Do you know what I’m talking about?

Friendly fire?

It’s a term most often used in the military, or other combat scenarios, and involves the inadvertent firing towards a member of  one’s own (or otherwise friendly) forces while attempting to engage enemy forces.

It’s called “friendly” because the assumption is that it is an accident… unintentional…

But is it still considered ‘friendly fire’ when the “fire” is coming from other members of the larger team you’re a part of?

I’m talking about Christians hurting Christians — ministries working against each other — leaders, student leaders and even casual participants engaging in mean and destructive behavior towards one another.

It happens.

Benson Hines, a great college ministry thinker and advocate, has been doing some writing about our need to be partners — collaborators — co-laborers w/Christ and one another in winning over our campuses.  You can read some of his stuff on: learning from other “tribes,” unity and collaborative efforts here, here and here.  I encourage you to check it out!

While Benson and I may differ slightly on some of the specifics on how best to go about this, his overall notion that we can — and should — be working better with one another is definitely something I agree with!

I think one of the biggest reasons more of this doesn’t happen (and we therefore don’t see more of our campuses thriving for Christ) is because:

 

1. We have experienced ‘friendly fire’ first-hand and have been hurt,
2. We have seen ‘friendly fire’ happening on our campus — and we think if we can somehow manage to stay out of anyone’s line of fire that we’ll be OK — so we hide,
3. We believe that ‘friendly fire’ is a real thing and would rather not have to deal with it — so we avoid other groups all together — so we don’t even engage — this is usually tied to us not taking the time to get to know the others who serve in our same context, OR
4. We simply believe that we are better than all of the other ministries out there (and I really hope this doesn’t describe any of us).

 

How many of the reasons do you find compelling?  Legitimate?

The truth is there is simply too much work to be done for us to have to be concerned with fighting from within.  It hurts leaders, hinders ministries and confuses both Christians and non who watch this kind of in-fighting take place right in front of their eyes.

Imagine what a united campus of college ministers and ministries might look like… what God might be able to accomplish through our willing and obedient hearts!

Will you be a part of the problem or the solution on your campus?

I’d love to hear about your experiences surrounding this topic.  Whether you’ve been on the side of unity and collaboration OR the side of dealing with ‘friendly fire.’

Grace and peace to you as you finish up the year and consider ways you can bring unity to the Christian efforts on your campus!