God's Gifting and Call

"For the Kingdom of God does not consist in talk, but in power."

1 Corinthians 4:20

Why doesn't God allow all of us to have the same gifts and abilities?  It is not fair that some folks have such greater gifts than I do.

Even as I write these two sentences, I must confess I find them ludicrous.  Why does God gift each of us in different ways?   I have no idea.  I do know that He calls us all to be the body of Christ.  A body without different parts will not work right.  Instead, health means that all the parts of the body are present and working to help the rest of the body.

What does this mean for the ministry?

Having walked with believers and ministry workers for many years, I believe that most of us secretly wish we had different gifts.  We wish we could be like someone we look up to in ministry.  We are painfully aware of our shortcomings.

Deep within we believe that life and ministry would be different if we were just different.

In answer to this natural, fallen human tendency, Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12 that we should not wish we had other gifts than the ones we do (gift envy), and he instructs us not to look down on those with different gifts (gift projection).

As I grow older, I am more and more convinced that there is a place for every type of person in the Kingdom of God.

In fact, I believe there is a place and ministry for every type of person.  

The key to success is matching our gifts, calling, experience, and talents with the ministry to which we are called.  To put this positively, when God gives the call to a specific ministry, He also gifts us for the task.

What does this mean for us?

When we are looking at a ministry opportunity, we must know who we are in Christ, and we need to understand what the ministry needs to succeed.  This requires wisdom and a bit of knowledge.  Today I want to offer some of Paul's wisdom regarding how God gives to His church spiritually gifted people just like you.

How do we know which God-given ministry we are called to?  

I sure wish the process was easy and quick.  Instead, I find that answering this question requires wisdom and grace.  It helps to have some guides along the way so we don't get discouraged.  Let me share a brief story to illustrate.  

I had a good friend in seminary who came to school from North Carolina with his wife who was studying to be a psychologist.  He had loved his pastor in college and he wanted to be like him.  He wanted so much to be a pastor who could impact people's lives like he had witnessed.

He began in the M.Div. program, which is a degree to train for ordained ministry.  After a year, he was miserable.  His grades were very good, because he was bright.  Yet, he had no peace and joy in the work.  Before coming to seminary, he was an accountant.  After months of forcing himself to study theology, Greek, and such, he found himself nightly in the library studying tax law.  He found it fascinating (I cannot even imagine).  Finally, he called his old firm and asked if they had a position in Boston.  He shared that he needed to get back to work in something he loved.  That was a Thursday afternoon.  On Friday he had an interview.  On Monday, he began to work at the Boston office of his accounting firm for $80,000 a year (remember this was the mid 1990s).

What can we learn from this?  

First, it pays to be an accountant.  Second, he was trying to force his way into a life and ministry to which he was not called and gifted.  The result was misery and a lack of success.  When he finally came to his senses, the Lord opened other doors and blessed his work.  In fact, he later applied for law school, did extremely well, passed the bar, and became a tax lawyer.  Last I heard, he was also working toward a political career.

If you are not good at understanding yourself (and most of us aren't good at such self-knowledge), I encourage you to find a trusted friend, pastor, or counselor to help you gain some self-understanding.  I also recommend that you take some personality tests and that you take some tests to help you discover your spiritual gifts.  While these tools are not fool-proof, they can be helpful tools in the hands of a wise counselor to help us gain self-knowledge.

Most importantly, get out in a variety of ministries and environments to see what brings you life, joy, and success.  Try everything.  If you fail at something, do not get down, but learn from it.  Ask some questions and ask a friend or counselor to help you answer these questions.

Why did you fail?  What happened?  If you find that you are good at something, but still not empowered and full of joy while doing it, ask why?  Perhaps the gifting is present, but the direction of this ministry was not quite correct.

Most importantly, try a variety of ministries and areas of labor.

At all times remember that God is one who has given you a desire to serve Him.  He will never forsake you and He loves you dearly.  If you are in a tough spot now, this does not change God's love for you.  If you have failed miserably in a certain ministry, this does not change God's love for you.  He even uses our failure.  In fact, He seems particularly good at using our failures to give us wisdom and direction if we have the heart and faith to ask for wisdom with what happened.

Rest in the reality that God is the one who prepares us for life and ministry.  His Spirit leads us to fruitful fields of labor.  We should strive to discover where and how God is leading us while at the same time be encouraging and acknowledging that others are called to different tasks.  

May the Lord lead us and guide us to use our gifts and personality to pursue His calling for us.

Gifting and Power for Ministry

"For the Kingdom of God does not consist in talk, but in power."

1 Corinthians 4:20

Have you ever felt this way?  Have you ever asked these questions?

Why am I not as gifted as ....?  Why can't I do .... when others can?  Why does God not give me the right gifts to do ministry?

Even as I write these sentences, I find them sad and short-sighted.  Yet, I know I often feel them and I often hear them expressed by others in life and ministry.

Why does God gift each of us in different ways?   I have no idea.  I do know that He calls us all to be the body of Christ.  A body without different parts just will not work right.  Instead, health means that all the parts of the body are present and working to help the rest of the body.

What does this mean for the ministry?

Having walked with believers and ministry workers for decades, I believe that most of us secretly wish we had different gifts.  We wish we could be like someone we look up to in ministry.  We are painfully aware of our shortcomings.  Deep within we believe that life and ministry would be different if we were just different.

In answer to this natural, fallen human tendency, Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12 that we should not wish we had other gifts than the ones we do (gift envy), and he instructs us not to look down on those with different gifts (gift projection).

As I grow older, I am more and more convinced that there is a place for every type of person in the Kingdom of God.  In fact, I believe there is a place and ministry for every type of person.  The key to success is matching our gifts, calling, experience, and talents with the ministry to which we are called.

To put this positively, when God gives the call to a specific ministry, He also gifts us for the task.

What does this mean for us?  When we are looking at a ministry opportunity, we must know who we are in Christ and we need to understand what the ministry needs to succeed.  This requires wisdom and a bit of knowledge.  Today I want to offer some of Paul's wisdom regarding how God gives to His church spiritually gifted people just like you!

As Paul describes,

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

1 Cor. 12: 4-7

Notice the phrase in the middle of these verses, "There are varieties of service and activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all."  In 1 Corinthians 12-14, Paul writes to a church where jealousy, envy, and ignorance have brought about division within the body.  It appears that this church has a variety of gifted folks.  In fact, Paul describes more and different types of gifts in writing the Corinthian church than he mentions in writing to any other church in the NT.

The problem is that this church wants to see some gifts and callings as greater than others.  From the context, we can see Paul argues such thinking is ridiculous!  Everyone and every gifting/skill set is needed!  All the different types of gifts are needed in ministry, and in the varieties of service in which we find ourselves.  The key is to serve where we are gifted and called while also affirming and encouraging others to service in different areas according to their gifting and calling.

So how do we know who God has made us to be?

Here is where wisdom is needed.  Unfortunately, it is a wisdom that often takes experience to discern.  I find that most of us learn this wisdom by getting into a ministry area to which we do not fit.  Let me share a brief story to illustrate.  

I had a good friend in seminary who came to school from North Carolina with his wife who was studying to be a psychologist.  He had loved his pastor in college and he wanted to be like him.  He wanted so much to be a pastor who could impact people's lives like he had witnessed.

He began in the M.Div. program, which is a degree to train for ordained ministry.  After a year, he was miserable!  His grades were very good, because he was bright.  Yet, he had no peace and joy in the work.  Before coming to seminary, he was an accountant.  After months of forcing himself to study theology, Greek, and such, he found himself nightly in the library studying tax law.  He found it fascinating (I cannot even imagine!).  Finally, he called his old firm and asked if they had a position in Boston.  He shared that he needed to get back to work in something he loved.  That was a Thursday afternoon.  The next Monday, he began to work at the Boston office of his accounting firm for $80,000 a year (remember this was the mid 1990s)!

What can we learn from this?  First, it pays to be an accountant!  Second, he was trying to force his way into a life and ministry to which he was not called and gifted.  The result was misery and a lack of success.  When he finally came to his senses, the Lord opened other doors and blessed his work.  In fact, he later applied for law school, did extremely well, passed the bar, and became a tax lawyer.  Last I heard, he was also working toward a political career.

If you are not good at understanding yourself (and most of us aren't good at such self-knowledge), I encourage you to find a trusted friend, pastor, or counselor to help you gain some self-understanding.  I also recommend that you take some personality tests and that you take some tests to help you discover your spiritual gifts.  While these tools are not fool-proof, they can be helpful tools in the hands of a wise counselor to help us gain self-knowledge.

Most importantly, get out in a variety of ministries and environments to see what brings you life, joy, and success.  Try everything!  If you fail at something, do not get down, but learn from it.  Why did you fail?  What happened?  If you find that you are good at something, but still not empowered and full of joy while doing it, ask why?  Perhaps the gifting is present, but the direction of this ministry was not quite correct.  Most importantly, try a variety of ministries and areas of labor!

At all times remember that God is one who has given you a desire to serve Him.  He will never forsake you and He loves you dearly!  If you are in a tough spot now, this does not change God's love for you.  If you have failed miserably in a certain ministry, this does not change God's love for you.  He even uses our failure.  In fact, He seems particularly good at using our failures to give us wisdom and direction if we have the heart and faith to ask for wisdom with what happened!

Rest in the reality that God is the one who prepares us for life and ministry.  His Spirit leads us to fruitful fields of labor.  We should strive to discover where and how God is leading us while at the same time be encouraging and acknowledging that others are called to different tasks.  

May the Lord lead us and guide us to use our gifts and personality to pursue His calling for us!

Gifting, Church Growth, and the Body of Christ

"What's your role as pastor in this?  An indispensable element, or insignificant as God works with or without you?

Stuart: You have to understand that gifting is all about the Giver, not the receptor.  And so if I am gifted, which I am, there's no reason for me to get any grandiose ideas about it; I'm simply the receptor of what God has sovereignly given me.  This says nothing about me; it says much about him.

At the same time, there are gifts of wisdom and insight scattered throughout the whole church and you need to reckon with those as well.

So the pastor does have a significant role.  It would be ludicrous to suggest otherwise.  I am gifted and called to this.  But everyone else in the church is also gifted and called to their role.  My role key, but it's only one the necessary parts of the whole.  THe pastor must also be encouraging, discerning, developing the giftedness of all the people around him.

"In This Together: an interview with Stuart and Jill Briscoe," Leadership Spring 2001, 66.

Amen to this!

It has taken me decades to learn and embrace both sides of the equation that Stuart Briscoe describes.  Surprisingly, I think the first part has been the hardest to understand.

I am gifted because of the grace of God.  This should not be denied.  His gifting reveals His grace, mercy and love.  It also reveals His intensity, His stubbornness concerning His Kingdom, His strength.

For years, I was told that the first set was the only role of the pastor.  "Be the loving, merciful, loving pastor."  I was told by many that my intensity, my single-minded stubbornness for the Kingdom, my strength were weaknesses that must be improved before I could be used by God.  For years, I believed this lie!

God does not make mistakes when He gifts us.  He forms our basic personality.  He sovereignly works through the good and the bad to make us who we are today.  God uses it all!

Our response should be repentant faith.  We repent of our arrogance, which includes taking ourselves too seriously.  We repent of our sin and our unbelief.  Then we believe the promises of scripture.  God loves us!  He promises to "make all things work for the good of those who are called according to His purposes."

In other words, we believe and move out in faith to use our gifts to build His kingdom.  This part of the equation has always made sense to me.  I find it often does not make sense to many people.  We grow deeper as we use whatever we have to honor and glorify God through our life and our witness.  If you are not growing, awake from your sleep and use your gifts to reveal the beauty of the giver of gifts!

God uses all kinds of people: the shy and the bold; the strong and the weak; the talented and those without great talents.  He made you because He wants to use you to reveal His great creativity, variety, love, and mercy.  We are His hands and feet.

Such truth should humble us and empower us for ministry.  He does not make junk!  You are a great treasure and He can reveal Himself through us.  Repent of your unbelief and walk in faith as you move out in life and ministry.

God's Gifting for Service in the Kingdom

Today is my 400th post!  Yea.  This round number represents much time and thought in front of my computer.  I think it also represents thought on about 3 different books that I will write by God's grace over the next few years.  Only by His grace will this be possible.

I have been teaching at First about the topic of spiritual gifts.  How do we discover them?  How do they interact with our personalities and experience?  What do they mean for building the Kingdom of God and service within the Church?

Today I will make number 400 a repost of my thoughts concerning spiritual gifts that I wrote in August.  I was going to write something new on the topic, but I looked at what I already wrote and found I agree with everything I said almost seven months ago.  Thus, no need to re-invent the wheel.

"For the Kingdom of God does not consist in talk, but in power."

1 Corinthians 4:20

Why doesn't God allow all of us to have the same gifts and abilities?  It is not fair that some folks have such greater gifts than I do.

Even as I write these two sentences, I must confess I find them ludicrous.  Why does God gift each of us in different ways?   I have no idea.  I do know that He calls us all to be the body of Christ.  A body without different parts just will not work right.  Instead, health means that all the parts of the body are present and working to help the rest of the body.

What does this mean for the ministry?  Having walked with believers and ministry workers for many years, I believe that most of us secretly wish we had different gifts.  We wish we could be like someone we look up to in ministry.  We are painfully aware of our shortcomings.  Deep within we believe that life and ministry would be different if we were just different.

In answer to this natural, fallen human tendency, Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12 that we should not wish we had other gifts than the ones we do (gift envy), and he instructs us not to look down on those with different gifts (gift projection).

As I grow older, I am more and more convinced that there is a place for every type of person in the Kingdom of God.  In fact, I believe there is a place and ministry for every type of person.  The key to success is matching our gifts, calling, experience, and talents with the ministry to which we are called.  To put this positively, when God gives the call to a specific ministry, He also gifts us for the task.

What does this mean for us?  When we are looking at a ministry opportunity, we must know who we are in Christ and we need to understand what the ministry needs to succeed.  This requires wisdom and a bit of knowledge.  Today I want to offer some of Paul's wisdom regarding how God gives to His church spiritually gifted people just like you!

As Paul describes,

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

1 Cor. 12: 4-7

Notice the phrase in the middle of these verses, "There are varieties of service and activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all."  In 1 Corinthians 12-14, Paul writes to a church where jealousy, envy, and ignorance have brought about division within the body.  It appears that this church has a variety of gifted folks.  In fact, Paul describes more and different types of gifts in writing the Corinthian church than he mentions in writing to any other church in the NT.

The problem is that this church wants to see some gifts and callings as greater than others.  From the context, we can see Paul argues such thinking is ridiculous!  Everyone and every gifting/skill set is needed!  All the different types of gifts are needed in ministry, and in the varieties of service in which we find ourselves.  The key is to serve where we are gifted and called while also affirming and encouraging others to service in different areas according to their gifting and calling.

So how do we know who God has made us to be?  Here is where wisdom is needed.  Unfortunately, it is a wisdom that often takes experience to discern.  I find that most of us learn this wisdom by getting into a ministry area to which we do not fit.  Let me share a brief story to illustrate.  

I had a good friend in seminary who came to school from North Carolina with his wife who was studying to be a psychologist.  He had loved his pastor in college and he wanted to be like him.  He wanted so much to be a pastor who could impact people's lives like he had witnessed.

He began in the M.Div. program, which is a degree to train for ordained ministry.  After a year, he was miserable!  His grades were very good, because he was bright.  Yet, he had no peace and joy in the work.  Before coming to seminary, he was an accountant.  After months of forcing himself to study theology, Greek, and such, he found himself nightly in the library studying tax law.  He found it fascinating (I cannot even imagine!).  Finally, he called his old firm and asked if they had a position in Boston.  He shared that he needed to get back to work in something he loved.  That was a Thursday afternoon.  The next Monday, he began to work at the Boston office of his accounting firm for $80,000 a year (remember this was the mid 1990s)!

What can we learn from this?  First, it pays to be an accountant!  Second, he was trying to force his way into a life and ministry to which he was not called and gifted.  The result was misery and a lack of success.  When he finally came to his senses, the Lord opened other doors and blessed his work.  In fact, he later applied for law school, did extremely well, passed the bar, and became a tax lawyer.  Last I heard, he was also working toward a political career.

If you are not good at understanding yourself (and most of us aren't good at such self-knowledge), I encourage you to find a trusted friend, pastor, or counselor to help you gain some self-understanding.  I also recommend that you take some personality tests and that you take some tests to help you discover your spiritual gifts.  While these tools are not fool-proof, they can be helpful tools in the hands of a wise counselor to help us gain self-knowledge.

Most importantly, get out in a variety of ministries and environments to see what brings you life, joy, and success.  Try everything!  If you fail at something, do not get down, but learn from it.  Why did you fail?  What happened?  If you find that you are good at something, but still not empowered and full of joy while doing it, ask why?  Perhaps the gifting is present, but the direction of this ministry was not quite correct.  Most importantly, try a variety of ministries and areas of labor!

At all times remember that God is one who has given you a desire to serve Him.  He will never forsake you and He loves you dearly!  If you are in a tough spot now, this does not change God's love for you.  If you have failed miserably in a certain ministry, this does not change God's love for you.  He even uses our failure.  In fact, He seems particularly good at using our failures to give us wisdom and direction if we have the heart and faith to ask for wisdom with what happened!

Rest in the reality that God is the one who prepares us for life and ministry.  His Spirit leads us to fruitful fields of labor.  We should strive to discover where and how God is leading us while at the same time be encouraging and acknowledging that others are called to different tasks.  

May the Lord lead us and guide us to use our gifts and personality to pursue His calling for us!

Using our God-Given Strengths in Ministry

For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother's womb,

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Ps 139: 13-14

Do you really believe that the Lord made you who you are?  Do you believe that He composed your soul and personality right alongside your body while you were in your mother's womb?  I think many sincere folks doubt that the Lord knew exactly what He was doing when He put us together.  We look at our sin tendencies and our hang-ups, and we wonder how God could use us.  We are so _____ (fill in the blank).  We might be cautious or aggressive; thoughtful or spontaneous; or quiet or outgoing.  We make so many mistakes!  How could God use us like we are?

It is so much easier to see what holds us back instead of how God could and will use us as He made us.  Today I wish to focus our thoughts on leadership and how God uses our strengths to lead His people.  Ironically, we often find that our greatest strengths as also our greatest weaknesses.  At least this has been my experience as I have grown as a man, pastor, and leader in the Church!

To help get into this subject, I will share what I laid out to the leadership of First CRC of Seattle as I prepared to minister in this new place.  I began my life in this new church by using the Strength-Finder's material to describe the person God has made me to be.  I recommend this material to anyone who wishes to discover their natural strengths.  

Strength-Finder 2.0 can be accessed by purchasing one of their books.  There is a code in back, which allows you to take the on-line test.  Through a series of questions, the on-line resource helps access your top five strengths.  Someone was telling me you can get the order of all 34 strengths for only a nominal fee of $500 or so.  Personally, I will stick with the top five!

I do recommend this test.  I have taken many personality tests and such.  I find often these tests demonstrate more how I felt on a certain day than who I am.  In fact, I have taken some tests multiple times, and I have found the tests pointing in opposite directions depending upon when I took them!

In terms of the Strength-Finder's test, I have taken it two times.  The first time I did it to help a fellow pastor who was going through the training.  He needed another test taker immediately.  I really did not have time to do it, but I agreed to help him out.  

I took the test in a hurry.  It asks questions of which you prefer on a scale of 1 to 7.  For the first 100 questions, I answered each question in 2 seconds or less with either a 1 or 7.  At that point, I knew the program would think I was insane and impulsive.  I finished the test, but took it with a grain of salt.  

Then I got the results.  I found it helpful that it listed what each strength meant for how I approached the world.  I also found it very accurate as to how each strength also has possible weaknesses.  In 20 years of ministry, I had found these weakness to true in my life.  In fact, I have spent so much of my ministry life being obsessed by my weaknesses!  Yet, as I talked with my pastor friend/Strength-Finder trainer and several other friends about the test, all affirmed they thought it was an accurate picture of my greatest strengths.

I was skeptical.  It ends up that one of my greatest strengths is strategy, and I figured I could throw the test if I wanted to.  I also figured that it ended up with the published results (like saying I have the gift of self-confidence) because of the way I took the test.

I really did not pay the test much attention for the next year.  Then, Borders went out of business.  As it was closing, I purchased several leadership books at a huge discount.  One of these books was Strength-finders for Leadership. 

I decided to re-take the test.  I would do it under a new name, so my past time taking the test would not shade my results.  This time I took the test being careful to answer each question with thought and less impulsiveness.  I honestly and painstakingly went through the test.  Then I got the results.

To my amazement, I had the same top five strengths.  The order was slightly different, but the same five were there.  I believe this illustrates an accurate and helpful test.

At the Leadership retreat, I began by sharing my strengths as illustrated by the test.  I also shared that my strengths also mean some will misinterpret who I am.  For example, my number one strength is context.  I want to know about everyone's past.  I want to know about a ministry's or church's past.  I want to know context!  Why?  So I can use my second strength, which is strategy.  I use context to determine how to relate and move forward in the present and future.

What does this mean?  I ask a lot of questions.  I ask these questions of individuals and I ask them in a group setting.  Why?  Not because I wish to be a pain, but because I want to know why and how you think.  To some this can be very disconcerting!  I tried to share that I do not wish to make someone feel on the spot, but I do wish to know them.

Another one of my top five strengths is self-assurance.  This gift means I have an inherit confidence in my abilities and in what I do.  Personally, I think it means that if I feel like God is leading, I will move forward without question or doubt.  This is a helpful strength for leadership as it does help give confidence to others.

Yet, it also can be seen as arrogance.  This is particularly true if someone does not have that same sense of confidence!  So I tried to share that I need folks to give me the benefit of the doubt when I am confident in what I can or cannot do.  I truly do not mean it as arrogance!  In fact, I am more than willing to confess my weaknesses!  I want to be approachable and I want to know people. 

One thing I have learned in my years of ministry is that all of us cannot help but lead from our strengths.  This is because we should be who God made us to be!  It is really no good "faking it until we make it."  God can and does use all of us and He does use every personality type and strength mix in building His Kingdom.  He can use you!  (Another of my strengths is activator.  It means I naturally seek to encourage others to do what God is calling them to do.  Ironic isn't it!)

The problem is that so many of us take too much time focusing on our weakness instead of our strengths.  I know early in my life and ministry well-meaning folks would try to tell me that I really need to change.  These critiques would come on two fronts.

First, they would say that I really needed to be more "pastoral."  What did they mean?  Stop leading and asking so many questions.  Just "be with people" and let them know you "love them."  On the surface, I so much agree that these traits are an important part of pastoral ministry.  Yet, they can be achieved in different ways!

Personally, I spent many years seeking to build up that which was perceived as "weak" or not natural and neglect working within our God-given strengths.  Such labor led to burnout, stress, and great frustration.  I now see that what these folks wanted was for me to be more like them.  They really did not care who I was.  They wanted to make me in their image.

A second critique that was often made was that I needed to stop trying to lead with my strengths.  I had many folks who would point out my confidence in God or my ability to see possible future issues and they would call these God-given abilities weaknesses.  They would ask me to stop trying to lead and instead to learn humility.

Early in my ministry career, I worked at a very large church on staff as a middle school youth director.  The church was in an interim period, and the staff was making decisions about the directions in ministry.  After a month or so, I began to point out possible difficulties with some of their decisions and I offered other possible solutions.  I was honestly told, through body language and other not so subtle clues to shut up!  Yet, I could not help but offer my opinions occasionally.  Then I noticed something.  One of the senior pastoral staff would write down what I said.  I would be ignored in the meeting, but in the next meeting he would bring up my exact idea and it would be adopted!  Looking back I can see that the problem wasn't my strengths being weakness, but I need a place to lead, not a place where I was a junior and unimportant staff member!

In other words, know your strengths and work within them!

That being said, it is true that all of our strengths also have potentially negative relationship and directional issues built into them.  Why?  Not everyone is like us!  Furthermore we live in a fallen world and we are fallen people.  We must be aware of our potential weakness and confess them.  If we hurt others, we need to repent and be open to correction.  Christian Leadership means true humility.

This post is getting long, so I will end here.  Hopefully tomorrow I will share more thoughts concerning leadership.

Demonic, Discernment, and the Body of Christ

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.  By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.  This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

1 John 4: 1-3

Monday evening's Gospel-Centered Life bible study was strange in its demonic qualities.  We typically meet at 7.  This Monday there was also a finance team meeting at the same time.  I ducked into the finance team meet for a few minutes and let my normal study crew talk and catch up on the week.  I thought nothing of it.  Yet, strangeness was brewing!

I was not in the finance team meeting more than 5 minutes when my wife comes in, obviously a bit flustered, to tell me that I am really needed in the bible study because we have "guests."

I think, great!  I love guests.  Strange for them to come 5 weeks into a 9 week study, but O.K.  I made my way into the room, and I was greeting by three very strange looking woman dressed in simple white garments.  They also have a white head covering.  The oldest one is talking almost non-stop.  She is sharing her message.

These woman arrived in the study with the words, "We are Christians too."  They then shared how they are against all violence and eating of meat.  They are for celibacy, vegetarianism, love as brothers and sisters, and "following the way of Jesus."

When I arrive, my discernment gift immediately goes code red.  There is something wildly wrong with these women.  What is it Lord?

The oldest woman then shares that we were created spirits, but after the fall we were given "these animal skins" as our outer garments (she pointed to her arm, indicated her flesh).  She smiled and said that our flesh and all flesh is corrupt and evil.  What is important is following the inner light of the spirit.  (Notice how this teaching matches with the warning above found in 1 John against the spirit of the antichrist found in strange gnostic teachings)

After hearing this, I wonder if these women are part of some strange Shaker-like sect, if they are just weird gnostics, or what.  I want them out of the study to protect these folks.  Yet, as the "new guy" do I just tell them to "get out, spawn of Satan," and leave it at that or how should I do this?  Do others feel the same way I do?

At this stage, the conversation changes.  They want a place to spend the night.  They want and need our help, since they are "wandering witnesses for the truth and light."

I must confess that after two months, I do not know our exact procedure for helping people with such need.  I know I want them out of our church.  I also have an elder and deacon from our church in the study.  I ask if these folks can make some calls and help these folks find a place to stay.  They want to stay in our church.  I am adamant, and so our several others, that this is not going to happen.

Our two church leaders take the woman outside the study and they start to make some phone calls.  This gives time for the remaining 10 of us to talk and to pray.  I am so glad that I was not alone in thinking these ladies have demonic qualities.  Several folks confess to being greatly disturbed in spirit.  Others wish to help in hope that it might witness to them.  After talking, we all agree that we need to get them out of the church immediately because they are not right.  In fact, they might be dangerous.

At this point, our church leaders rejoin us and they share they are going to put the women up in one of our church's homes.  This home has a private basement and they will go down there.  The home is also rented by a single man who could lock the basement from the woman, but who would have access to the basement through the same door because the woman could not lock their side.

In unison, the entire study group told them this is a very bad idea!  Something else must be done.  We all shared why we felt these women had demonic and evil qualities.  One of the leaders, the elder, is one of the most caring folks I have ever met.  He will personally extend himself to meet the needs of others at the drop of a hat.  He shared that he saw someone in need, he wanted to help, and he believed that such help might witness to the truth in Jesus.  We agreed in principle even if we felt odd about these women and their spirituality.  Once help is offered, it cannot just be taken back without thought.  Yet, we also shared our common concern that we must be very careful how we do this.  

So, what did we do?

Our bible study was in shambles for the evening.  The entire atmosphere was disturbed and it really did not do well.  We finished early and the leaders and myself waited for the women to return from getting something to eat.  We told the renter that we would not put him in this position, so the church's home was not an issue.  We also decided to put the women up in a safe but inexpensive hotel about 5 miles from the church.  When they returned, we carried out the plan.  The two leaders led them over in their car (these wandering women who had given up everything did have their own car!), and I went home to pray for protection for these men, the church, and all involved.  Now, three days later, they appear to have just moved on.  Praise the Lord!

What can be learned from this experience?  First, several in the study said they have never experienced anything like it.  I must confess that I have.  It is not an everyday experience, but it has happened often. As we move out in ministry, this church must be aware and ready for spiritual attack.  It will happen again.

Second, even though I have the gift of discernment, the community of faith must help with the discernment process.  When we talked, we all agreed that something was desperately and spiritually wrong with these women.  Personally I felt it, but I also was insecure as it if I was completely right.    By feelings of conviction, yet doubt were shared by almost all.  We felt like something had to be done, but what?  When we talked in community, we affirmed our shared thoughts and opinions.  We also came up with a plan and had time and space to pray together.  The result was God's wisdom to lead us.  He worked in and through community.

Third, the spirit of the antichrist is alive and well (actually sick and twisted, not well).  Believers should know their scriptures, be walking with the risen Lord, and live in community.  We are in a world in spiritual conflict!  I do believe these women were not harmless.  They seek the destruction and disruption of God's kingdom.  They come "in the name of Jesus" but they prove by their words and deeds that they do not know the real Jesus.  

Christians and Church be awake, aware, and alive!  Please join us in prayer for protection and wisdom from God to rule us and the Church as we deal with those who oppose the truth.  Know that these folks often will come saying, "We too are Christians..."  

Gifting and Calling to Ministry

"For the Kingdom of God does not consist in talk, but in power."

1 Corinthians 4:20

Why doesn't God allow all of us to have the same gifts and abilities?  It is not fair that some folks have such greater gifts than I do.

Even as I write these two sentences, I must confess I find them ludicrous.  Why does God gift each of us in different ways?   I have no idea.  I do know that He calls us all to be the body of Christ.  A body without different parts just will not work right.  Instead, health means that all the parts of the body are present and working to help the rest of the body.

What does this mean for the ministry?  Having walked with believers and ministry workers for many years, I believe that most of us secretly wish we had different gifts.  We wish we could be like someone we look up to in ministry.  We are painfully aware of our shortcomings.  Deep within we believe that life and ministry would be different if we were just different.

In answer to this natural, fallen human tendency, Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12 that we should not wish we had other gifts than the ones we do (gift envy), and he instructs us not to look down on those with different gifts (gift projection).

As I grow older, I am more and more convinced that there is a place for every type of person in the Kingdom of God.  In fact, I believe there is a place and ministry for every type of person.  The key to success is matching our gifts, calling, experience, and talents with the ministry to which we are called.  To put this positively, when God gives the call to a specific ministry, He also gifts us for the task.

What does this mean for us?  When we are looking at a ministry opportunity, we must know who we are in Christ and we need to understand what the ministry needs to succeed.  This requires wisdom and a bit of knowledge.  Today I want to offer some of Paul's wisdom regarding how God gives to His church spiritually gifted people just like you!

As Paul describes,

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

1 Cor. 12: 4-7

Notice the phrase in the middle of these verses, "There are varieties of service and activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all."  In 1 Corinthians 12-14, Paul writes to a church where jealousy, envy, and ignorance have brought about division within the body.  It appears that this church has a variety of gifted folks.  In fact, Paul describes more and different types of gifts in writing the Corinthian church than he mentions in writing to any other church in the NT.

The problem is that this church wants to see some gifts and callings as greater than others.  From the context, we can see Paul argues such thinking is ridiculous!  Everyone and every gifting/skill set is needed!  All the different types of gifts are needed in ministry, and in the varieties of service in which we find ourselves.  The key is to serve where we are gifted and called while also affirming and encouraging others to service in different areas according to their gifting and calling.

So how do we know who God has made us to be?  Here is where wisdom is needed.  Unfortunately, it is a wisdom that often takes experience to discern.  I find that most of us learn this wisdom by getting into a ministry area to which we do not fit.  Let me share a brief story to illustrate.  

I had a good friend in seminary who came to school from North Carolina with his wife who was studying to be a psychologist.  He had loved his pastor in college and he wanted to be like him.  He wanted so much to be a pastor who could impact people's lives like he had witnessed.

He began in the M.Div. program, which is a degree to train for ordained ministry.  After a year, he was miserable!  His grades were very good, because he was bright.  Yet, he had no peace and joy in the work.  Before coming to seminary, he was an accountant.  After months of forcing himself to study theology, Greek, and such, he found himself nightly in the library studying tax law.  He found it fascinating (I cannot even imagine!).  Finally, he called his old firm and asked if they had a position in Boston.  He shared that he needed to get back to work in something he loved.  That was a Thursday afternoon.  The next Monday, he began to work at the Boston office of his accounting firm for $80,000 a year (remember this was the mid 1990s)!

What can we learn from this?  First, it pays to be an accountant!  Second, he was trying to force his way into a life and ministry to which he was not called and gifted.  The result was misery and a lack of success.  When he finally came to his senses, the Lord opened other doors and blessed his work.  In fact, he later applied for law school, did extremely well, passed the bar, and became a tax lawyer.  Last I heard, he was also working toward a political career.

If you are not good at understanding yourself (and most of us aren't good at such self-knowledge), I encourage you to find a trusted friend, pastor, or counselor to help you gain some self-understanding.  I also recommend that you take some personality tests and that you take some tests to help you discover your spiritual gifts.  While these tools are not fool-proof, they can be helpful tools in the hands of a wise counselor to help us gain self-knowledge.

Most importantly, get out in a variety of ministries and environments to see what brings you life, joy, and success.  Try everything!  If you fail at something, do not get down, but learn from it.  Why did you fail?  What happened?  If you find that you are good at something, but still not empowered and full of joy while doing it, ask why?  Perhaps the gifting is present, but the direction of this ministry was not quite correct.  Most importantly, try a variety of ministries and areas of labor!

At all times remember that God is one who has given you a desire to serve Him.  He will never forsake you and He loves you dearly!  If you are in a tough spot now, this does not change God's love for you.  If you have failed miserably in a certain ministry, this does not change God's love for you.  He even uses our failure.  In fact, He seems particularly good at using our failures to give us wisdom and direction if we have the heart and faith to ask for wisdom with what happened!

Rest in the reality that God is the one who prepares us for life and ministry.  His Spirit leads us to fruitful fields of labor.  We should strive to discover where and how God is leading us while at the same time be encouraging and acknowledging that others are called to different tasks.  

May the Lord lead us and guide us to use our gifts and personality to pursue His calling for us!

Leadership, Expectations, and True Ministry

I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ-

I who am humble when face to face with you,

 but bold toward you when I am away!

2 Cor. 10:1

The Corinthian church was a problem church.  As a church, it had more spiritual gifts than any other (or at least longer lists of gifts than Paul gives to other churches).  They had wealth due to their sea port.  They had the power and presence of an Apostolic pastor.  Yet, they fought all the time and tolerated incredible immorality in their midst.

This is not all.  Probably their greatest sin is the way they listened to the Word of God.  Ancient evidence suggests that Corinth was ruled by those who were the best speakers.  Thus, Paul declares that his speech was not with "lofty speech or wisdom" (1 Cor. 2:1).  Instead, he came having "decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." (1 Cor. 2:2)

I do get tired of this passage and the entire Corinthian correspondence being used by anti-intellectual believers as a means of justifying their foolishness.  Paul is not discrediting being educated or knowledgable!  Instead his writing and ministry to Corinth illustrates his persistent attack on the Corinthian expectation of what real ministry should look like.

What do I mean?  Expectations shape one's perspective.  

The Corinthians would only listen to a great orator.  Their town was full of great orators.  Paul did not measure up.  Thus, they were constantly persuaded to reject Paul's message for the "wisdom" found in their great speakers.  Such worldly wisdom was not founded on the Word of God, but the wisdom of a decadent and failing Greek society.  

An honest reading of the Corinthian correspondence reveals that Paul constantly dealt with the expectations of the Corinthians.  He came in the power of the Spirit.  His writing was much stronger and more persuasive than his speaking.  He warned them, cling to Christ and to faith!  Do not be led astray by the false but persuasive teaching of the great orators.  

On Tuesday I began a discussion of leadership through our strengths.  I shared I had spent much of my early ministry experience trying to "shore up" my weaknesses.  It took time, but what I have learned is that those who constantly critiqued my weaknesses wanted me to be a different person.  They did not want me to confess my weaknesses and play to my strengths.  They wanted me to not have my weaknesses!

In other words, what people expect from a leader or a pastor shapes how they measure the effectiveness of the leader or pastor.  Ironically, it often is not even the pastor or leader that is the issue.  It is the size of the church or the individual's preference for the size of a church that really determine leadership expectations.  

Let me give an example from a fine book by Gene Wood called Leading Turnaround Churches.  Wood inserted in the book a handout he gave to those who joined his church dealing with expectations.  This is a fine resource for helping folks identify their pastoral expectations.

Wood begins with a look at what the bible says a pastor does.  As he defines it, a pastor must feed his people the Word of God, must protect them from false teaching, must model the Christian life, and must equip others for ministry.  What is most interesting is how a pastor performs these duties changes according to the size and expectations of the church.

What does this look like?  Wood begins with the description of a small church pastor.  Those who pastor church of less than 100 people spend much of their time being everyone's friend.  They are expected to always be the one who opens the doors and the last one to leave every event.  They know everyone in the church, they know their children, they know their out of town relatives, and they know the name of everyone's dog.  In addition, this pastor spends much time doing church maintenance and office administration.

So what happens if you are not a complete people person who is built to maintain and establish relationships?  People who are used to this size church will think you are a bad pastor!  You might be a great speaker and vision caster.  You might be able to see multiple futures for the church and you might know how to get there.  Let me say, if you don't do it all yourself and quickly grow the church, these gifts do not matter.  Why?  The expectations of a church this size and the people who like this size church do not match your gifts.

I know several of my greatest detractors in ministry have been people who liked this size church and found that I did not match their expectations.  I was told that "I don't love the people enough."  I was told that "I was not friendly enough."  For those who know me, these charges may sound strange.  Yet, they arose from unmet expectations.  Interestingly both of these folks said I was the best preacher they had ever heard, but they were more than ready for me to "leave their church alone!"

Similarly, Wood describes the expectations of several other size churches.  For example he gives a church that ranges in size from 400 to 800 people.  In this church, the pastor had better be able to speak well.  As he states, "His people will forgive him for anything but preaching poorly." (80)  This pastor does not socialize with many of the people in the church.  Why?  Because he does not care?  No, because there are way to many people.  Instead he spends his time training leaders, managing the office, counseling in assigned times, working in outside ministries, and in study.  This pastor often does not do hospital visits unless it is for a key church leader or something serious.  Instead others within the church do the visitation and caring ministries of the church.  In fact, those gifted in these areas of ministry do them!

This pastor still feeds, protects, models, and equips the members of the church to grow the Kingdom, but  now the ministries are often done by other people.  Ironically for those who believe the pastor should do everything, many times people in this size church feel they are better cared for and loved because the variety of ministries and care is far greater than in a smaller church.

So what does all this mean?  Leaders must lead from their strengths (see Tuesday's post).  They must know them and work from them to perform their ministry.  They must also know their weakness that come from these strengths.  Humility comes from knowing how God can work through our strengths in spite of our weaknesses!

Furthermore, a leader's effectiveness is also determined by the expectations of their ministry.  A perfectly good leader will be undone if placed in the wrong situation with the wrong expectations!  I think both the leader and those being led must be aware of these expectations.

Leading through our God-Given Strengths

For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother's womb,

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Ps 139: 13-14

Do you really believe that the Lord made you who you are?  Do you believe that He composed your soul and personality right alongside your body while you were in your mother's womb?  I think many sincere folks doubt that the Lord knew exactly what He was doing when He put us together.  We look at our sin tendencies and our hang-ups, and we wonder how God could use us.  We are so _____ (fill in the blank).  We might be cautious or aggressive; thoughtful or spontaneous; or quiet or outgoing.  We make so many mistakes!  How could God use us like we are?

It is so much easier to see what holds us back instead of how God could and will use us as He made us.  Today I wish to focus our thoughts on leadership and how God uses our strengths to lead His people.  Ironically, we often find that our greatest strengths as also our greatest weaknesses.  At least this has been my experience as I have grown as a man, pastor, and leader in the Church!

To help get into this subject, I will share what I laid out to the leadership of First CRC of Seattle as I prepared to minister in this new place.  I began my life in this new church by using the Strength-Finder's material to describe the person God has made me to be.  I recommend this material to anyone who wishes to discover their natural strengths.  

Strength-Finder 2.0 can be accessed by purchasing one of their books.  There is a code in back, which allows you to take the on-line test.  Through a series of questions, the on-line resource helps access your top five strengths.  Someone was telling me you can get the order of all 34 strengths for only a nominal fee of $500 or so.  Personally, I will stick with the top five!

I do recommend this test.  I have taken many personality tests and such.  I find often these tests demonstrate more how I felt on a certain day than who I am.  In fact, I have taken some tests multiple times, and I have found the tests pointing in opposite directions depending upon when I took them!

In terms of the Strength-Finder's test, I have taken it two times.  The first time I did it to help a fellow pastor who was going through the training.  He needed another test taker immediately.  I really did not have time to do it, but I agreed to help him out.  

I took the test in a hurry.  It asks questions of which you prefer on a scale of 1 to 7.  For the first 100 questions, I answered each question in 2 seconds or less with either a 1 or 7.  At that point, I knew the program would think I was insane and impulsive.  I finished the test, but took it with a grain of salt.  

Then I got the results.  I found it helpful that it listed what each strength meant for how I approached the world.  I also found it very accurate as to how each strength also has possible weaknesses.  In 20 years of ministry, I had found these weakness to true in my life.  In fact, I have spent so much of my ministry life being obsessed by my weaknesses!  Yet, as I talked with my pastor friend/Strength-Finder trainer and several other friends about the test, all affirmed they thought it was an accurate picture of my greatest strengths.

I was skeptical.  It ends up that one of my greatest strengths is strategy, and I figured I could throw the test if I wanted to.  I also figured that it ended up with the published results (like saying I have the gift of self-confidence) because of the way I took the test.

I really did not pay the test much attention for the next year.  Then, Borders went out of business.  As it was closing, I purchased several leadership books at a huge discount.  One of these books was Strength-finders for Leadership. 

I decided to re-take the test.  I would do it under a new name, so my past time taking the test would not shade my results.  This time I took the test being careful to answer each question with thought and less impulsiveness.  I honestly and painstakingly went through the test.  Then I got the results.

To my amazement, I had the same top five strengths.  The order was slightly different, but the same five were there.  I believe this illustrates an accurate and helpful test.

At the Leadership retreat, I began by sharing my strengths as illustrated by the test.  I also shared that my strengths also mean some will misinterpret who I am.  For example, my number one strength is context.  I want to know about everyone's past.  I want to know about a ministry's or church's past.  I want to know context!  Why?  So I can use my second strength, which is strategy.  I use context to determine how to relate and move forward in the present and future.

What does this mean?  I ask a lot of questions.  I ask these questions of individuals and I ask them in a group setting.  Why?  Not because I wish to be a pain, but because I want to know why and how you think.  To some this can be very disconcerting!  I tried to share that I do not wish to make someone feel on the spot, but I do wish to know them.

Another one of my top five strengths is self-assurance.  This gift means I have an inherit confidence in my abilities and in what I do.  Personally, I think it means that if I feel like God is leading, I will move forward without question or doubt.  This is a helpful strength for leadership as it does help give confidence to others.

Yet, it also can be seen as arrogance.  This is particularly true if someone does not have that same sense of confidence!  So I tried to share that I need folks to give me the benefit of the doubt when I am confident in what I can or cannot do.  I truly do not mean it as arrogance!  In fact, I am more than willing to confess my weaknesses!  I want to be approachable and I want to know people. 

One thing I have learned in my years of ministry is that all of us cannot help but lead from our strengths.  This is because we should be who God made us to be!  It is really no good "faking it until we make it."  God can and does use all of us and He does use every personality type and strength mix in building His Kingdom.  He can use you!  (Another of my strengths is activator.  It means I naturally seek to encourage others to do what God is calling them to do.  Ironic isn't it!)

The problem is that so many of us take too much time focusing on our weakness instead of our strengths.  I know early in my life and ministry well-meaning folks would try to tell me that I really need to change.  These critiques would come on two fronts.

First, they would say that I really needed to be more "pastoral."  What did they mean?  Stop leading and asking so many questions.  Just "be with people" and let them know you "love them."  On the surface, I so much agree that these traits are an important part of pastoral ministry.  Yet, they can be achieved in different ways!

Personally, I spent many years seeking to build up that which was perceived as "weak" or not natural and neglect working within our God-given strengths.  Such labor led to burnout, stress, and great frustration.  I now see that what these folks wanted was for me to be more like them.  They really did not care who I was.  They wanted to make me in their image.

A second critique that was often made was that I needed to stop trying to lead with my strengths.  I had many folks who would point out my confidence in God or my ability to see possible future issues and they would call these God-given abilities weaknesses.  They would ask me to stop trying to lead and instead to learn humility.

Early in my ministry career, I worked at a very large church on staff as a middle school youth director.  The church was in an interim period, and the staff was making decisions about the directions in ministry.  After a month or so, I began to point out possible difficulties with some of their decisions and I offered other possible solutions.  I was honestly told, through body language and other not so subtle clues to shut up!  Yet, I could not help but offer my opinions occasionally.  Then I noticed something.  One of the senior pastoral staff would write down what I said.  I would be ignored in the meeting, but in the next meeting he would bring up my exact idea and it would be adopted!  Looking back I can see that the problem wasn't my strengths being weakness, but I need a place to lead not a place where I was a junior and unimportant staff member!

In other words, know your strengths and work within them!

That being said, it is true that all of our strengths also have potentially negative relationship and directional issues built into them.  Why?  Not everyone is like us!  Furthermore we live in a fallen world and we are fallen people.  We must be aware of our potential weakness and confess them.  If we hurt others, we need to repent and be open to correction.  Christian Leadership means true humility.

This post is getting long, so I will end here.  Hopefully tomorrow I will share more thoughts concerning leadership.

Gifting, Calling, and your place in the Kingdom of God

"For the Kingdom of God does not consist in talk, but in power."

1 Corinthians 4:20

I love meeting Church planters and Church re-vitalizers!   I believe that in every generation, God raises up folks with a passion and calling to "bring about the Kingdom" through the Church.  I think of these church planters and church re-vitalizers (I am one of these) are the "special-forces" of the kingdom.  These are the folks that God has gifted and called to bring people to faith, to grow churches and ministries, and advance the Kingdom of God.  They often have vision and purpose that is both contagious and invigorating. 

How do these folks achieve these purposes?  God has granted them both the natural personality and temperament for leadership, as well as the spiritual gifts needed for the task.  He them calls them to a specific place where they use these gifts to build the Kingdom.

God does not give these gifts or callings to all people.  Why not?  I have no idea.  I do know that when God gives the call to a specific ministry, He also gifts us for the task.

So what does this mean?  Even as I thoroughly enjoy working with these special forces of the Kingdom, I am completely aware that all types of people are needed to pastor and to lead the Church and other ministries.  In fact, the special forces would have no chance of survival if there was not a complete support system behind their operations.  All types of people are needed in the process of building the Kingdom!  

Even though it is not my primary gifting and calling, I also thoroughly enjoy and appreciate those who have the calling and gifting to lovingly nurture and grow God's people.  Some of these folks do not have the gifting and calling to see people come to faith through their stirring preaching or bold leadership, but they are vitally needed in the Kingdom!   

In other words, when called to a ministry you need to know who you are and what the ministry opportunity needs in a leader or participant so you can determine with wisdom if you are good fit!  As Paul describes,

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

1 Cor. 12: 4-7

For today's post, I want to focus on the phrase in the middle of Paul's statement on spiritual gifts, "There are varieties of service and activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all."  In 1 Corinthians 12-14, Paul writes to a church where jealousy, envy, and ignorance have brought about division within the body.  It appears that this church has a variety of gifted folks.  In fact, Paul describes more and different types of gifts in writing the Corinthian church than he mentions in writing to any other church in the NT.

The problem is that this church wants to see some gifts and callings as greater than others.  From the context, we can see Paul argues such thinking is ridiculous!  Everyone and every gifting/skill set is needed!  All the different types of gifts are needed in ministry, and in the varieties of service in which we find ourselves.  The key is to serve where we are gifted and called while also affirming and encouraging others to service in different areas according to their gifting and calling.

So how do I know my gifting and calling?  How do I know when I fit into a certain ministry?  First and foremost, we need to know who God has made us to be.  We need to understand how we relate with people.  We need to understand how we process and view the world.  We need to be self-aware!

The problem is that too many of us have no idea how to answer these questions!  Instead, we wish we could be like (...whoever...) because we love how they do what they do.  We admire them, so we wish to be like them.

I had a good friend in seminary who came to school from North Carolina with his wife who was studying to be a psychologist.  He had loved his pastor in college and he wanted to be like him.  He wanted so much to be a pastor who could impact people's lives like he had witnessed.

He began in the M.Div. program, which is a degree to train for ordained ministry.  After a year, he was miserable!  His grades were very good, because he was bright.  Yet, he had no peace and joy in the work.  Before coming to seminary, he was an accountant.  After months of forcing himself to study theology, Greek, and such, he found himself nightly in the library studying tax law.  He found it fascinating (I cannot even imagine!).  Finally, he called his old firm and asked if they had a position in Boston.  He shared that he needed to get back to work in something he loved.  That was a Thursday afternoon.  The next Monday, he began to work at the Boston office of his accounting firm for $80,000 a year (remember this was the mid 1990s)!

What can we learn from this?  First, it pays to be an accountant!  Second, he was trying to force his way into a life and ministry to which he was not called and gifted.  The result was misery and a lack of success.  When he finally came to his senses, the Lord opened other doors and blessed his work.  In fact, he later applied for law school, did extremely well, passed the bar, and became a tax lawyer.  Last I heard, he was also working toward a political career.

If you are not good at understanding yourself, I encourage you to find a trusted friend, pastor, or counselor to help you gain some self-understanding.  Take some personality tests.  Take some tests to help you discover your spiritual gifts.  Get out in a variety of ministries and environments to see what brings you life, joy, and success.  

God is the one who prepares us for life and ministry.  His Spirit leads us to fruitful fields of labor.  We should strive to discover where and how God is leading us while at the same time be encouraging and acknowledging that others are called to different tasks.  

May the Lord lead us and guide us to use our gifts and personality to pursue His calling for us!

Gifting, Calling, and the Ministry

"For the Kingdom of God does not consist in talk, but in power."

1 Corinthians 4:20

I love meeting Church planters and Church re-vitalizers!   I believe that in every generation, God raises up folks with a passion and calling to "bring about the Kingdom" through the Church.  I think of these church planters and church re-vitalizers (I am one of these) are the "special-forces" of the kingdom.  These are the folks that God has gifted and called to bring people to faith, to grow churches and ministries, and advance the Kingdom of God.  They often have vision and purpose that is both contagious and invigorating. 

How do these folks achieve these purposes?  God has granted them both the natural personality and temperament for leadership, as well as the spiritual gifts needed for the task.  He them calls them to a specific place where they use these gifts to build the Kingdom.

God does not give these gifts or callings to all people.  Why not?  I have no idea.  I do know that when God gives the call to a specific ministry, He also gifts us for the task.

So what does this mean?  Even as I thoroughly enjoy working with these special forces of the Kingdom, I am completely aware that all types of people are needed to pastor and to lead the Church and other ministries.  In fact, the special forces would have no chance of survival if there was not a complete support system behind their operations.  All types of people are needed in the process of building the Kingdom!  

Even though it is not my primary gifting and calling, I also thoroughly enjoy and appreciate those who have the calling and gifting to lovingly nurture and grow God's people.  Some of these folks do not have the gifting and calling to see people come to faith through their stirring preaching or bold leadership, but they are vitally needed in the Kingdom!   

In other words, when called to a ministry you need to know who you are and what the ministry opportunity needs in a leader or participant so you can determine with wisdom if you are good fit!  As Paul describes,

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

1 Cor. 12: 4-7

For today's post, I want to focus on the phrase in the middle of Paul's statement on spiritual gifts, "There are varieties of service and activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all."  In 1 Corinthians 12-14, Paul writes to a church where jealousy, envy, and ignorance have brought about division within the body.  It appears that this church has a variety of gifted folks.  In fact, Paul describes more and different types of gifts in writing the Corinthian church than he mentions in writing to any other church in the NT.

The problem is that this church wants to see some gifts and callings as greater than others.  From the context, we can see Paul argues such thinking is ridiculous!  Everyone and every gifting/skill set is needed!  All the different types of gifts are needed in ministry, and in the varieties of service in which we find ourselves.  The key is to serve where we are gifted and called while also affirming and encouraging others to service in different areas according to their gifting and calling.

So how do I know my gifting and calling?  How do I know when I fit into a certain ministry?  First and foremost, we need to know who God has made us to be.  We need to understand how we relate with people.  We need to understand how we process and view the world.  We need to be self-aware!

The problem is that too many of us have no idea how to answer these questions!  Instead, we wish we could be like (...whoever...) because we love how they do what they do.  We admire them, so we wish to be like them.

I had a good friend in seminary who came to school from North Carolina with his wife who was studying to be a psychologist.  He had loved his pastor in college and he wanted to be like him.  He wanted so much to be a pastor who could impact people's lives like he had witnessed.

He began in the M.Div. program, which is a degree to train for ordained ministry.  After a year, he was miserable!  His grades were very good, because he was bright.  Yet, he had no peace and joy in the work.  Before coming to seminary, he was an accountant.  After months of forcing himself to study theology, Greek, and such, he found himself nightly in the library studying tax law.  He found it fascinating (I cannot even imagine!).  Finally, he called his old firm and asked if they had a position in Boston.  He shared that he needed to get back to work in something he loved.  That was a Thursday afternoon.  The next Monday, he began to work at the Boston office of his accounting firm for $80,000 a year (remember this was the mid 1990s)!

What can we learn from this?  First, it pays to be an accountant!  Second, he was trying to force his way into a life and ministry to which he was not called and gifted.  The result was misery and a lack of success.  When he finally came to his senses, the Lord opened other doors and blessed his work.  In fact, he later applied for law school, did extremely well, passed the bar, and became a tax lawyer.  Last I heard, he was also working toward a political career.

If you are not good at understanding yourself, I encourage you to find a trusted friend, pastor, or counselor to help you gain some self-understanding.  Take some personality tests.  Take some tests to help you discover your spiritual gifts.  Get out in a variety of ministries and environments to see what brings you life, joy, and success.  

God is the one who prepares us for life and ministry.  His Spirit leads us to fruitful fields of labor.  We should strive to discover where and how God is leading us while at the same time be encouraging and acknowledging that others are called to different tasks.  

May the Lord lead us and guide us to use our gifts and personality to pursue His calling for us!