On Saturday, a two-year process will come to an end: the denomination for which I serve will confer ordination credentials on me. Many people have asked me what I plan to do with these credentials. The short (unspectacular) answer is: what I’ve been doing already—trying to help people as best I know how (with the gifts God has given me) to live in accordance with the gifts God has given them.
As I’ve had the privilege of devoting most of my vocational energy to what many call “ministry,” I’ve tried to remind myself along the way that I’m just a fellow traveler. God calls every Christian to ministry and my role is to support whoever crosses my path in their ministry, wherever they work and carry out the affairs of their day to day life. Ministry can happen anywhere. Sometimes, in fact, I think the way we structure and conceive of “church” can actually get in the way of the kind of ministry God wants to do through his people. My role is to help people identify their unique ministry and empower them to pursue it joyfully, playfully.
Still, people think of me as a “pastor.” The word means “shepherd” and it carries the image of “leadership.” Leadership is a loaded word, no matter the context; sadly, the church is one context where leadership can sometimes be more about control than freedom.
“Pastor” is also a loaded word. Many people think of a pastor as someone who does ministry for the church; such a notion, I feel, has little scriptural merit. Ministry does not belong to a “pastor” (in the traditional sense). Ministry belongs to everyone; we all have a role to play. Anyone can be a pastor; all it takes is a willingness to receive with joy the gift of pastoring that God has given you and to bless others with your gift.
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Ministry is about gratitude, first and foremost. We don’t make it; we receive it. It’s God’s. God is just gracious enough to include us in the work of blessing.
Ministry is not a career. You don’t craft ministry the way one crafts a career. You listen and respond humbly. Pride has no place in authentic ministry. When pride takes over, ministry becomes a career.
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In ministry, I experience a humbling exchange: the King’s Child becomes a Servant so a servant like me can become the King’s child.
The best way for me to serve others is to remember…I’m just a child. This childlikeness forms the core of God’s call to me. He calls me just to be a child.
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As a child, I don’t have to worry about how the Father is going to provide. Each day he just asks me to look to him for my daily bread; he tells me not to worry about tomorrow—he will meet my needs in a timely fashion.
As a child, I don’t have to worry about being “good enough” for the Father. He loves me just because he is loving, not because of anything I do or don’t do. I know that when I fail, he is gracious and forgiving, ever hopeful…seeing the best in me.
As a child, I bear the image of the Father and the Father never wants me to forget it. To grow is to resemble him more and more so others can see his likeness through my life, not just on the surface—but right to the heart.
Truth be told, I am just the chief of sinners and am only worthy to be called God’s servant—but, by the wonderful exchange of Jesus, he invites me to be his child.
What does it mean for me to be called a “pastor” by others? Just this: I’m not worthy to be called a pastor; I’m just God’s child…and such is God’s invitation for everyone, if we will just humbly accept it.
Father, just help me be your child and may everyone I meet understand more and more how very much you love them.
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