Monthly Archives: May 2009

One thing that amazes me as I examine the church today is how so  many people in dying churches refuse to see what is happening to them. I was out visiting a church member last night who had not been attending in the time I have been here.  As it turned out she was a third generation member of the church ut had left to attend a churchwith a young pastor and a more modern service.  In the conversation it was apparent that some of the older ones in the family had tried to convince her to come back home by talking up our church.  What I also sensed was that this was a futile conversation. She was genuinely happy where she was attending. 

Her story is similar to many of the people who have left this church. The question therefore should not be what can we do to get that person back but what are we dropping the ball on that is causing people to not be fulfilled.  When you go to your favorite resturant and you never get served eventually you will stop going.   SO waht are we not providing? Many in the church sit around whining about it and saying they don’t understand the fact of the matter is though that the answer usually is not so secret it is a unwillingness to own up to our own shortcomings. Or it is a stubborness to realize the need and time to change.

In Matthew 7:22, Jesus declares that many people who seem to be doing the work of the Lord will stand before Him on judgement day and be told that their efforts were meaningless because they were not known by Him.

I find this passage very meaningful not only for those trying to play the game hoping it gets them to heaven but for those of us doing ministry for impure reasons.

We live in a world where the bigger your ministry is the better you look. With fast growth comes speaking engagements with large churches comes recognition. But what is our motivation for growth. Is it our own self esteem that needs boosting or  is it to be found that all that we have gone through has been worth it. Maybe it is because we seek the perceived riches and lifestyle that go along with the stature of a big time player in the ministry.

Why are you doing ministry? If it isn’t in the response to the grace you have been given and with the desire to further the Kingdom then it may be time to re-examine.