There was a couple who, wishing to be involved in a church that was actively involved in ministry, searched for a church family with which to join. This couple had spent many years in full-time and part-time church ministry, prison ministry, and children’s home ministry. They had served in the capacity of Sunday school teacher, Minister of Music, Children’s pastors, and Youth Pastors and processed many talents and abilities. She was an organizer. God had given her the ability to take what was and organize it so that it ran more efficiently. She would work, behind the scenes, planning and setting things in motion, so that it ran smoothly and, although her efforts often went unnoticed, the lack of these efforts would surely have been detected. God had given him talents in music, singing and oratory. He was a teacher and expositor. Their gifts were complimentary and served to enhance the ministry of each other as well as others.
In their efforts to find a church were they could serve, they would always consider their children. Whenever they visited a church, they would try to ensure their children would be ministered to, in order to avoid the “minister’s plague”. The minister’s plague is a debilitating disease that afflicts ministers’ families. Ministers who put such an emphasis on ministering to others, often neglect their own families, resulting in spouses who turn to others in order to have their needs met, and children who gain a certain reputation due to lack of parental supervision and/or guidance. (It is often said that “The preacher’s kids are the worst kids in the church.”)
This couple searched and searched, but were always disappointed when, after attending a church for some time, they would find that their present congregation was a “nominal” church; that the members were happy to be a social organization, and that the pastorate was happy with the status quo, ignorant as to how to change it, unwilling to shake up the apple cart, or overwhelmed by the amount of work ahead. After all, if a church has a good number of congregants and the bills are being paid, then many a church folk will settle in and ride this train to glory. After all, people really don't like change.
Early on, the couple made sure that the pastor knew their heart and abilities. They laid it out for him to clearly understand, that they were ready to get involved and work. They desired no position and wished to displace no one. They merely desired to enhance the ministries of the church. And they waited… The man saw that there was no one to play the guitar and volunteered. When needed, he would play other instruments, due to absence of fellow musicians (due to work or illness). He expressed interest in teaching. And he waited… The couple would attend church dinners. They desired to have friends, in the church. They felt that because they were outsiders, they should not intrude into already established cliques. They would rather be invited. They sat together, alone, hoping for an invitation. And they waited… The woman hoped for friends that she could share life with, but she was shy and reserved and wished for an invitation to friendship. “At least” she thought “the pastor’s wife will understand and reach out.” And she waited… Finally an invitation came. “Maybe we should accept,” said the woman “Even if it is from the senior’s ministry and we are no where near their age.” And she waited…Their children hoped that someone would reach out to them. And they waited...
The couple, and their children, got tired of waiting...they began their search again...
How many times does this story play itself out on the stage of churches around us? Are we the ones that should be looking around our church for those who are waiting for someone to reach out and make the effort? Are we the minister or leader that needs to reevaluate our role as a manager and learn to nurture those new people, motivate those cold people, and equip those people who are ready to serve? Are we the person who holds a position, in church, that is satisfied with having a position, for position's sake? Do we have a sense of urgency for those who are within our reach or do we settle for going to church, socializing with our little group of friends, being “friendly” to everyone without putting in the effort to actually become friends with anyone new? Are we satisfied with the way things are?
Showing posts with label human nature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label human nature. Show all posts
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Understanding Nature: A prelude to A Study in Forgiveness
This blog is going to be different, I think. I am hunting for real answers, instead of just blogging what I have learned.
Some years back, I realized that I was expecting non-believers to follow the same rules of conduct that I believed were expected of believers. Why did I expect people to act contrary to their nature? I would not try and pet a lion or tiger, for I would fully expect that they would, in the least, bite me, or, in the most, devour me. I would never expect a new-born baby to lead a quite existence, but would rather prepare myself for crying that resulted from hunger or discomfort. So why would I expect adults to lead a life that was contrary to the nature that leads them? When a non-believer "does me wrong", why am I surprised or offended? What makes me feel that this person somehow owes me fairness or "right-doing"? Is my pride a factor? Do I feel that I deserve more? The Bible is clear when it speaks about us having a sin nature. We are all born with a nature that aligns us with the "father of perdition." Therefore, by nature, we all tend to lean toward wrong actions and attitude more than right. When we accept Christ into our lives, and begin to pattern our lives after his example and teachings, his nature begins to grow in us. Although I would like to say that the new purges the old, I cannot. Here, I am not referring to forgiveness. Merely the nature that guides our thoughts and actions. One might compare this mix of natures by taking a glass and filling it with cold coffee. If the coffee represented the sin nature and pure filtered water represented Christ's nature, then we could visualize what would happen if either or both were added to the glass. When an unbeliever accepts Christ, it is as though water is poured into the glass of coffee. The glass overflows and the contents are spilled out as it reaches and overtakes the rim of the glass. The more that this new believer studies and prays and grows more mature in the knowledge of Christ, the more water is poured into the glass and the more diluted the coffee becomes. If a person adds the things of Christ to their lives,(reading of scripture, prayer time, practicing the teachings of Christ) then water is added. If they add the things of the sin nature, then coffee is added. This is not to say works and deeds. This is more about spiritual maturity and relationship with Christ.
How many people are able to meet someone for the very first time and live for decades and be able to state that they "know" that person intimately. I have a hard time remembering names of people and have to rely on frequency of use to remember them. My students learn, rather quickly, that I experience difficulty in committing their names to memory in the first few weeks of school. It is only after I have spent time with them , conversed with them, learned details that will serve as memory markers that I can say that I know my students. When they are promoted to the next grade and I don't see them for a long while, can I honestly say that I "know" them. Not to any significant degree. Then how is it that a person can say that they know Christ when they have never invested any time to get to know him? If we never take the time to converse with him, spend time with him, etc. how can we "know" him?
My favorite author, of all time, is C.S. Lewis. I enjoy his writing. I have read many of his books. I have spent time listening to his ideas and thoughts, through his writings. The more that I read, the more that I feel that I "know" him. Get it?
If I continue to pour clean filtered water into my glass of coffee, eventually there will be little trace of the coffee. But, if I pour water in and periodically pour in more coffee, then whichever gets added more will influence the contents of the cup more and those who look at the cup will surely be able to judge whether or not the cup is useful (drinkable) or not. Should I not be able to look at a glass that is darkened by coffee and know that if I were to take a drink I would not be happy with the taste. After all, I despise coffee. If I see that the glass is not clear and I drink, do I have the right to curse the glass for tasting foul? Should I not have expected it?
Some years back, I realized that I was expecting non-believers to follow the same rules of conduct that I believed were expected of believers. Why did I expect people to act contrary to their nature? I would not try and pet a lion or tiger, for I would fully expect that they would, in the least, bite me, or, in the most, devour me. I would never expect a new-born baby to lead a quite existence, but would rather prepare myself for crying that resulted from hunger or discomfort. So why would I expect adults to lead a life that was contrary to the nature that leads them? When a non-believer "does me wrong", why am I surprised or offended? What makes me feel that this person somehow owes me fairness or "right-doing"? Is my pride a factor? Do I feel that I deserve more? The Bible is clear when it speaks about us having a sin nature. We are all born with a nature that aligns us with the "father of perdition." Therefore, by nature, we all tend to lean toward wrong actions and attitude more than right. When we accept Christ into our lives, and begin to pattern our lives after his example and teachings, his nature begins to grow in us. Although I would like to say that the new purges the old, I cannot. Here, I am not referring to forgiveness. Merely the nature that guides our thoughts and actions. One might compare this mix of natures by taking a glass and filling it with cold coffee. If the coffee represented the sin nature and pure filtered water represented Christ's nature, then we could visualize what would happen if either or both were added to the glass. When an unbeliever accepts Christ, it is as though water is poured into the glass of coffee. The glass overflows and the contents are spilled out as it reaches and overtakes the rim of the glass. The more that this new believer studies and prays and grows more mature in the knowledge of Christ, the more water is poured into the glass and the more diluted the coffee becomes. If a person adds the things of Christ to their lives,(reading of scripture, prayer time, practicing the teachings of Christ) then water is added. If they add the things of the sin nature, then coffee is added. This is not to say works and deeds. This is more about spiritual maturity and relationship with Christ.
How many people are able to meet someone for the very first time and live for decades and be able to state that they "know" that person intimately. I have a hard time remembering names of people and have to rely on frequency of use to remember them. My students learn, rather quickly, that I experience difficulty in committing their names to memory in the first few weeks of school. It is only after I have spent time with them , conversed with them, learned details that will serve as memory markers that I can say that I know my students. When they are promoted to the next grade and I don't see them for a long while, can I honestly say that I "know" them. Not to any significant degree. Then how is it that a person can say that they know Christ when they have never invested any time to get to know him? If we never take the time to converse with him, spend time with him, etc. how can we "know" him?
My favorite author, of all time, is C.S. Lewis. I enjoy his writing. I have read many of his books. I have spent time listening to his ideas and thoughts, through his writings. The more that I read, the more that I feel that I "know" him. Get it?
If I continue to pour clean filtered water into my glass of coffee, eventually there will be little trace of the coffee. But, if I pour water in and periodically pour in more coffee, then whichever gets added more will influence the contents of the cup more and those who look at the cup will surely be able to judge whether or not the cup is useful (drinkable) or not. Should I not be able to look at a glass that is darkened by coffee and know that if I were to take a drink I would not be happy with the taste. After all, I despise coffee. If I see that the glass is not clear and I drink, do I have the right to curse the glass for tasting foul? Should I not have expected it?
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