This morning I read a warning from one of my favorite writers, Eugene Peterson. It reads: “We cannot be too careful about the words we use; we start out using them and then they end up using us.” There was one word in particular that he deemed dangerous. Resource. This word “is commonly used of people who can help us in our work.” You know what he is talking about – how often in our jobs do we view others as a mere resource? How often do pastors view the so-called ‘laity’ as mere resources? How often do church planters (like me) view others (like you) as resources for their project? Isn’t there something wrong with that view?

Peterson identifies what is wrong: “resource identifies a person as something to be used. There is nothing personal to a resource – it is a thing, stuff, a function. Use the word long enough and it begins to change the way we view a person.”

Let me confess to you right now for the times I viewed you as a mere resource in this church planting project. Because you are not. You are not a name and number. You are not a monthly pledge, or a one-time donation. But you are all—in Paul’s perfect phrase—“the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Cor 12:27). United in Christ, there are no mere resources—we are all on mission, imbued with unique gifts and callings. Josie and I are thankful for your support because we believe that Christ fulfills his mission through the diversity of His Body.

In other words, we cannot do it alone. And neither can you. We need each other.