I’ve had a strange theory for a while. I believe that God often calls people to ministry in the local church by making them aware of a need.
That may not sound all that profound, but I think it changes the way we look at things that bother us at church. Instead of being called to complain, we’re being called to act. Instead of saying, “Somebody needs to do something about this,” we need to be saying, “What can I do about this?”
This idea of calling goes along with something else: you can’t overhear the call of God. That is, God doesn’t call someone else through you. When you see the need for someone to do more with the middle school kids, that’s a call for you, not for the youth deacon.
I won’t say that it’s always true. But if we’re willing to stop and listen, I think we’ll find that the fact that a burden has been placed on our heart is a call for us to act.
I will admit that teaching this concept to others does slow down the complaining a bit. Nobody wants to complain about the bathrooms being dirty because they know I’ll probably hand them a mop!
What do you think? Is this part of the way God calls us to ministry in the local church?
{photo from thebricktestament.com}
absolutely – this is part of my concern for congregations that do strategic planning sessions, b/c SP is usually composed of a great deal of brainstorming great ideas for other people to carry out. Works great in a corporation, but not so well in a volunteer organization.
AMEN!!! “Instead of being called to complain, we’re being called to act.” – Excellent statement!
Great thoughts Tim. I appreciate your words and thoughts. I do not believe God calls us to complain (Philippians 2.14) but He calls us to act! Excellent thoughts again!
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I like the call to action vs. the call to complain. Much easier to complain, but that rarely helps anyone. We are looking at the “complaining” in Acts 6 and then how the Apostles took care of the problem. Two statements came out of my study that parallel what you are saying: 1) Everyone has to bring something and 2) Everyone has something to bring. It’s how the body works best. Thanks for the thoughts Tim!
We are quite “conditioned” by our culture to be passive in relationship to opportunities to minister, serve. Many times, it seems as if it is — “anyone’s business is no one’s business.” Agape calls us to action. In reality, there are no fence sitters…we are living Christ in actuality or we are not. This is the challenge of what it is to be Christ-like. (Matthew 20:28)
Sometimes we get so caught up in organizing the CHURCH for the 3 or 4 hours a week that we are assembled to edify and encourage ONE ANOTHER that we forget to do that and spend the time either in physical worship or bible study.
Wonder if we could change the paradigm so that our worship “service” is actual service to our neighbors and our worship is “offer your bodies as a LIVING SACRIFICE which is your spiritual worship” if we wouldn’t be more in step with what the Apostles taught and be a lot less confused?
Nick, those are interesting thoughts about strategic planning. Hadn’t made that connection.
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
Thanks Chris
I like those thoughts from Acts 6. Interesting that the first major problem in the church was over language and culture; those differences still plague us today.
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
Don,
Makes me think of Ephesians 4:16—”as each part does its work.”
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
Clay,
So much of that would be solved if we spent less time talking about what everyone else needs to do and more time focused on what WE need to do. I’m much better at seeing your speck than seeing the log in my own eye.
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer