I want to begin this morning by talking about the maverick way. When I was growing up, the big hit movie was "Top Gun". You may remember in this movie that Tom Cruise played a jet pilot nicknamed Maverick. Maverick couldn’t be tamed. He played by his own rules. He continually thumbed his nose at the chain of command. Often when returning from a mission, he would buzz the control tower and cause his commanding officer to spill his coffee. Maverick was a one-man force!
The word maverick is rancher lingo for an unbranded animal. Specifically, a maverick was an unbranded calf that for whatever reason, became separated from its mother and herd. As such, a maverick has no identification. It is thus unclaimed, not owned by any particular rancher. In human lingo a maverick refers to that person who prides himself in being a nonconformist. A maverick is an unconventional person, an eccentric, an individualist, a rebel, and the odd one out. A maverick is that person who is independent in thought and action.
Mavericks are present within the church.
Many pride themselves in being the maverick. This is true even of many religious people. When it comes to Christianity, they just go it alone, marching to their own drumbeat. Their attitude is, "No one is going to tell me what to think, what to feel, believe, or do." "No one is going to tell me I need to belong or to make a commitment." "I’m as free as a bird now, and this bird cannot be chained.”
This maverick mindset surfaces within the life of most every church. A person wants to givehis life to Christ but doesn't want to submit to Christ in baptism.A family wants to join a church, but without the strings of membership attached. A couple is eager to get married, but want to continue living together and sinning sexually. A long-time member would rather transfer to another church than face discipline by the leadership of his church. A volunteer wants to serve but doesn't want tocooperate with a particular ministry team. A believer refuses to study the scripture to determine the accuracy ofher beliefs about Christ.
There are countless examples of the maverick way creeping into the church. This maverick mindset is characterized by one of three attitudes. The first attitude is the "greener pastures attitude." This is really the consumer mindset in which a person asks, "What can this church do for me? Does this church satisfy my needs? Can I find something better across the stone wall?"
The maverick mindset is also characterized by the "wandering sheep attitude" This is the window shopper mindset, in which a person asserts, "I don’t need the flock. I don’t want to be known by my shepherd or by the flock. I don’t want to be obligated, relied upon, or needed."
Last is the "black sheep attitude." The black sheep is that person who differentiateshimself from others.He says, "I’m better. I’m above. I’m not like those hypocrites. I want nothing of them. I've got it figured out." Or he says just the opposite."I’m not good enough. I’m the worst of all sinners. I’ll never be accepted, fit in, or be part of that flock." The black sheep useshis own moral superiority or inferiority to hold the body of Christ at arm's length. Ultimately, they are hurting only themselves.
Is the maverick way better?
So let's just ask an honest question.Is the maverick way better? The ranchers have a rule. The rule is that anyone can claim the maverick if itshouldwander into their territory. If you have maverick tendencies you should ask, "Do I want to be owned by another?" The simple truth is that we are always under the ownership of someone or something. Do we want to be owned by Christ the great shepherd, or not? To not come under his shepherding puts us at risk of being owned by another.
Consider John 10:1-5 (NIV), where Jesus talks about the relationship between the sheep and the shepherd, the owner of the sheep. "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."
In John 10:7-10 (NIV) Jesus speaks to the grave danger and very real probability of a maverick being stolen by another. "Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
There are alarming numbers of mavericks being stolen away God’s true flock. Because they ignore Christ's voice and refuse to be part of his flock, they are prone to following the errant voices of others. Mavericks, because they are unestablished, are etremely vulnerable.
The membership way.
In contrast to the maverick way is the membership way. The membership way is not man's design. The membership way, also known as church membership, is God’s design. In the New Testament the Bible speaks to the sense of obligation God's people are to have to one another and to God. The lone ranger andmaverick mentality undermines the community that God seeks to establish among his people.
Consider a few verses in Ephesians and 1 Corinthians that speak of the togetherness and fellowship we are to have as God's people. Ephesians 2:19 (NIV) says, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household..."
Ephesians 3:6 (NIV) tells us,"This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus."
Ephesians 4:25 (NIV) instructs, "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body."
In 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (NIV) Paul speaks of us being one body. "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink."
In 1 Corinthians 12:14-31 (NIV) he explains the interdependence with which we are to operate as the body of Christ. "Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body."
"The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don't need you!' And the head cannot say to the feet, 'I don't need you!' On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."
"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts.And now I will show you the most excellent way."
Despite the blemishes, Christ loves the church.
In Ephesians 5:25-33 the Church is described as blemished, stained, wrinkled, and sinful. However, despite these facts, Christ loves the Church just as he loves his own body, just as a husband would love his bride. Notice that Christ loves the Church as his own body, unconditionally. He labors to beautify his body. The application is that we are to love one another (the Church) just as Christ loves the Church. He is our example. There is no perfect church, but our love draws out the best within those in the flock.
Ephesians 5:25-33 (NIV) says, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband."
There is more. As Christians we are to take responsibility for one another's growth, encouraging each other. Hebrews 10:23-25 (NIV) tells us, "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
In 1 Peter 5:1-4, Christ is described as the, "Chief Shepherd" of our souls. Yet God has appointed elders, under-shepherds, to guard, protect, and nourish the flock. This is not a positional role marked by greed, arrogance, power, or a lack of moral integrity. Rather it'sa functional role, marked by selfless concern, a sense of calling, and sacrificial service. The leader is to love the flock as Christ loves the flock.
1 Peter 5:1-4 (NIV) says, "To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away."
Hebrews 13:17 (NIV) says, "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you."
Last, I will mention Acts 20:25-31. Paul's point in this warning is that we are stronger together as a flock, than when we go it alone. Satan’s strategy is to draw us away from flock, divide us, and take ownership of us. He tries tosteal us from God.
Acts 20:25-31 (NIV) says, "Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears."
What does Satan say about the maverick way?
In conclusion, I just want to say that Satan is the father of all lies. Here are some of the common lies, or myths, thatSatan tells us regarding the maverick way.
"The maverick way is best. The membership way is ridiculous."
"Get moving and venture out. There are much greener pastures."
"Assert your own identity. Be your own kind of sheep. Stand apart from the flock."
"Don’t listen to the voice of the shepherd. Find your own voice."
"Don’t get weighted down with life in the flock. Set yourself free."
"You’ll be happier with less sacrifice, less commitment, andless obligation."
"Go find the perfect flock, one that doesn’t require you to change, that doesn’t challenge your beliefs, attitudes, lifestyle, or priorities."
Don't listen to Satan. Move toward the membership way.
Let's have a moment of truth. Let's move toward responsible church membership. Christianity is for the member, not the maverick. Ask yourself honestly, "Are you a part of God's flock? Are you moving toward commitment? Are you moving to the center and away from the fringe edges? Are you getting connected andinvolved? Are you a good follower, listening to voice of the Great Shepherd and obeying those he has entrusted with your care and well-being? Have you made a commitment to the growth and maturity of the flock? Are you rolling up your sleeves and serving? Are you working to make something better or are you just walking away?"