Saturday, 14 April 2012
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A Time To Say, "No"?
By Dean Lusk
But what about activities or opportunities that fall into a gray area? By this I mean things that are generally "good" but are outside our calling or our area of passion. Or these could be activities that would help others in their areas of ministry, but we don't see eye to eye on the "how" or the "why" of the activity.
For instance, some people don't feel that the practice of door-to-door evangelism is a good thing. Would it be right for them to go with a friend to knock on doors in the neighborhood when, even though they love to share the Gospel, they genuinely disagree with the method?
What do you generally regard as a "ministry opportunity"? What criteria do you use for deciding whether or not to be a part of such an opportunity?
By the way, this post is NOT about the "rightness" or "wrongness" of door-to-door evangelism. That was only one example. Other examples might be keeping children for a special event or taking food to the homeless. Use your imagination.
Sometimes we're presented with "ministry opportunities" that could more accurately be described as "busy work." Other times we have chances to engage in things that give us joy and enable us to share Jesus with people, help them, etc.
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About the Author
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- From: deanlusk
- Location: Huntsville, Alabama, United States
- About Me: Former worship pastor, now meeting and living in an "organic church" setting after a two-year journey through the Word, comparing it to the system I'd been a part of my whole life. I'm a musician and a very disorganized deep-thinker.
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Comments (3)
I think that the best kind of "busy work" is the kind that allows us to grow; spiritually, mentally, emotionally, etc. I also think that any opportunity to spread the Word is a good one so long as it doesn't take away from our duties in life, our "true" calling if you will.
For example, I am a stay-at-home mom of three very young children and in my spare time between caring for them, I blog as well as make rosaries both for profit and for people who want them but cannot afford them. I think that if my making the rosaries and blogging began to take away from their care, and my fulfilling my duties as a wife and a mother, that this is not good "busy work", although it is for the Lord, and in the name of the Lord.
He blessed me with beautiful children, and an amazing husband, and though my relationship with Him comes first, I must be thankful and care for what was given to me.
@MommaFish89@xanga - thanks! I love your real-life illustration. Very good example.
I'm of the persuasion and conviction that there is no methodology to "ministry". There's the revelation of Christ and His gospel by the Word of Truth and the Holy Spirit, and then there is the action of "go".
There are ministers who have been given a truly prophetic calling to door-to-door outreach, and that came from God. Which brings me to the only criteria that I know of: if it comes from God, who will also supply you with the answers that you are to give when the time comes to make a case and defense for your faith, then it is a legitimate ministry. If you are trying to force open a door that God has not opened, then you're a burglar!
I hope I'm not misunderstood in this: there are some "outreach" methods that I think are actually immoral and are not constituted by God as righteous or holy- but I'm not speaking of those. I'm only speaking of what the question addresses.
So, to the point of the question: call upon the name of the Lord and He will guide you in all your ways.