August 10, 2018

Who Do You Serve?

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

– Mark 9:35

James and John wanted to be next to Jesus in places of honor and glory. They wanted to be held in high esteem by others.  They wanted to be above the pack.

They didn’t understand what was to come, of course. Do we ever? We’re so focused on ourselves that we can’t see the bigger picture. We can’t see Jesus. The only image before us is the image of ourselves.

A dear man heads up a committee. He’s proud of it. He’s been the chairman for several years. He’s even in charge of the same committee on a multi-church level.

This man loves to serve. He cooks food for an outreach ministry. He shares Jesus at other venues. He’s such a good, giving man – so long as you do everything exactly to his specifications and his timetable. He’s so controlling that he has almost single-handedly destroyed the very ministry he leads.

Two women devote hours to their church committee. Please note the use of the word “their” committee. They have worked hard to make sure the committee only includes people who agree with everything they “suggest.” They aren’t looking for other ideas. They simply want people who will step up and do their bidding however they choose things be done. I’m sure you can imagine the grumbling from others. They don’t care. They’re so busy being in charge that they don’t realize they’re on the cusp of standing alone.

Welcome to church politics. I have watched two or three people generate enough divisiveness to “run” off a good preacher. I have witnessed churches split apart over how to spend money. I have seen churches die because they refused to welcome any new members into their midst.

There’s something about power and prestige that makes us forget that we don’t always have the answers. There’s something about being in charge that makes us forget that other people sometimes have more wisdom than we do. And there’s something about control that makes us forget that God reigns, not us.

Satan knows just what buttons to push to turn otherwise good Christians against each other. He knows exactly who to target to create chaos rather than growth and renewal. We’re engaged in spiritual warfare, whether we acknowledge it or not.

The only way to battle Satan is through the armor of God. Jesus won the war but Satan is after anyone who desires to serve Christ. He knows that the very best way to accomplish his goals is to turn God’s people against one another. Don’t let him.

It’s not about you. It’s not about me. It’s about bringing God glory and honoring Him in all we say and do. Check your egos at the door. Leave pride outside in the trash. Be the least so you can bring honor to God our Father and Creator.

Do you want to be first? Then live your life being last.

August 8, 2018

Cast Pride Aside

"How you plot and scheme to win your lovers. Even an experienced prostitute could learn from you!" – Jeremiah 2:33

I call it growing pains. Our ministry group has expanded to include more events and, thus, more people involved in the various projects and classes. The hiccups are driving me nuts.

I recognize it as Satan trying to derail our plans to draw more people toward Jesus. I understand that. Unfortunately, not everyone else does. The egos and claws have emerged and they’ve got nothing to do with bringing glory to God.

Have you experienced this? Anyone active in church probably has. I doubt there’s any place more focused on politics, power and squabbles than a church. Pride has destroyed so many churches, so many wonderful endeavors. It doesn’t need to be that way.

I love this passage from Jeremiah. God is telling His people how they have betrayed Him. His people are telling God they aren’t guilty. Of course, they were. So are we.

When we set out to organize an event at church, it’s not about the individuals organizing it. It’s not about bringing glory and accolades to the church. It’s about God. It’s about bringing Him glory. It’s about shining a light that draws others toward Him. When we lose sight of that, it becomes about us and our egos. Things quickly deteriorate from there.

I’m not into micro-managing people who are volunteering for a specific project. I’m not into trying to control everything and everyone. I also detest drama. We’ve built an incredible team of capable individuals. We work together, each doing her own job, communicating and sharing ideas with an easy comradery.

Others coming in aren’t doing so well with that. And I’m not doing so well with the backbiting power plays. It’s just not okay. It’s out of place in service to God. Actually, it’s out of place anywhere.

We are not a group where cliques will exist. I am not alone in that view. Everyone is welcome. Everyone is equally important. Everyone’s ideas are considered. Like I said earlier, we’re a team.

Maybe I’m just really sensitive on this issue. I’ve watched churches torn apart because a few individuals needed to control everything. It became about their pride. It was never about God. Jesus wasn’t invited to the table. And nobody listened to the Holy Spirit.

I spend a great many hours each week in service to God. I am not in service to the church, to any individuals or to a particular committee. Everything I do is to bring glory to Him. Do I fail Him sometimes? Absolutely. And I count on other team members to work with me to keep us all focused on the only One who matters.

I don’t know your situation. I hope you are volunteering and serving God wherever you are. And I hope you stand strong and refuse to allow yourself to be pulled in to unnecessary political drama. When Satan tries to tear people apart, refuse to be a part of it. Pray without ceasing and stand firm in His strength. Pride has no place in the kingdom of God.

April 13, 2018

Welcome Diverse Opinions

Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! – James 5:9

The two women are active in church. They serve on committees and participate in events. They certainly don’t mind working – most of the time anyway.

Most people are content to let them do it. You’re probably thinking it’s because people don’t want to give the time to show up and volunteer. In some cases, you’d be right. But in this case there’s another factor that rears its ugly head. These two ladies are in charge. They know exactly how it should be done and you’d better do it their way. Failure to go along with them will result in you being repeatedly criticized and bumped from whatever committee or activity you participated in.

Was this a one-time thing? No. I’ve watched them do it again and again. They lament that there aren’t enough volunteers but the truth is no one wants to work with them. Who wants to show up and give of themselves when they know their participation will be criticized? No one.

Here’s another example. Two women (No. I’m not picking on women.) have decorated tables at church for years. And years. They didn’t want any help. They didn’t want any suggestions. It was their job and it’s what they did.

Last year they began to grumble. No one would help. They were just getting too old to keep doing it. Wasn’t it time for someone younger to step up? I had to hold back my laugh. People have tried to help for years but they were turned away. The women were so intent on doing it their way, that they missed an opportunity to include others and gather for fellowship in serving the Lord.

It’s no different with men. The men’s fellowship at church is almost nonexistent. Why? Because they aren’t willing to do anything differently than they did years ago. They don’t want younger men involved for anything but physical work. And the young men don’t want to get involved in a group that’s only going to do what it has always done and support the causes it has always supported. What’s the point in that?

It is just so easy to grumble about what other people are or aren’t doing. It’s not so easy to look in the mirror and see what we might be contributing to the situation. The hard truth is that no one will ever do things exactly like we do – and that’s okay. No one will ever agree with everything we want – and that’s okay too. God created us to be different so that we could compliment each other and not war with each other over control and glory.

If you’re heading up a committee or activity, listen to those who are helping. Encourage their voices. Loosen your control and welcome newcomers, right along with their ideas and their help. We all have the same goal to glorify God in whatever we do. And, if that’s not our goal, well, we’ve got a whole other issue in our hearts.