ROOTING FOR RIVALS – How collaboration and generosity increase impact of Leaders, Charities, and Churches by Peter Greer and Christ Horst - with Jill Heisey
Pride, the oldest known among all vices and perhaps the most insidious, is still present today both among saints and common men and women. Can we reject pride of ownership and pursue a ‘Kingdom First” agenda?
In Rooting for Rivals, Peter and Christ, open their hearts and ministry for all to see the corruption of pride even among the most scripture-driven organizations and especially among leaders of faith-based and charitable organizations. The authors give an honest assessment of prideful behavior covered with tons of good intentions and give practical ways to practice its antidote, Humility. The authors also extend the reflection across the 7 deadly sins and how to overcome them.
How did Christian and faith-based organizations come to be known more for what and whom they are against than for what they actually do, support and encourage? How can we multiply our impact by cooperating rather than competing? Is working together only a slogan used while attracting people to rally to our cause? Can we genuinely say that we are deeply joyful with the success of other people and “rival” organizations? Why not lose hope of collaboration altogether? In Rooting for Rivals, these and many others are the questions that Peter and Chris explore while giving them practical answers.
Essentially, the authors attempt to show in a very vivid way that we are Christ’s followers and that we are not building temporary organizations but are participating in an eternal Kingdom. We are part of a movement that has no end.
It’s not all about YOU, not at all, is the first attitude that every leader should have, elevating the grand vision and seeing ones action or organization as a small contributor to the grand vision. This will require repentance from our selfishness, pride and independence and learning to embrace the values that Jesus portrayed: humility, generosity and interdependence. Building the Kingdom of God is a team sport, not a competition!
Peter and Chris show that it is important to remember that many great organizations and leaders have come and have gone long to be forgotten. Our work can appear and vanish quickly but the work of the Kingdom will continue in other forms, through other people and organizations. Hundreds of years from now, our descendants will likely not know our names, nor those of our organizations. But if we successfully embrace the unity Jesus taught, our descendants will remember what the Church did together.
Rooting for Rivals is an invitation for faith-based organizations to be known for outrageous generosity and openhandedness, as we collectively pursue a calling higher than any one organization’s agenda. It’s an invitation to reject comparison and rivalry and pursue collaboration and friendship. When we think of other organizations as our competitors, we are choosing the wrong villain. We should fight and struggle but not against one another. The competition is poverty. The foe is injustice. The opponent is our own sinfulness.
We should pause and ask: What does the world see when looking at the Church and para-church organizations? How are our actions toward others helping or hindering our collective impact and witness? Are we more animated about building our tittle clans or about building the Kingdom of God?
Peter and Chris continue showing that we serve a God of abundance who created all things in their abundance. When we lead from a posture of scarcity, we fight for a bigger piece of the pie. We see others as competition, feeling challenged and threatened by the success of our rivals. If we lead from a posture of abundance, we are free to celebrate one another’s wins.
The danger for church and organization leaders is to develop an unhealthy ownership. King David is an eloquent example of missing a mark and developing an entitlement mentality. God gave David much but he forgot that it was all a gift. He forgot that his father, Jesse, hadn’t even presented him as an option to Samuel as a candidate for king. He forgot how he was clearly chosen by God. David slipped into the unhealthy assumption that somehow he “owned” Israel and conducted a census.
What we need to learn is how to love generously (Abundance + Kingdom). This is being other-focused, abundance mentality. This is where we celebrate the success of others, believing the world is not one of scarcity. It’s where there are grander visions extending beyond an organization’s walls.
To counter pride with humility; to choose contentment instead of envy; to invite grace to overcome vengeance; to discover generosity as the antidote to greed; to practice temperance to defeat gluttony; to counter lust with love; and to become steadfast instead of slothful. We need to fight and run away from pride. Pride is being consumed with oneself. Humility is strengthened when we go out of our way to serve other people and organizations. As Gary Ringger was advised by his father: “It’s amazing what can get done when you don’t care about who gets the credit.”
What drives you to succeed? Are these motivations driven by building a name for yourself or glorifying God?
The authors show that by God’s design we are all limited. Leaders should know that there is beauty in embracing our limitations. Our limitations are an indication of hope that regardless of the daunting tasks and burdens ahead, we are not the only ones called to carry it. We can only do our part. This mentality will help leaders articulate their definition of success. What does success mean for you?
In practicing love and generosity, learn to love people and use things. Never do the opposite. Practice contentment.
The prayer of a leader is a prayer for steadfastness; a posture of enduring hope and ongoing commitment, even against seemingly insurmountable external and internal challenges. The future is bright.
Let’s be known as leaders who serve and glorify Christ through our radical generosity. Let’s be people who long to see God’s Kingdom come, even as our earthly kingdoms fade. And let’s cheer one another on in the process.
We are in this together
WE ARE ON THE SAME TEAM
Muhindo Malunga Lusukiro
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