Religious Competition

Religious Competition

22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. 24 For John had not yet been thrown into prison.

John 3:22-24

There is nothing that confuses me more than when people or organizations within the same church begin to compete with each other. I wish I could say that it is as rare as a blue moon but unfortunately I find it happens much more often than it should.

I remember when I was still studying theology in Alberta and a new student came up to me who was also taking theology. Before even asking for my name, he asked how many people I had baptized already. Before I could even think of an answer to such an odd introductory question, he went off to say all the amazing things he had already done back home and how many people he had taken to baptism. Now, not being one to judge someone harshly right off the bat, I took it as someone who was simply passionate about ministry and amazed at what God had done with him already but it didn’t take long throughout the year that it wasn’t the case.

This young man didn’t see the blessing and miracle of someone giving his life to God in baptism but only another notch in his belt to prove to himself ad others that he was superior to them. Needless to say, he is no longer in the ministry or baptizing. Someone with that competitive spirit within the church rarely lasts very long.

We also know that Jesus’ disciples and those of John also saw each other as rivals. They compared and complaining at how many the other was baptizing. They were going down the wrong path but John and Jesus had the right spirit.

30 He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

John wasn’t baptizing people to be better than anyone, especially not Jesus. Jesus too did not distort what baptism was and even went to John to get baptized.

The work of God is not a competition and it’s not about yourself. You are simply a tool used by God, one of many. Most of the time God actually wants the tools to work in harmony to get the full effect of the work. Let us not compete or fight with one another when we have the same goals.

Blessings

Pr. Steven Couto