Ministry as a Crutch
I feel that most people will struggle viewing ministry as an idol more so when they are out of ministry. We all have a tendency for the grass to be greener and all our problems to be solved when our life situation is different than what it is. So for a guy like me who is not serving at a church at the present time, I struggle with thinking that once I’m working at a church everything will be great and I will be satisfied. But ministry cannot satisfy our deepest longings, only Christ can.
The second post in this series deals with viewing ministry as a crutch and I feel that this happens right in the midst of ministry. When I was a youth minister preaching every Wednesday night and teaching every Sunday morning and night, I have to admit that I was much holier on Tuesday night than I was on Thursday night. Why? Because I’d much rather offend God with 3 days to make up for it than 24 hours before I would desperately need his help in preaching. Wow, can you believe I admitted to that?
While doing ministry I found it extremely difficult to serve God simply for the joy of serving God. I have to admit that many times my service to him was trying to win his favor. For me, ministry was not just a way to serve God, it was a way to keep myself disciplined.
The question I have for people like me who struggle with this, is how can you expect your people to serve for the glory of Christ if you’re only doing it because you know you have to face your people every week and don’t want to look like an idiot? Your people aren’t stupid and they will be able to see right through you. If you want to grow genuine Christians who serve for the glory of Christ, you must be a genuine Christian who serves for the glory of Christ.
I have to admit that I don’t necessarily think that extra carefulness when you approach the pulpit is a bad thing. We should strive for holiness at all times but a recognition that your words are in vain if the Spirit of the Lord doesn’t use them is healthy. The Bible teaches that we can grieve the Spirit and we do not want to do that before we ask for assistance in preaching. It’s like preparing for battle by unloading your guns.
There is an accountability that comes from a preaching ministry. But it should not be a crutch where it is the only thing keeping you faithful to Christ. Be careful that it does not become so.
NN
Your article Ministry as a crutch arises many questions.Do we need crutches? Yes we always need crutches.Is Christianity a crutch? Yes, of course. Is religion a crutch? Yes, of course. These words “religion is a crutch “reminds me of Karl Marx’s famous line “Religion the opiate of the mases” Yes, Karl Marx in right. Religion is like opiate.
Are all crutches created equal?
Alcohol and drugs are popular crutches. Another crutches is being a workholic. Power , money authority, dominion are crutches. Self -command is crutch too.
When I was a little girl,when I was in High school , When I was on Faculty and later on [ for a long time] I believed that priests-pastors are different people then other. I thought priests-pastors are a perfect , a sinless.I believed unto the infallibity of the priests-pastors. I think now, pastors are people who have to put their shoes in the morning ,take out garbage, and deal with the human issues of life as everyone else.
Svetlana