there. Living in peace does not mean that we must ‘drink the Kool-Aid’ no matter what, but we can find harmony and agreement by working together for the good of the whole. Selfishness, pettiness, and stubbornness must be replaced by selflessness.
Yes, we were created to be unique, and we all have different opinions, but allowing others to put their fingerprint on us by working together, we will see a beautiful mosaic of life start to take shape. Our diversities can prove to be our strengths when we choose to embrace them. You have heard it said that ‘those who do not learn from history, will be doomed to repeat it.’ When people’s lives and very souls are at stake, who cares what color the carpet is. Why do we struggle and fight about inconsequential things when eternity is so close? This world is so full of turmoil and strife, that we as Christians need to put our incongruencies aside and come together in one mind and one accord to see the will of God fulfilled in this untoward generation. Time is short and one thing I know for sure is that Jesus is coming back soon! Do you agree?