Then ministry meant significance. Even the decision and the process led to days of intense journeying with God, soul-searching, and deep discussions with faithful companions. Anyone who has taken the steps toward ordination in the UMC will know that as you kneel before the Bishop and receive the call to "take thou authority" and enter into full-time, fully-credentialed ministry in the UMC, you really feel like you've accomplished something. I will always remember that day and the people with whom I shared it.
A life of local church ministry can give the days a true significance. It can be an adventure in building relationships with people you never knew you'd meet. It can mean powerful moments filled with the Holy Spirit, loving Sacred words shared in what could be awkward moments.
Let me be clear that I'm not speaking of the celebrity type of significance. I'm not longing to be the next television preacher or anything...(though I do think I'd do pretty well on Survivor). I am longing to be part of God's work and movement in the world and to know that I've done all I can to leave the world a more loving place than I found it. I am seriously beginning to wonder if this can happen within the structure and organization of the church.
In the wake of all of these UMC discussions I have really started to question my life-decisions thus far. I do not question that God can use my life to bring glory to God's name, or that I have done my best to be faithful to my calling. It is just that so often life in the church feels quite insignificant. Ministry can quickly become more about pleasing people and keeping up numbers than it is about the significant call God has placed on all of our lives. We're called to "go" and share and be like candles that light up the darkness. We are called to love our neighbors as we would like to be loved. We are called to be about bringing justice.
The Methodists began as a movement. What happens when a movement becomes a "church" and no longer appears to be moving? What happens when young pastors who have dedicated their lives to this ministry begin to wonder if this is really what God had in mind? We are so caught up in maintaining the "rules" of who is "in" and who's "out" that we sit still. When everyone's more concerned about being right nothing can happen. (Just look at the Govt.)
I was thinking about the Pharisees today. I was leading a study on John a while back when we got to joking about how no matter what we read it always ended with the Pharisees showing up and turning things a negative direction. Jesus would do something amazing...the Pharisees would show up and be angry. Jesus would heal in a miraculous way...and the Pharisees would miss the miracle because it was the Sabbath. The Pharisees had always been the good guys. They knew the rules and they did their best to get the people to stay within the boundaries of faith. They were good until something better came along...the one who cared more for the person than for the rules. The Christ, who broke down all social barriers in order that all people know the love of God, the power of forgiveness, and the way to eternal life. Jesus didn't ask for credentials first and then work, he allowed the Spirit to work through him for all.
People were excited about Jesus...they're not so excited about the church. People were willing to die for their faith...we fight about the color of the carpet and the music choices on Sundays. Significance comes in moving with the Spirit, responding to God's call and Jesus's example.
I want to be significant.
