Finding the Church Ahead of the World

During my term in the church some have noted that the church stays ten years behind the world. Much can be assumed as to the breadth of such a generality. It bugs ambitious leaders to believe we are directly tied to the Living Lord and constantly run a distant second. Erwin McManus wrote in An Unstoppable Force a most surprising comment. My goal is not to keep up with the changing world, but to be standing there waiting for it when it arrives. McManus continues that we need to be showing the world the way.His sentence inspired me to adventure into thinking how it might appear if the church were ahead of the world. And then......I began to wonder if, indeed, we are ahead of the world. I think we are. Here are ten items I see the kingdom already knows while the world lags behind:
To live, die to self.
To keep, give away.
To be strong, use your weaknesses.
To win, lose.
To perpetually preserve in memory, consume weekly (Lord's Supper).
To win an argument, don't argue.
To get a lot done, don't engage in a lot of things. Focus.
To be effectively active, be still and know He is God.
To lead well, care about the reject.
To care about the reject, remember if it weren't for His mercy you would still be one.
Maybe we aren't so far behind after all. What would you add to the list?

Terry Rush