Christian Ministry In Crisis Mode?
"Christian Ministry always runs in Crisis Mode."That was a statement made to me a few days ago. And I'm still thinking about it. Here's the context. One of CEF's workers is finding the fall to be exceedingly hectic and stressful, with the fair ministry and starting up Good News Clubs. She commented to someone that she was afraid that she must be "doing something wrong", because it shouldn't be this stressful. And the reply she got was "No, you're not doing anything wrong. Christian ministry always runs in Crisis Mode."
Which I thought was an interesting statement, but I'm not sure I agree with it...so I thought I'd post it here, and let others comment on it.
On the one hand, I suppose you could argue that Christian Ministry exists because our world is in crisis, with billions of people who are starving - both physically and spiritually. As Michael Card writes in his song "So Many Books"...
There is a hunger, a longing for bread
And so comes the call for the poor to be fed
More hungry by far are a billion and more
Who wait for the Bread of the Word of the Lord
So many books, so little time, so many hunger, so many blind
Starving for words, they must wait in the night
To open a Bible and move towards the Light
There'll come a time, the prophets would say
When the joy of mankind will be withered away
A want not for water, but a hunger for more
A famine for hearing the Word of the Lord
I especially love that last line: "a famine for hearing the Word of the Lord"*. So if we live in a world of famine and crisis, does that mean that our ministry is in crisis?
On the other hand, I can't help but think of a verse in Matthew 11...maybe it's not related, or maybe it is?
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
That doesn't really sound to me like ministry in crisis. It sounds like rest and peace and a burden which can be borne.
So...thoughts? Ideas? Comments? Theories? Post me a reply!
*The "famine for hearing the Word of the Lord" line comes from the book of Amos.
Amos 8:11
"The days are coming," declares the Sovereign LORD, "when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD."
Posted On Sep 14, 2005 at 4:00 AM
On Sep 14, 2005 Mr. T. wrote: OK - I'll stick my neck out here! I hope no one chops it off!
In my opinion, the church has become too "program-oriented". In the American church, we tend to run programs for every reason we can imagine - youth programs, singles programs, couples programs, divorced group, quilting group, etc.
Please note - I am NOT saying any one of these is wrong. However, it makes me wonder WHY we run so many programs, and the answer that occurs to me is that the American church is basically lazy - we tend to not want to get out of our comfort zone. As such, there are compartively few people who are willing to really try to make a difference. As a result, I think the programs have been created, because they provide a way for the few workers that are available to reach a larger number of people.
So - Ministries always run in Crisis Mode? Yes, I think it tends to simply because we always have a FEW people attempting to do the job that should be done by MANY.
I think if we in the church were to get out of our comfort areas, and really commit ourselves to doing the work God has placed in front of us, it would completely change the culture of the church. Rather than having 10% of the people trying to do 90% of the work, we would each take our fair share of responsibility, and share the work with one another. This itself would move us out of "Crisis Mode".
I think it would also revolutionize the way the church operates - no longer would we need to run programs for every possible group of people, because we ALL would be reaching out to other people.
OK - that's enough for now - I'll wait for the rotten tomatoes to start flying my way. . .
Doug Replied: I will give you neither guillotine nor rotten tomatoes. Nor will I send any ripe tomatoes your way either.
Although...you didn't answer my question...exactly...
My question: Does Christian Ministry run in Crisis Mode?
Your answer: Ministries always run in Crisis Mode? Yes.
I was thinking more in lines of ministry in the context you were talking, while you answered in terms of "programs". Your answer is probably more in line with what was actually being discussed than my question. I suppose it's because we see "ministry" differently than most people...program is not ministry, though most people see it that way. I direct the youth group at SPBC, and that is a "program". The program is not the ministry, but ministry should be happening within the context of that program.
We also have an advantage in that we are mostly volunteer laborers, which means we can do what we believe God wants us to do without having to fight (too much) the expectations of others. When you put people in paid positions, however, things get a lot stickier, because all of a sudden you may be fighting a set of expectations which have nothing to do with what God wants you to do. That, I suppose, makes the Crisis Mode even more of a problem...
On Sep 14, 2005 WOW wrote: Our candidate on Sunday stated that it is easier for most of us to "do" stuff rather than develop relationships. (Not an exact quote.) I agree with him for myself. I suspect it is true for others.
I think we also get "stressed" because we forget whose work it is. We think the results depend on us, and really all we can do is do what God puts in front of us for the day and leave the results to Him.
I'll share some of the tomatoes, Mr. T.
And I agree, no one is looking over my shoulder (except God) to see if I do it right. I'm sure that would raise my stress level.
On Sep 14, 2005 Laura wrote: Gee, everyone has had very interesting input to this question/idea. I really haven't had a lot of experience in Christian ministries, except for Awana, and my first year was very stressful at times, because, like others I'm sure, I was searching for "results" and depending too much on myself. I certainly have a ton of learning to do in the area of ministry and ministering, but I agree with Mr. T, that it should be a part of every Christian's life, not just of those who have been "called," because all Christians have been called to minister to others.
On the one hand, I know that God has promised us peace that comes from Him, and so we can't receive that peace by relying on ourselves for results, or focusing on impressing others. I know I have a lot of problems with not putting myself in the "right mindset," and panicking (sp?) when things start getting stressful, so I would agree that the circumstances we minister in are always in crisis mode, because being apart from God is a huge crisis. On the other hand, I would say that we as ministers do not have to be in what humans would refer to as "crisis mode" all the time, because God has given us peace. I guess I'm just still learning how to accept that peace.
Doug Replied: Quote:
| I guess I'm just still learning how to accept that peace. |
For me I think it has a lot to do with understanding what I can and cannot do. For example, we have some teens in our youth group who are going through some really tough times. I grieve for them, and I want to help them...humanly, I guess I want to "fix" it for them. But I know that I can't. Learning to understand what I can do, and what only God can do gives some measure of peace. Not that it hurts any less (me or them) but in the midst of the hurt, the feeling of crisis is not so pronounced, because that which is too big for me is not my crisis, but God's.
On Sep 14, 2005 Doug wrote: ha ha..."God's Crisis"...is that some sort of oxymoron?
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