Previous Post – An Invitation To Presence
In my last post in this series, I ended with some quick thoughts on leadership:
The primary goal of leaders in this process is free people. In other words, through identifying their gifts and strengths, give them the freedom (even require it of them) to step out as individuals and smaller groups. Facilitate and mobilize, but do not overly organize and dictate. Informal (and non-formal) groups of people can have surprising impact where programmed, affiliated groups often do not.
This push back against traditional conceptions of leadership is easier said than done. It is too easy for some to blame controlling leadership for this (and they/we bear a fair share of the responsibility for it), when it truth, it is often the wider community who hold the expectation for such model. Even when people strongly articulate a mutual community responsibility, in practice we all too often default back into the same patterns. So what can leaders do- and I affirm that we need leaders- to help create a faith community of genuine members who will go on to participate in the transformation of their neighbourhoods?
Ultimately, we want ever person in our faith community to be convinced that they are equally responsible for the quality of community life and participation in mission. And yes, even equally responsible as the pastor, whether she/he is paid or not. This means people who are demonstratively committed to the community and the mission. Sadly, the word “demonstratively” is necessary, as most people would say they are committed to their church, but that doesn’t always translate into necessary action and sacrifice.
We all have really good excuses why we can’t be more active in the church- family, work, school, etc. We will often do our best to compensate through giving tithes or volunteering occasionally- both good things in and of themselves. However, both tithing and volunteerism are inadequate as primary means of participating in community and mission. Giving money to missions or charities, while necessary, can become something of evangelical indulgences. And Christ needs disciples, not volunteers. We cannot delegate our responsibilities of being members of Christ’s Body.
Therefore, a key role for church leadership is to help people become these kinds of members together. This will inevitably require refusal to enable (or worse, encourage) the kinds of half-measures mentioned above. The culture of consumerism- so deeply linked to the culture of fear- has “discipled” us into the bondage of entitlement. Notice how often we frame participation in God’s mission as “exciting opportunity” (which it is), when in truth it should be seen as base-line responsibility? Incentive-based motivation might get action, but it breeds an entitlement where people believe they deserve it. Guilt and coercion can also be “effective”, but also produces fruit according to its nature.
So how, then, can we disciple people into this higher level of commitment, to help them become true members of a true community- one which will transform their neighbourhood for the kingdom of God?
I will explore this in the next part of the series, looking for part of the answer in developing a true sense of place.
You said above, “Giving money to missions or charities, while necessary, can become something of evangelical indulgences. And Christ needs disciples, not volunteers. We cannot delegate our responsibilities of being members of Christ’s Body.”
Wow!
So just a thought on this from my week … I think there are a couple of other issues that drive people away from this level of commitment.
1. Natural barriers between worldview groups make it difficult to bridge these social and economic gaps without deep suspicion on both sides.
2. The romanticisation of the invitation leads to false expectations, which, when unrealised lead rapidly to frustration. This can come from leaders and charitable organisations/individuals, but it can also come from reading the gospels at times, as Jesus’ encounters are so dramatic, and produce such instantaneous results, that we who are a culture of instant gratification assume we should see ourselves.
3. Without proper preparation, we do not all instinctively possess the ability to appropriately, God-honouringly, know how to interact with those whose brokenness makes it difficult for them to give back even the smallest token in relationship. This can lead rapidly to burn-out. I am still trying to work out the way forward on this one, but early indications suggest communal care for the broken is key – we cannot be lone-rangers! (But Jamie, I know you know this one all too well, and probably have much more you can add …)
Thanks for such profound thoughts!
Thanks Heater. You makes some good points. One of the best ways- an essential way- to break down these worldview barriers is presence. Jesus not only came fully as a man into our world, He spent a good 30 years learning and participating in the context in order to meaningfully engage it for His kingdom. In that sense, Jesus’s impact wasn’t instantaneous at all. Jesus also had to divest Himself of privilege & power (Philippians 2:5-8). How can we expect to do any less?
Discipleship (”preparation”) is essential, but I would suggest that rather than let that brokenness hold us back, we should be formed in the task of mission. The world does not need to see a church that has it all together, but rather genuine communities of people who do their best, and when they screw up, are humble enough to repent of it and gracious enough to forgive one another. That would be a witness people would respect and response to, I would think.
Again, a lot of this works itself when we engage meaningfully and intentionally in the place God has called us. That will be the next post in the series. Thanks!
Thanks for this post Jamie.
Selling the church as an exciting place to serve was my ‘go-to’ move as a youth pastor a few years ago.
The reality is that the church is a difficult place to be involved in sometimes. Sometimes life sucks. When the rubber hits this road, many people who were looking for the exciting opportunity then bail for the next exciting opportunity because exciting opportunities aren’t supposed to suck. It is hard for a community to overcome this when people bail when things get rocky. This has been my experience anyway. What does that say about how people view Jesus? I’m not sure Jesus was selling discipleship as an exciting opportunity. Walking with Jesus carried way more depth than that.
The difference between ‘volunteering’ and ‘discipleship’ feels like a small nuance but is soooooo significant and has pretty scarey implications.
Thanks again Jamie.
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Thanks Chris. Sadly, we feed into the entitlement mentality of people when we convince them to serve through excitement, etc. It simply reinforces that we choose good things because they excite us, serve us, etc. This kind of thinking contributes not only the problem you mentioned with respect to ministry, but translates into fidelity in marriage, community, etc. The implications are truly huge.