More on People vs Tasks

Thinking some more about my orientation as a leader - do I tend to be focused more on people, or on tasks, and what is the call of Christ related to my ministry focus? Close your eyes for a moment (after you read the rest of this sentence!) and consider your ministry; think about all its many aspects - what do you see? (Pause and reflect.) In your minds' eye, did you see primarily people or did you see projects, programs, initiatives, services, events, and to-do lists?

It's easy to quickly say, "well of course I saw people!" That's what ministry is, it's serving the people. Allow me to challenge you with a different set of questions: when you look at "your" ministry (the ministry that you feel called to and perhaps were hired to do) do you see the people in your ministry area primarily as recipients or as participants? Are those people spectators or servants? How about the folks who volunteer in your ministry area - do you view them as helpers or as partners? Are they "just" volunteers, or are they ministers, commissioned in baptism and part of the Priesthood of Believers?

These are important questions and vital distinctions. In many staff-driven congregations, the people either primarily spectate while the busy staff carries out the work of the ministry; and/or a good number of people volunteer but wind up functioning mainly as "worker-bees," essentially "helpers" for the busy staff who lead the charge and assign roles and tasks. In this scenario, the ultimate goal often becomes developing and growing the church. Metrics and numbers form the scorecard. We know we're successful when we've got lots of programs and events going on constantly. The problem is, if the end goal is to grow and develop the church, then people become the means toward that end. People become tools, resources that are used to grow the church.

Imagine the converse - flip that scenario on its head: what if the end goal is to grow and develop God's people, and the church becomes the means toward that end? In this case, the church and its resources become the tool that is used to grow the folks. You may read this scenario and say, "well of course, that's the Great Commission - to make disciples!" But if we're really honest with ourselves, I think in many North American churches the tables get turned. Somewhere along the way, we've lost our way and our wonderful events, programs and opportunities become the objective and the people wind up getting used and spent in the process. Take a look at your congregation or the ministry you serve. Ask yourself, what is our scorecard? How do we measure success? When you survey the people in your fellowship, are they growing in their walk with Christ? Are they going on to maturity? What percentage of people are actively engaged in gifts-based ministry? What percentage of people in your fellowship are in leadership roles and have a true investment, ownership, and responsibility in ministries to which they feel called? If the honest answer is "not many" or "not enough" then your emphasis is more on the church and people are simply cogs in the machinery.

Never underestimate the Holy Spirit-given power and the potential in the pews! As one among the Company of the Committed, take a look at your scorecard today. What subtle shifts can you begin taking today to bring the focus back around to people over process? As you do that, you will in fact become more faithful to Christ's Commission to disciple-making.

True Commitment

Thinking about commitment this week with regards to ministry and leadership. I could be flippant and joke about our potential need to "be committed" institutionally, and some days it feels that way when the craziness of life weighs heavily upon us. But seriously, what does it mean to be committed?

Those of us in leadership in ministry must guard against what commitment is not. Commitment is not giving yourself to the work of the ministry. That pronouncement may puzzle you at first glance, but this statement reflects a critical truth - your life depends on it. God's call on your life is not to the work of the ministry; God's call is to commit yourself to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Period. For many well intentioned leaders, we initially devote ourselves wholeheartedly to Christ, receiving his life and abiding in him - taking our place "in Him" as so many scriptures testify. But somewhere along the line, we fall into the subtle idolatrous trap of devoting ourselves wholeheartedly to the work of the ministry. Slaving 24/7 to this brutal task master, we drift and lose our way. Soon we aren't "living, moving, and having our being" in the Living One; instead we toil in our own strength and limited resources - dry, famished and fatigued because we're too busy working to come to the One whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light.

As the Apostle Paul reflected on his ministry and service to God’s people, he made a profound assertion. Paul’s declaration forms the foundation for authentic Christian leadership. Without tapping into this essential truth, it is impossible to embody the kind of leadership that honors God and truly blesses God's people. Paul writes, “To this end [pursuing the call] I labor, struggling with all his [Christ’s] energy, which so powerfully works in me” (Col. 1:29). Paul labored and struggled in ministry, not in his own strength and limited resources, but with all of Christ’s energy, powerfully at work in him. Christ promised, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you” (Acts 1:8). The Greek word translated power, is dynamin, as in dynamite! Believers receive spiritual dynamite when they receive the Holy Spirit. In that defining moment, one’s life pursuit becomes Christ crucified, and the joy-filled desire to share that sacrificial love with the whole world. Christ’s energy, His life-giving, Resurrection power, is at work in you! Have you fully surrendered and yielded to it? Have you fully availed yourself to it? As you do, it will no longer be you who serves, but it will be Christ who serves His people through you. Paradoxically, then and only then, will you become a spiritual leader.

As one among the Company of the Committed, make sure you remain true to your first Love, and flee the temptation to be committed to anything or anyone other than Jesus the Messiah.