Not The Time

Not the Time:

Growing up my Dad made a little green and orange ceramic alligator with this written on the bottom, “When you’re up to your neck in alligators, it’s easy to forget that the initial objective was to drain the swamp.”

When it comes to being fiscally, or physically, prepared very few of us are. I recently read an article that stated “55 percent (of Americans) say they break even or spend more than they make each month, and a third have no savings.” Elsewhere I read, “More than one-third (34.9% or 78.6 million) of U.S. adults are obese.”

The dilapidated condition of our spiritual health, investments, preparedness, and participation in actual ministry is far more abborahant.

Since the calling of His first disciples Jesus’ followers have always been overly fascinated with how, what, and when. In chapter 21 of Luke’s gospel we read, “Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God… ‘Teacher,’ they asked, ‘when will these things happen? And what will be the sign they are about to take place?’”

Jesus instructs us that how, what, and when are insignificant in light of why.

In 21:8 Jesus’ response to our unhealthy fascinations begins with, “Watch out that you are not deceived…”

False prophets have come, gone, and will come again. To this Jesus says, “Do not be deceived.” Fascination with new prophecy, miracles, and teachings is the undoing of those obsessed with knowledge, power, and self. Those cravings and fascinations reveal the depravity of our hearts. When we are truly in Christ “our sufficiency is of God” (2 Cor 3:5) because as Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1:3, “his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence.”

Wars, uprisings, natural disasters, and plagues have come, gone, and will come again. To this Jesus says, “Do not be frightened.” Fear can readily consume us and take our focus off the mission of God. Proverbs 21:30 reassures us, “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.”

Then in Luke 21:12-14 Jesus instructs His disciples, “But before any of this happens, they’ll arrest you, hunt you down, and drag you to court and jail. It will go from bad to worse, dog-eat-dog, everyone at your throat because you carry my name. You’ll end up on the witness stand, called to testify. Make up your mind right now not to worry about it…”

When, not if, things go sideways in life, and stuff hits the proverbial fan, Jesus’ disciples are to have been thoroughly prepared in advance through rigorous training so that our steadfastness - not deliverance - will testify to the sovereignty of God. The time for preparation is not in the midst of disaster.

Jesus’ brother James wrote about that very thing in stating, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,a whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let steadfastness finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Churches today seem fascinated with dynamic preaching, programs, and projects, but very few seem to take the ministry of equipping and preparation of the saints seriously.

Ephesians 4 tells us that the reason why Christ gave the church missionaries, evangelists, preachers, and pastor-teachers is “to equip the saints for the work of ministry.” It’s not to increase attendance, not to build a bigger facility, not to entertain, but “to equip the saints for the work of ministry.”

Since most people spend 167 of their 168 hours of each week (99% of their time) outside the walls of the church it’s safe to say that the vast majority of a church’s impact and influence (i.e. ministry) rightfully happens out there. Is that what church budgets reflect? Are the vast majority of our resources going to the 1% of time spent inside the walls or the 99% of time spent outside the walls?

Many churches struggle to get more than 5% of their congregation to participate in ministry/service of any capacity - and they merely accept it. It’s as if church leaders have conceded “Well, as long as we have greeters, baby sitters, donuts, coffee, and an entertaining sermon - and people keep giving. I guess that’s all we can hope for.”

Keeping the lights on for the sake of production is not the ministry Christ call His Bride to engage in. He gave His Bride missionaries, evangelists, preachers, and pastor-teachers “to equip the saints for the work of ministry.”

Is that the emphasis of your church? Is every member - from the Senior Pastor, Elders, staff, and interns to volunteers - keenly aware of, and involved in, the ministry of being equipping the saints for ministry? Or is your church one that simply caters to a predominantly superficial Christian crowd for 1 hour a week? Is your church fearful that if we really challenge people too much outside of their comfort zone, if we actually taught the Word too convincingly, if we literally rebuke and correct, and sincerely train people up in righteousness - then we might just lose our financial backers, our project benefactors, and jettison our security and retirement.

When the emphasis shifts from equipping the saints to entertaining the crowd, churches take gradual, subtle, and fatal steps down the road of accommodation.

One obvious symptom is that there are fewer and fewer volunteers and more staff. This frequently happens because staff are easier to control and manipulate through wages and organizational structures while volunteers simply stop participating.

When the people of God aren’t being equipped, not given opportunities to serve the Body of Christ, and aren’t being mobilized for the work of ministry, then their spiritual vigor is depleted. There will always be a newer facility with more modern equipment and more attractive lures. But when we are committed to the mission of God and the ministry of serving and equipping His saints for ministry - there can never be a more faithful, committed, obedient, or holy church.

There are countless things in and of the world to steal away our attention. Is your church imploring, compelling, and inspiring people to become equipped for the work of ministry? Is your church actively equipping and preparing you for the trials of life, so that your steadfastness in the midst of turmoil and tragedy will serve as the testimony of Christ’s grace and goodness? Or are the church leaders more concerned with how much people give, what the buildings are decorated with, and when things will transpire?

Maybe a good personal litmus test regarding your preparedness and participation in the Body of Christ is to ask yourself, “If I didn’t show up this Sunday, would anybody notice?” If you’re merely consuming, critiquing, and complaining, but never doing anything to serve/minister to others - the answer is probably no.

In the midst of turmoil and tragedy it’s easy to forget your purpose and testimony. That’s not the time for equipping, but rather the time for steadfastness in Christ.

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com