One of the ObeyGC2 values is that work always respects the church.
This not only applies to the universal Church with a capital “C” but also to local congregations. The church is the bride of Christ. If we love Christ we need to respect and love and honor His bride. One doesn’t come without the other. We can’t love the Head without loving the body. They are one (or will be), just as the Father and the Son are one. (Jesus said that, by the way, not me.) In a practical way this means that the local church, if it exists, should be included and involved both in the planning and leading and doing of the work. In their community they are the God-ordained representatives of the Kingdom. If they don’t have a vision for the work, do what you can to help increase their vision. If their approach is all “wrong” and not ObeyGC2-like then do what you can to help them grow into ObeyGC2-ness. If only a small part of the church is interested or even spiritually alive then do what you can to help the entire body understand their calling and fulfill it. Of course, the path of planting new churches is always a good one, but involve existing churches in the process if you can…a local parent is always better than a distant one. God honors the church. God will exalt His church and grant her authority in His Kingdom. Let’s get started working with Him on it right now!
Eph 5:23-28
Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
Col 1:18
18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
