Where did the name “Broken Jars” come from?
Imagine this:
The Lord stands at the edge of heaven, ready to pour out grace and power on a parched world. But the huge reservoir He created to hold it all, the Church, is now broken and in need of repair. Instead of a massive collecting pool or an enormous jar, the Church is now a loose collection of tiny jars, so many of them broken, mere chards. Many church leaders jealously clutch their own little pieces of clay, pleading in great public prayers for a downpour of blessing, but through pride or narrow focus they are prepared to receive only drops.
Broken Jars recognizes that those small fragments of the Church that Jesus prayed might be strong in unity are but mere imitations of the whole. Yet so many church leaders grasp and claim their own little tidbits as precious; little kingdoms are being built, but where is the huge world-overcoming Kingdom our Savior cried for? The fragments must be surrendered back to the Potter; the small jars must be broken, and a new, huge, infinitely more effective one, re-created.
Remember that alabaster jar of precious ointment carried by that penitent woman who anointed Jesus at Bethany(Mark 14: 3-9) in an act of total surrender. There was no little cork in the opening of that jar; to release the costly perfume, the whole jar had to be smashed. Similarly, when Gideon’s soldiers (Judges 7) smashed their jars, there was a release of light and power that overcame the darkness, defeating their enemies, and transforming their world. Likewise, we have treasure in jars of clay, Paul tells us (2 Corinthians 4:7). But for the power of that treasure to be released, well, you get the point.
Our mission is to present unity in the Body of Christ as foundational to the Church’s success in the plan of God. But before that unity can be built, the hearts of church leaders must be gently and lovingly broken. When the hearts of church leaders catch this new vision, and are then focused on Jesus and His Kingdom, not just fragmented portions of it, powerful Christian fellowship is born, and the great outpouring can begin. Broken Jars can assist in exciting that vision, helping to shape deep and effective relationships, and presenting strategies for being splashed and bathed in the power and effectiveness our God has had in mind since before the foundations of the world!