Thursday, December 27, 2007
Thank Goodness Someboy Gets It
Four thousand members sounds like a mega-church to me, but this from MMI sounds like they are doing it right.
If the church has caught a cultural wave it is the worst most surface one possible. Think about the fact that Brittany Spears, who has not done anything entertaining in years is still the center of attention. Although on less perverse scale it seems that we build churches on a similar model - the focus of attention on superstars.
Now, that Joe Pewsitter has that tendency is a reality with which we must cope, but to do so by actually grabbing that center of attention, which is what happens in so many churches, is heinous almost beyond belief. We are called to be strikingly different. We are called to humility, which is funny stuff.
"If we catch you doing ministry, you may lose your job." That's what one pastor tells the paid church staff. I was stunned until I heard the reasoning behind such a warning. It's all about multiplying ministry. At a "Me to We" training at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, I met an incredible couple, Pastor Vernon Armitage and his wife, Charlene. Vernon and Charlene have been at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Liberty, Missouri, for 38 years. The church has grown from around 100 to more than 4,000, and it's one of the best examples of an equipping church in the country.That sounds about right to me, with one exception - equipping IS DOING MINISTRY. I really do hate the fact that the language has been so co-opted that doing much the same thing Jesus did during His earthly ministry (prepare the tweleve) is not considered actually doing ministry. But the real revelation comes in the next paragraph in the piece:
One of the fundamentals at Pleasant Valley is that paid staff members aren’t hired to “do” ministry; they’re hired to train and equip others to do ministry. While most churches are constantly on the prowl for ministry talent, Vernon and Charlene have come to realize that they don’t want adders; they want multipliers. That means they want to find people who understand a certain ministry but also have the skill set to develop teams and individuals, who are the frontline people. Prima donnas and superstars need not apply.
Imagine getting fired because you were doing ministry. But if your job is to be developing others, than yes, it makes sense. When it comes to embracing the equipping value in churches, the strongest resistors are often staff members because the transition to equipping ministry requires them to revise their self-image. That’s because the traditional ministerial mindset is “I’m here to use my talent and to serve you.” But that’s adding ministry. No wonder so many churches feel stuck, so many staff members feel overworked, and it seems like you never have enough people to cover the bases. [emphasis added]"Superstars," "primma donnas," "my talents" - anybody catching a theme here?
If the church has caught a cultural wave it is the worst most surface one possible. Think about the fact that Brittany Spears, who has not done anything entertaining in years is still the center of attention. Although on less perverse scale it seems that we build churches on a similar model - the focus of attention on superstars.
Now, that Joe Pewsitter has that tendency is a reality with which we must cope, but to do so by actually grabbing that center of attention, which is what happens in so many churches, is heinous almost beyond belief. We are called to be strikingly different. We are called to humility, which is funny stuff.
Phil 2:5-8 - Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, {and} being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.What are the marks of humility in that passage:
- taking a lesser form
- taking a lesser likeness
- obedience to death
How many churches are lead in that fashion? Not many that I know. If you are in ministry are you willing to take a lesser form?
The bottom line is this - ministry is not about you or me. It is about someone else. Ministry is not where I work out my gifts and talents and find MY whatever. Ministry is where I focus on you and become God's tool to transform you, not serve but transform you, into what God has created you to be.
I am wondering if you, or me for that matter, is really called to that?
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