Barbara's Banter

Many would have us think that all we need is to believe – or all we need is love – or all we need is faith to be a Christian, but it really doesn’t work that way. Some scriptures might give that impression but the Word of God is interconnected. We need to embrace all aspects of God’s instruction to become spiritually mature. For example, Galatians 5:6 tells us faith expresses itself through love. Therefore, faith and love must be interconnected.

I think 2 Peter 1 explains this very well.

Verse 1 – 4: Paul wrote this letter to those of us chosen by God to receive faith. God has given us His promises that through them we may participate in His divine nature and escape corruption in this world caused by evil desires.

Verse 5: Because of this we should be diligent or eager to add to our faith goodness and to goodness add knowledge…

Verse 6: And to knowledge add self control; to self control add perseverance; to perseverance add godliness…

Verse 7: And to godliness add brotherly kindness; to brotherly kindness add love…

Verse 8: The point is we need all of these things to be effective, productive and mature Christians.

Verse 9: If we lack them we are blind and we have forgotten all that God has done for us.

Verse 10 – 11: If we are diligent, which means it takes some effort, to add these things to our lives we are going to stand firm in Christ and not fall.

Verse 12-13: Paul says we know these things but it’s good to be reminded from time to time.

Now my intent is not to delve into faith, goodness, knowledge, godliness, kindness and love so we can have a deeper understanding of what they all mean. We can do our own Bible study about each topic if we are interested. My point is that we need all these qualities and many more such as joy, peace, patience, gentleness and so on (Galatians 5:33) to be a spiritually mature Christian.

Galatians 5:6 tells us faith expresses itself through love. Very true! But sometimes faith expresses itself through joy. And sometimes our joy may depend on how much peace we have. And sometimes our perseverance may depend on how much self control we’ve exhibited. The list is endless because these attributes can be interconnected.

It’s our job or responsibility to add these qualities to our lives. God doesn’t just funnel them into our character. But as we add them we need to realize they all work together in creating a mature Christian in the image of God.

Most would agree that sometimes churches make changes to reflect society. This can be a good thing or this can be a bad thing.

It can be good because as society changes churches might need to update and adapt their approach in order to reach people with the gospel message. Notice I said the approach should change, not the message. The message of Christ remains the same. Jesus came, died, was resurrected, lives again, loves us, lives in us, grants forgiveness, redemption and salvation. The gospel is still the good news it has always been. Jesus Christ is definitely the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). However, the way we bring the gospel message to others might need to be modified to reach a changing society.

Changes can be bad when churches lower their standards, ethics and morals to fit in with what is considered the norm in society. Today’s societal norm is to go with the flow and do what feels good. God wants us to evaluate situations and do what is right according to His Word. Remember – just because something is popular does not make it right. When churches lower their standards then they have nothing to offer society that is different from what it already has. Churches should be teaching the world that there is a better way – God’s way. If churches aren’t careful they can be in danger of a disease called “frog in the pot syndrome,” which if left untreated, results in death. This analogy explains how it happens.

There once was a man who wanted to cook a live frog. He kept putting the frog in the hot water but the frog kept jumping out. Then he put the frog in tepid, comfortable water. He gradually turned up the heat so the frog didn’t notice any temperature changes. It was almost like being in a Jacuzzi. The man slowly turned the heat up some more – and then more. Eventually he had a cooked frog.

I hope the analogy is clear. One who continues to gradually lower standards, morals, and ethics will eventually become a cooked frog. That would make Satan very happy.

As Mark Twain used to say, “Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” All in all I think that is pretty good advice for all of us – especially churches who should have a slightly higher standard than society.

Every day ministry leaders of all denominations face transitions. A transition is a passage or movement from one state, stage or place to another. All transitions involve change. Change is not easy. Even change for the better can be uncomfortable and challenging. Transitions can be important for the overall health of ministry. Social, cultural, political, and spiritual climates change and ministries need to adapt. Ministries should never compromise with the word of God. Christian principles remain the same, but methods and approaches may need to be updated to coincide with changing times and needs. How ministry leaders deal with such transitions says a lot about their Christian maturity.

What Causes Ministry Transitions?

• The ministry wants to go in a different direction.
• Someone moves to another area.
• Someone takes on additional responsibilities.
• Someone retires.
• Someone steps down from a leadership role to a support role.
• Someone would rather be involved in a different ministry.
• Someone is promoted.
• Someone is forced out.
• Someone burns out.
• Approaches need to be updated to accommodate a changing society.
• The list is endless.

Transition Involves Discomfort
All transitions, for the good or for the bad, can involve a certain amount of discomfort and sometimes pain. For example, there is a learning curve of growth process for anything new we encounter. Growth can be uncomfortable. If a ministry goes in a different direction, the focus may change. The way we always did things before may have to be adapted and updated. Remember that different is not necessarily bad – it’s just different and not what we are used to. Sometimes a grieving process takes place. For example if we move to another area we might miss our friends and family. Our new church area may not readily accept us and we yearn for the “good old days.” We may even develop an unrealistic idea of how much better everything would be if the transition hadn’t taken place. Since the transition may be harder and more challenging than anticipated, we might feel discouraged.

How to Be Part of a Positive Transition
Before we facilitate a transition in the focus of a ministry, as ministry leaders we should pray about any changes we are thinking of making, get wise counsel, and be sure those over us are in favor of our plans. We should discuss everything thoroughly with our spouse and maybe our children to see how it will impact their lives. Perhaps even incorporate volunteers working in this area of ministry in the planning process. A transition is easier if everyone is on board. If possible institute changes gradually.

If we are moving, retiring, or changing responsibilities then we want to leave a ministry in good order. Try not to leave projects unfinished, bills unpaid, or loose ends dangling. If we have chosen to leave then ministry volunteers may feel abandoned or like it was their fault. Help them work through these issues. If this transition was not one of our choosing, we should not bad mouth those who made the decision. Unchristian like behavior is never appropriate. Always be supportive of predecessors and successors. After all, that’s what we would want if we were in these positions.

How to Cope
Prayer, Bible study, and meditation on God’s Word may sound like cliché advice but seeking God is still the key that aids in coping in any situation. The same God who beckoned us to be ministry leaders will guide us through these transitions even though we may need to broaden our ministry perspectives and develop our ministry gifts. Learning more about our ministry rather than thinking we know it all can be helpful. If a change is not a bad thing then embrace it, don’t fight it. Things don’t have to always be done the same way just because that’s the way they’ve always been done. Guard against getting offended if everyone doesn’t get on board immediately.

Sometimes it’s better to go slow. After all, it’s easier to increase activities than decrease them once everyone gets used to certain procedures. Realize that transitions take time. It takes time for people to get to know us. It takes time to build a support network. It takes time for people to catch a vision. It’s God’s will that needs to be done, not ours – and He has all the time in the world to accomplish it.

Conclusion
Transitions are always with us – in the workplace, at school, in our communities, in society, at home and in ministry. They are everywhere! Perhaps God in His infinite wisdom designed it that way. It creates an environment of learning how to respond, adapt, and change. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), but how He manifests himself to people is constantly changing. Let’s not make the mistake of limiting what God can do or how He will choose to do it – in our lives and in our ministries.

In previous blogs we have determined that all Christians are ministry leaders from the aspect of living the Christian life, a life others are drawn to and perhaps want to emulate. However, there are ministry leaders who have a higher profile position. They may lead certain ministries such as Children’s Ministry, Teen Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Men’s Ministry, Small Groups, Evangelism, Worship, etc. Churches may commission, ordain, or have the church pray for leaders of these ministries because it is a big responsibility.

Ministry leaders have a difficult job. Some ministry leaders are paid, but many are not. Whether paid or not, most ministry leaders are working with volunteers, people giving their time and energy to serve others. If ministries aren’t lead properly it is easy for these volunteers to feel undervalued and unappreciated. Therefore being a ministry leader should be prayerfully approached. Here are a few tips that might help one to be a more effective ministry leader.

Work as a Team
Consider those involved in a ministry as team members. The first missionary venture was a team, Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:2). A ministry leader is like the captain of the team and sometimes head cheerleader. Rather than emphasizing the goals, budgets and programs, strive for a family type atmosphere. Take everyone’s opinions, input, and concerns into consideration rather than pushing agendas we think are best. Give opportunities for others to be part of the decision making process and develop their leadership abilities. Sometimes we may need to work under our own people if we put them in charge of a certain aspect of our ministry.

Work with Other Ministries
The goal should be for all ministries to support one another (1 Corinthians 12:14-19). Try to accommodate other ministries if there is an overlap in responsibilities. A church is interconnected. Ministries are just one part of the whole. No ministry should think they are more important than another. We want to work together and be supportive of the overall mission of our fellowship.

Create a Feeling of Trust
God has entrusted the leadership of the church to certain individuals (1 Corinthians 4:2) and we must learn to trust one another. We do this by valuing the judgment and opinions of others. When we give them a job, it’s best not to micromanage. They may not do it exactly the way we would, but if the job gets done and it’s not contrary to God’s way, be supportive. There are many different ways to do something. Our way is not the only way. Ministry leaders should be careful about imputing motives. Try to see and think the best about team members.

Build Spiritual Maturity
Effective ministry teams are built on spiritual maturity (Colossians 1:28). Secular communities look for smart, intelligent leaders with dynamic personalities. The church needs leaders who have a deep love for Christ and people. A ministry leader should be genuinely interested in each team member, praying for him/her often. Teams should pray together as well – for their ministry, other ministries, people, and the church in general. Ministry leaders set the example in being flexible, approachable, responsive, and kind. Volunteers should feel included. A ministry leader should try to be a part of the team instead of giving everyone the impression he/she is the head honcho, big cheese, or top dog!

Show Appreciation
The Bible is full of scriptures emphasizing thankfulness (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Showing appreciation to volunteers helps validate, recognize, and motivate them. Appreciation should be personalized and come from the heart. Genuine appreciation gives volunteers a sense of satisfaction and an increased desire to stay involved in a ministry.

Each ministry is an intricate part of keeping a church healthy and functioning. Volunteers are the backbone of each ministry. The effectiveness of a congregation is enhanced by realizing we are all part of the same team. Ministry leaders play a big part in making that happen!

A ministry leader is a servant (Matthew 20:25, 26) who sets an example in lovingly serving others (John 13:12-17). By being Christians and living a Christian life, we all inadvertently are ministry leaders. Not so much from the point of view of putting ourselves in a position of responsibility over others, but setting an example others might want to emulate.

However, there are ministry leaders who have a higher profile position and sometimes have responsibility over others. These people would not only exhibit qualities appreciated by the secular community but by Christians as well. They would have good character, biblical knowledge and emotional stability, plus be able to work well with others.

In New Testament times these ministry leaders fell into many different categories such as apostles (Mark 3:14, 1 Corinthians 9:1), preachers (Romans 10:14), deacons (1 Timothy 3:8-13), deaconesses (Romans 16:1 NLT), elders (Acts 20:17, 1 Peter 5:1-2), teachers (2 Timothy 2:2, James 3:1-2), and so on.

Ephesians 4:11 tells us God gave “some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers.” Why was there a need for this? The answer is found in verses 12-13: “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

From time to time we may have need of various ministries in addition to preaching and teaching. Today’s social, cultural, and Christian climate seem to favor categories such as Children’s Ministry, Teen Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Worship Ministry, Men’s Ministry, Small Group Ministries, etc. Each of these ministries usually requires a ministry leader. The Bible term might be an “overseer” which is another way of saying “ministry leader.” In other words a ministry leader oversees various ministries and the people who help with those ministries.

The Bible lists qualities of overseers (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9).

• Reputable
• Monogamous
• Temperate
• Balanced
• Self controlled
• Wise
• Financially solvent
• Hospitable
• Spiritually mature
• Able to teach
• Gentle
• Kind
• Not argumentative                                
• Patient
• Not materialistic
• Honest
• Approachable
• Prayerful
• Biblically knowledgeable
• Disciplined
• Worshipful
• Willing to serve
• And so on…

Of course we would be hard pressed to find someone who flawlessly exemplifies all of the above qualities. Nobody is perfect, but you get the gist.

Some feel called to start a ministry. Others may be approached to serve the church in a leadership capacity. Either way, before leaping into this responsibility one might ask the following questions.

• Have I prayed about it?
• What is the specific purpose of this ministry?
• Who benefits from this ministry?
• Is this a ministry I feel called to lead?
• Am I a good fit for this ministry? Will it use my particular gifts?
• Will I have any support or help?
• What is involved in leading this ministry? What would be expected of me?
• Have I sought wise counsel from spiritual leaders, my spouse, with the one previously in charge of this ministry, and with someone who is in charge of a similar ministry?
• What impact will this have on my family?
• Is fear holding me back?
• What is my motive in leading this ministry? Is it to serve or be served?

If a ministry is under the umbrella of a specific church congregation one might want to ask the following questions as well.

• Does the purpose of this ministry fit within the mission statement of my church?
• Will those above me take my feelings into consideration if there are some things I don’t feel comfortable doing in regards to this ministry?
• Am I doing this because I’m afraid if I say “No, thank you” people won’t like me?
• Have I been put on a “guilt trip” to lead this ministry? Examples of this might be statements like “If you don’t do this then we won’t have anyone to do it” or “God will not be pleased with you if you turn this down.”

The Christian community needs more ministry leaders. If we’ve prayed about it there is no reason to shy away from or fear such responsibilities. Where God guides, God provides. However, there is nothing wrong with prayerfully taking a little time, seeking counsel, and evaluating the impact of our decision. This is called wisdom. If one is to be a ministry leader a little wisdom could be helpful.

When we first become followers of Christ we want to drink in of Christ’s teachings. As we grow in His grace and knowledge we learn to trust and rely on Him. We realize God has given us the gift of forgiveness and redemption. We are children of God and heirs of His salvation. As heirs of His salvation we become ministers of Christ, given the responsibility to carry out His ministry. The main way most of us perform this duty is to live a Christian life, serve others, be a light to the world, share the gospel when appropriate, and generally “walk the walk” instead of just “talk the talk.”

In going about living the Christian life and doing Christian “stuff” we inadvertently become leaders. Not so much from the point of view of putting ourselves in a position of responsibility over others, but setting an example others might want to emulate. In other words, leaders can be those that others want to follow. Every person who follows Christ is a minister in one way or another. If they are following God closely they become ministry leaders by default, because others will want to follow their example.

Our example should be the same as Jesus’ example. What did he do while here on earth?

Christ was obedient to God (John 4:34). He prayed for others whether they knew it or not (Mark 1:35). He empathized with those who suffered (John 11:35). He served others and even washed their feet (John 13:1-17). He loved people (John 13:34-35). He was a friend to all, even sinners (Matthew 9:11). He prayed to God, “Your will not mine be done (Luke 22:41).” If we read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John we’ll see that this list could go on and on and on.

As ministers of God we may have to endure hardships (2 Corinthians 6:4), but God has confidence in us. He has made us ministers of His New Covenant (2 Corinthians 3:6) – a covenant of the spirit of God – a covenant of love. You see, being a minister is not about being addressed as “Reverend Brown” or wearing robes; it’s about loving and serving others. We should all be ministers of Christ.

Sometimes we feel insignificant, like what we do or say doesn’t really make a difference. After all, as we look around we see many who are better looking, more talented, smarter, more articulate, and wiser than we are. What contribution can we make to society? How can we make a difference?

The answer is we make a difference by the way we live our lives. If a person models his/her life after Christ and Christian principals, that person can make a big difference in the lives of family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and society in general. Let’s look at a biblical example…

Jeremiah was a prophet of God to whom God foretold the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem. Judah was exhorted to repent of their evil ways, but refused. In Jeremiah 5:1 God tells him to “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city.” Unfortunately no such person could be found. One person could have prevented the destruction of a whole city.

The question we should ask ourselves is, “Would I be that one person?”

I’m not sure my actions could spare the destruction of a city, but I’m firmly convinced that what I do makes a difference. Here’s a little poem that illustrates that.

The Power of One

One song can spark a moment.
One flower can wake the dream.
One tree can start a forest.
One bird can herald spring.

One smile begins a friendship.
One handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea.
One word can frame the goal.

One vote can change a nation.
One sunbeam lights a room.
One candle wipes out darkness.
One laugh will conquer gloom.

One step must start each journey.
One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits.
One touch can show you care.

One voice can speak with wisdom.
One heart can know what’s true.
One life can make the difference.
You see, it’s up to YOU!
~Anonymous

I must admit I have a problem with phrases implying that it is our job to “bring or lead people to Christ.” It gives the impression that it is our responsibility to convert people. That is a very loose interpretation of scripture.

Spiritually speaking conversion means to turn to Christ. Does anyone really seek God on their own (Romans 3:11)? Or rather does God draw them to Him (John 6:44)? It is God who chooses us, not the other way around (John 15:16).

Could it be that God is not calling everyone to Him at this time? No one calls Jesus Lord unless the Holy Spirit leads them to do so (1 Corinthians 12:3). It is the Holy Spirit who does the bringing or leading, not us. If God is relying on us to save everyone, the world is doomed.

Fortunately we have a God who is perfectly capable of doing that with or without our help.  If that is the case just exactly what is our responsibility? Are we to do nothing?

Well, I guess if we don’t want to do anything we don’t have to. However, we may quench the very spirit that drew us to Christ to begin with (1 Thessalonians 5:19). I think God would rather us participate with Him in what He is doing in the lives of others. What are some ways we can do that? Here are a few suggestions…

• Use our gifts for the benefit of others
• Let our lights shine
• Share what God has done for us to those who ask (1 Peter 3:15)
• Serve and help
• Be hospitable
• Listen to others with our hearts
• Give God the glory
• Become a missionary if we are so inclined
• Do not look down on those who do not accept Christ
• Love people rather than try to “fix” them
• Don‘t just preach God’s word, live it
• The list is endless

In other words we live a Christian life and do “Christian stuff,” but it’s up to God in how he will use what we do for the benefit of others. God may allow us to plant some seeds, but He is the one who makes the seeds grow with His water and sunshine. It is He who brings or leads people to Christ, not us.

It really isn’t difficult to be a Christian if you don’t have to deal with people. But then what do we do with those pesky scriptures that ask us to love our neighbors (Mark 12:31), love our families (Ephesians 5:25), love one another (John 13:34,), and yea verily – even love our enemies (Matthew 5:43)? Christians should love God and love… um… let’s see… what’s the word I’m looking for? …Um …oh yes…. we should love people!

Unfortunately, some people aren’t all that lovable. I’m not referring to criminals and those who perform unspeakable atrocities. I’m talking about people we meet every day. Some relatively normal people can irritate and frustrate us to distraction.

Some people finish our sentences for us before we are done with our thoughts.

Some people are stick-in-the-muds and will never try anything new or different.

Some people are just angry at life and will take it out on us.

Some people will focus on the 1% flaw instead of the 99% good.

Some people feel their way is the only way to do something.

Some people feign listening to our point of view instead of trying to understand where we are coming from.

Some people think if they talk louder we will agree with them.

Some people can’t accept the fact that we understand their position from every angle and still don’t agree.

Some people set up their standard of righteousness for everyone.

Some people deliberately cut us off in traffic.

Some people gossip and say things that are untrue about us.

Some people think they know more than anyone else about a subject.

Some people value their own opinion over anyone else’s.

Some people poke their noses in our business and give us unwanted advice.

Some people are rude and thoughtless.

Some people take the credit while we do the work.

Some people condemn others for what they, themselves have been known to do.

Some people will make a joke at our expense.

Some people have no sense of humor at all.

Some people never apologize.

Some people never say, “Thank you!”

Some people pretend to be our friends, but talk behind our backs.

Some people will make us feel unvalued, unappreciated, and unwanted.

Some people are self centered.

The list could go on and on…

Guess what? God tells us to love these people anyway – not because they deserve to be loved, but because they need to be loved. Loving people doesn’t mean never getting irritated or frustrated with them. Loving people doesn’t mean always condoning what they do or agreeing with what they say. We can love the person but not necessarily their actions. That might take a lot of prayer and patience, but no one said being a Christian would be easy!

Having just celebrated the Fourth of July or Independence Day we realize we live in the land of the free. When our founding fathers declared independence from Britain they were free from Britain’s rule. However, they knew they weren’t free to just run rampant or they would be in a bigger mess than they were before their independence.

As a country built on freedom we know certain limitations need to be enforced for everyone’s benefit.  For example, we don’t want people to use their freedom to deliberately hurt others. We don’t want to give people the freedom to abuse others, commit murder, steal, or rape. We don’t want pedophiles touching our children. We don’t want public school teachers feeling free to teach every new age theory that comes along. We hate getting speeding tickets, but we sort of like having those speed limits, traffic lights, and stop signs. We trust ourselves not to misuse our freedom, but we aren’t so sure about the other guy!

Newfound freedom can be a heady experience. I often think of new college students. Some have not learned how to handle freedom by the time they move far away from home for the first time. Without mom and dad’s watchful eye they sometimes consume massive amounts of alcohol and focus on partying instead of education. They become prey to credit card companies eager to issue them new credit cards so they can charge, charge, charge their lives away! It takes a while for them to learn that they are only hurting themselves. The smart ones eventually decide to use their freedom wisely.

In Galatians five Paul speaks of a newfound freedom we have in Christ. He starts by admonishing the Galatians to “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free…” God no longer wants us to adhere to a long list of requirements to draw close to him. There is no need for circumcision or being slaves to ordinances, sacrifices, and rituals. Righteousness is no longer measured by a list of dos and don’ts. A list like that provided a certain comfort level because just following it made one feel assured of pleasing God. And one never had to think about what was right or wrong – just look at the list. That was the old covenant – a physical approach to a physical law.

The new covenant is a spiritual approach. We have access to God directly. There is no need to jump through hoops to get his attention. He walks with us and talks with us. However, even though Paul reminds us to stand fast in this newfound freedom and not be tempted to go back to our list of dos and don’ts, he cautions us to use it wisely – the way God intended. We are told not to pursue works of the flesh such as “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, murders, drunkenness, etc…” Rather we are encouraged to walk in the spirit of “joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” and so on.

So freedom in Christ does not give one license to do evil. Just like freedom in America does not give one license to harm others. If anything, it should fill us with a sense of responsibility to use our freedom for the good of everyone. We do good things because we want to, not because we have to. Therein lies the real difference. Therein lies the real freedom in Christ.