“GUNG HO!”

Larry Ray Hafley

Is this church a "Gung Ho" church? It ought to be. Indeed, it must be if it is to be pleasing to the Lord.

“Gung Ho” is a Chinese expression. ““Gung” means, “to work,” and “Ho”” means, “harmony, accord.” Hence, to be “Gung Ho” means to work in unity and harmony with one accord. It is a Biblical concept. The early church “continued steadfastly...daily with one accord” in the work of the Lord (Acts 2:42, 46). “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul” (Acts 4:32). We are to “be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Philippians 2:2). “Therefore...be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

A church may have unity and harmony but do nothing in service to the Lord. Likewise, a church may be at work but torn apart by quarrels and strife (Revelation 2:2-5; 3:1-5). Neither is approved in God’s sight (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Galatians 5:7).

Generally, the busier a church is, the less likely it is that it will be fussing and feuding. “A mule cannot kick while he is pulling.” “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” To avoid needless, sinful bickering and backbiting, “Let us rise up and build” (Nehemiah 2:18).

Usually, a church that is characterized by “strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance (and) disturbances”” is a church that is doing little at all to advance the cause and course of the Christ (2 Corinthians 12:20). To effectively serve the Lord, we must lay aside “all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,” and none of us should be “an evildoer or...a busybody in other men’s matters” (I Peter 2:1; 4:15).

In other words, to serve the Lord acceptably and go to Heaven when we die, this church must be a “Gung Ho” church!