Tuesdays with Morris

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Toward a Missional Worldview

It seems that in life, we encounter all kinds of “stuff.” Good stuff, bad stuff, indifferent stuff…everywhere we turn there is stuff.

The last week of my life has been filled with stuff. I’d say it’s bad stuff. The kind of stuff that I just don’t need to deal with…Of course, many would say that maybe I’ll learn something beneficial through this bad stuff. However, in the moment, the stuff is only serving as a distraction.

When trying to lead areas of ministry, I’ve got this stuff lingering in the back of my mind. When trying to lead a congregation in worship, I’ve got this stuff. When trying to read, pray, study, write, spend time with family…stuff.

Now, this stuff will pass soon. But, I know there will be more stuff down the road. I’m just really irritated with the bad stuff right now because it’s inteferring with good stuff.

When we find ourselve buried in stuff, we need to just stop and pray…asking God to handle our stuff.

This phrase has been stuck in my head for about a week. In reflecting on ministry, I’ve been challenged with the question of “Do we come to serve or to be served?” I know the obvious answer is, “We come to serve.” However, in our individualistic, consumer-driven society, I believe our head knowledge of coming to serve takes a back-seat to being served.

How many pastors long to hear members of the congregation tell them how great their sermon was on Sunday morning (or whatever day you have your services)? I’ll be honest…it’s nice to get that sort of feedback…strokes the ego a bit. But, is that why we preach?

How many praise team leaders and members long to have people in the congregation say, “the music was awesome today” or go on and on about the guitar solo or nice four-part harmonies? Is that why we lead worship?

How many people spend countless minutes in front of the mirror to look “just right” for worship so that someone will say, “Boy, you sure look nice today?” Does our dress really have any thing to do with our worship?

What I’m getting at is that, many times in the church, we expect people to roll out the red carpet and make a big deal about us. We want to know that we matter. Yes, it is important to know that you matter…however, sometimes our desire for recognition gets in the way of our ability to serve.

So, I wonder how many of us are in ministry to serve or to be served? I wonder how many of us prepare our sermons, worship sets, etc in order to get the most praise or to be faithful to what God has laid on our hearts?

Just stuff I’m thinking about…

An interesting observation I made today…People in the public are a whole lot nicer to me when I’m toting Samantha around. People smile, open doors, let me go ahead of them in line, and they actually talk to me…Of course, they’re really just wanting to know about my precious little baby. But, I’ve got to tell you…a child is a great ice-breaker. She may be my newest evangelism tool!

While reading Marva Dawns book, “Reaching Out without Dumbing Down” I found a great definition of worship:

“Worship is the unique praise of God by the countercultural community that equips the community with a sufficiently deep sense of itself in relation to God that it can go from its worship into the world to effect social change.”

Now, many of you know that I don’t like to limit the definition of worship simply to the gathering of the “countercultural community.” But, I definitely appreciate her emphasis on the idea that our worship should help us understand our relationship with God and give us a passion to go into the world and make a difference.

That’s a big piece that is missing in many churches today…going out “into the world to effect social change.” Many of the churches I’ve been associated with write checks and occassionally participate in events that support social change. However, I have yet to be in a church that actually actively and passionately participates in bringing about change in our world…we may talk about it, but I’ve yet to see it actually happen.

Many church goers get excited about the idea of social change, but do very little to actually bring it about…And, I’m guilty here too!

So, what needs to happen within the life of the church that people will fall so in love with God that they will want to help make this world a better place?