If all goes as planned and the Lord continues to bless, in less than one week our family will be moving to Mississippi as I assume my responsibilities as the leader of the state-wide ministry efforts. This is an exciting as well as a sad time for our family as I have been in Florida for almost twenty years and have developed some deep friendships that will never be the same once we move. As we have went through the process of announcing this assignment to our family and friends I have been at times a little perplexed by the response of some and it has caused me to spend a considerable amount of time reflecting on it.
I love the United States of America with all my heart and know that this country is the greatest ever in the history of the world. There are so many things that we do that have made the world what it is today and I have a deep sense of pride to be counted an American. However, there are aspects of our culture that we have allowed to infiltrate the church which have no place what-so-ever and this has been clearly evidenced by the remarks that have become all too common over the last several weeks. This has me wondering who came up with the idea of attempting to quantify every aspect of ministry as if the church were a soul saving factory and our success was simply determined by the numbers we place on the “board” (There is no actual board but we all act as if we have a scorecard that is being kept somewhere to which our worth as a Christian is determined.) and there is no place where this is more evident than in ministry leadership.
May I ask is the pastor of a church that has 35 on a good Sunday less effective than the pastor who speaks to thousands? Is a State Director of ministry doing a more important job than a Good News Club teacher? Do we really believe that we are to climb the “ladder of success” no differently than our CEO counterparts? Is our usefulness determined by the “nickels and noses” that come through the door each week? I’m sure that all of us would collectively recoil at the thought but the reality is that is exactly what we believe.
After being asked to consider applying for the position of State Director for CEF of Mississippi my wife and I never looked at it as a promotion, it is simply a different job that is no less or more important than any other job in this vital work. I believe that this idea that one job is somehow more important than any other has contributed greatly to the lethargy that is far too pervasive within American Christianity as many feel that their part is of no real importance and as such little effort is often exerted in the carrying out the duties assigned to each of us. May I suggest that in the “Organizational Structure” of the kingdom of God, Jesus Christ is the guy on top and everyone else is on the same level beneath Him and any position of supposed prominence is there simply for administrative purposes in the advancement of the kingdom of God and not the exaltation of the individual in question.
What is your job? Where has God called you to serve? May I encourage you to do it heartily as unto the Lord and forget what the other guy is doing?
