To What Purpose Shall We Serve?

It would seem that we who serve the Church have as many ideas about our calling as the number of those who believe themselves called.

Small wonder, then, that the Body of Christ seems more disjointed and lethargic in some parts of the world.

If the example of Jesus can teach us anything, it is that those who lead must also serve. I interpret leadership and service to be not two distinct activities but one.

Authority to lead is granted by God and affirmed by the consent of those led according to the degree of service given by the leader. At least that is my understanding.

What seems to plague church leadership these days is confusion about who we are serving and how they are to be served.

I contend that, given the gospel witness, that Jesus was primarily invested in leading and serving those who would lead and serve folk in the forefront of missional engagement. Had he spent the majority of his time providing direct service, what would be the motivation for others to take up a similar cross daily?

Church leaders may need to re-examine their constituency. As a middle judicatory minister, I am clear that the people I need most to serve are congregational leaders and pastors who are committed to serving those in their congregations who are directly serving in Jesus' name.

As for how we serve, true leaders cannot and should not spend most of their time placating the unreasonable expectations of their constituency. There was a wise pastor who fielded this complaint from a pillar of the local community; "Pastor that sermon did not feed me at all." To which the pastor replied, "John, you are 54 years old and a lifelong Christian. Isn't it about time you got up out of your high chair and begin feeding yourself?"

On the other hand, true leaders cannot simply pick and choose to serve in ways most comfortable and convenient to them. We have all heard at least one church leader express the sincere wish that ". . . no more crises arise before I retire in four years." (Is it possible to lead folk into deeper transformation without creating some controversy?)

As more church bodies turn their attention to missions in the local and global community it does not take long to discover a need for clearer common focus, for closer cooperation, for more substantial commitment. Outcomes, after all, trump promises when competing with a pagan culture for new disciples of Christ. And, to quote author and consultant Brian Klemmer, "Christians ought to be the most accountable people on the planet."

To whom are you most accountable? What dynamics best shape your own ways of serving?

Toward a more whole Body of Christ,
Bill