The grape harvest is ready and the farmers are desperate to finish the picking. It’s 5:30am, the eastern sky is turning a pinkish hue and the sun is climbing behind the vine-clad hills. The market place in this small town is filling up now as the hired workers gather, hopeful of a full day’s work - if not, the kids and wife go hungry ...
Look, the strongest workers are being picked first while others wait, sitting around but still hopeful. After three hours, one of the landowners returns; it’s a desperate situation: the sky looks threatening and the grapes must be harvested before the onset of the rains; he picks a handful of workers and they quickly exit the market place for the fields.
Another three hours, it’s noon, and the grape grower is here again ... he doesn’t seem fussy: the older workers are picked now; they’re slower but willing. The harvest is ready, the grapes must be picked – no time to be wasted.
At 3.00pm the grape grower visits the market place yet again ... but now the shadows are lengthening. Again, he picks some workers and takes them away. There’s little hope now of any work but the remaining men are desperate and some sit idle waiting just in case and, to their surprise, at 5.00pm, with one hour to go before the working day is over, the farmer returns again; this one is certainly not choosy, he’ll take whoever is willing. He’s desperate; he just wants workers in the vineyard.
It’s 6.00pm: the day is over and the hired workers line up for the foreman to give them their wages. What a surprise! This can’t be right? Everyone is being paid the same! The last are ecstatic; the first are angry but the grape grower says he is playing fair; he is giving them all the agreed wage. Do they begrudge his generosity?
What is Jesus saying? He’s challenging our attitudes: Don’t think you are better than anyone else, Peter, James and John, because you were the first to follow Me! You mature, long-in-the-tooth Christians! Don’t look down on your new brother or sister! God has welcomed them and loves them the same as you! He has no favourites.
Have you ever stood in that awkward place at school of team picking? You were the last to be picked? The slowest runner, the least nimble player? The marks of inferiority were branded upon you, the least, the lowest. God’s kingdom is one of equality, a brotherhood and not a hierarchy. We can never look down on anyone again; God picked us all; He loves us all the same.
Jesus is challenging our practice too: His kingdom is one of equality and sharing. The practice of the early Jerusalem church stemmed directly from the parables and teachings of Jesus: “For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.” (Acts 4: 34,35)
Jesus is challenging our attitudes and practice; He is also challenging our perception of what God is like: in the person of the landowner we see a shadow of the vast mercy, grace and generosity of God.
Ideally, the local church is the haven for a flourishing spirituality. Below is an outline of my vision for the Christian community (in the wide sense of the word) to which I belong.
1. A 24/7 network of deep/heart friendships – a triangle of love – God, me, my brother/sister. Our relationship with God and our brothers and sisters in this one big God-family is so connected that we cannot say that there is one without the other and possibly the better the ‘vertical flow’, the better the ‘horizontal’ one is also. Love for God is expressed not only in worship, prayer and praise (important as they are) but in love for the Family; indeed this continual flow of love spills out to those outside. Everyone within this flourishing society is caught up in this triangle of love.
2. As this society takes shape, spontaneity grows; people within the group are not too over careful of behaving well in the sight of others and never causing offence; they are relaxed and comfortable together.
3. Stemming from this – members are willing to take risks; it is a safe environment and the network of deep friendships provides a safety net within which to fall. There is a daring ‘to do’ and ‘to do different’ and ‘to do God’s new thing’. Creativity and adventure become hallmarks of this flourishing spirituality. Individuals blossom and this adds colour and spiritual richness to the whole. There is nothing drab or tired about this expression of spirituality.
4. Within this society of flourishing spirituality, no one leader dominates; the people themselves ‘own’ the group; leaders are keen to make themselves semi-dispensable and in times of absence the group can function without them.
5. The task of the leaders is to steer, to free others for ministry and never to ‘force’ growth or control. As skilful growers, they do their best to ensure that conditions are right for ‘the plants’ to flourish; they are unthreatened when others thrive.
6. Leaders are quick to listen to helpful comments or grievances and issues are not left to fester; people are genuinely listened to.
7. Immature leaders and adventurers are allowed to come to the fore and mistakes are covered with love. The whole group carry a willingness to allow the inexperienced to lead, to initiate and to make mistakes.
8. Leadership or frontline gifts are not the only gifts valued; equally valuable to the group are the more modest and hidden gifts and those who express these are honoured.
9. A rich variety of gifts and ministries are expressed; creativity has been allowed to blossom. Gifts don’t have to be perfect before they are appreciated.
10. Inspiration from anyone can be gained and followed, regardless of leadership status, age or gender.
11. Good humour, light heartedness, the ability to smile and laugh at each other without malice are integral marks of the group; joy flows in this triangle of love.
12. Children, old people and people with learning difficulties are valued and included.
13. At times there will be a diversity of opinion; covenant bonds are respected; people are listened to and unless the divergence of opinion is major and affects the well-being of the group, brotherly love and respect without acrimony continues.
14. Worship is relaxed, enjoyed and varied; personal preferences of worship style are laid aside; most importantly the group carries Presence for here, ‘where brothers dwell in unity, God has commanded the blessing ..... (Psalm 133)
15. Deep friendships are always open to others and never cliquey. New people are welcomed and struck by the warmth, outgoing love, unity and friendliness of the group.
16. A flourishing spirituality is outward looking; the group can always see beyond itself, is open to new ideas from outside and yet sure of its own mission and is never blinkered. It can sustain varied and outgoing projects. It is able to change direction if necessary.
17. Where there is a flourishing spirituality, members are proud and unashamed to be part of group. They carry a corporate confidence and the group grows.
And I am sure there is plenty more so do please add comments below!
