Who deserves to work for the Lord? In Jesus' day there was no organized church with a building and a sign under which ministry was performed. It was like a game of faith tag. Jesus tagged you and off you went; with nothing but your willingness to speak for your ability.Today we do background checks and require applications of our "workers." I don't really have a problem with that. This is, indeed, a different world than that first century church occupied. There are dangerous people who could harm others with the banner of ministry if they were so inclined. I have filled out an application myself in our church, to teach a lifegroup. I didn't mind. I considered it a good opportunity to reflect on where I am in life and what God has done for me. In a way, that application became my own epistle. I'm happy to tell you, I got the job. I am allowed to be an official Metrosouth lifegroup leader.
Of course, had my application been rejected, I am not so sure I'd be applauding the process.
It makes me ask, who do we reject?
The guy who is a recovering addict? The never-married mom?
How about the clearly undisciplined one who does not take care of his body as a temple of the Holy Spirit a.k.a. the obese guy.
Do the married couple spotted bickering in a local restaurant get the stamp of approval?
Jesus required willingness of heart and submission of spirit to His Lordship. But what about the woman who has both of those and a life of chaos to boot?
I am not writing this because I have the answers. I just wonder where that line is, that a person becomes undesirable to work for Jesus.
And what can they do to fix it?
1 Corinthians 1:26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,
6 comments:
You raise excellent questions Sara and I'm not sure who has the answers. It is a good thing to do background checks precisely because of the day we're in, and yet...precisely because of the day we're in, a church is apt to have some former unsavory people in it..those whose sins seemed to be worse than our own were before coming to Christ.
I don't know where the line is...on the side of safety for our children might be a good place to start.
Some Christians can also be too gullible..too willing to believe whatever comes down the pike.
We need to ask God for wisdom and seek His discernment in all matters, especially those concerning workers in the church.
Things are not always what they seem to be.
I certainly don't' have answers but I do know that every believer has a place in His body to share His life...it may be that the receivers need those applications...cause some of us could have a very hard time receiving from such as they...He uses everything....even donkeys...all we need are eyes to see and ears to hear...as louise says....a little discernment helps too...
I think that 'we' don't draw the line (unless someone is endangering someone else) we are not only saved, but we are redeemed, we fall, only to be picked up by Christ...
and isn't there something in that Great Book of ours that talks about pointing out splinters in our neighbors eyes, when we have planks sticking out of our own? :)
Great post.
There have always been those who
attempt to divert God's people
from their main purpose. Whether
angels or men, God knows how to deal with the rebellious, but
believers are warned not to participate with any such persons.
The wicked appeals to the lusts of the eye, lusts of the flesh and
inordinate pride.
They will pretend to love God,
appear to do good works, but on close examination they are as
fruitless as the fig tree that Jesus cursed.
The wise will be able to identify those whose object is to be god,
rather than serve God.
It will take a deeply spiritual
heart to know how to reach any
who are deep into evil without
being contaminated-- hating the
sin but still loving the sinner.
The Book of Jude teaches these truths.
if someone was determined to infiltrate the church in such a manner, i doubt they would even blink if someone handed them a silly little ministry quiz that said "please prove that God has placed a call on your life and why i should let you answer it".
service doesnt require perfection, but willingness to be a continual work-in-progress. otherwise, none of us would be doing anything.
i think the fixing part happens somewhere in the middle of it all.
wow--great points to ponder!
I say - if you're willing - have at it! God needs every one of us to be part of 'the body'.
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