Ministry Requirements

Perry Noble posted in his blog earlier today, the photo below. I love this blog, so I took a screen shot so I could share that with you. As a person, called into ministry without a Master's Degree, I have come across these requirements multiple times. I hate reading these statement on post after post on a job board. It frustrates me and irritates me.  I'm not saying I don't like experience or that I don't like education and marriage.  I believe experience is golden, good and bad. I have this nagging desire to email these churches and ask them where people are supposed to gain experience when churches only hire folks with 5+ years of experience. I also want to ask them where all of this comes from biblically. I know it's a preference thing, but what if someone who would grow their church and lead folks to Christ wanted to apply? Their resume would assuredly be file 13'd due to a lack of experience, education, and/or marital status.  I also have issue with the term accredited.  Have you priced an accredited seminary lately? I sure have.  They aren't cheap, at all. So, someone has to take a loan typically to attend this type of school. Ironically, the Bible speaks against being in debt. My favorite part of this blog by Pastor Noble is his attention to the detail that even the Founder, CEO, COO, and CFO of this thing called Christianity, Jesus, wasn't qualified for positions such as these. So I have to wonder, if He isn't qualified, who is? Also if He isn't running the show and sending pastors, called by Him and not us, to lead our churches, who is?

A New Commandment I Give You

Those words the Rabbi spoke. The ears of the disciples perked up as they knew this would be important. Torah was the law, Torah was everything and to add a commandment took authority. Of course, they had the One with as much authority as you will find giving them this new commandment. These words are important. For me, and for you. "Love one another, as I have loved you, love one another. By doing this, the world will know that you are my followers; love one another."  It seems simple and the disciples were probably shocked at how easy that commandment was. Then, they had to actually do it and I'm guessing they soon had an epiphany. It was probably easier for them to obey all of the first 10 commandments than this one. 

This is a story of that scripture being lived out. I'm very proud of Isaiah, my oldest. Yesterday, he told me he gave his snack to another boy at school who didn't have a snack because he never has snacks and was hungry. This morning, while I was packing his lunch, he asked if I could put an extra snack in his lunchbox so he could give it to the boy at snack time. I told him bring me another one and he did. He was so excited that boy would have a snack again today. It reminded me that loving people is what it's all about. It may not be easy, and sometimes you would rather throat punch them. You may miss out on your own snack and it may inconvenience you. But not only does it have an impact on them, it impacts you just as much. That is why Christ gave us the commandment to love one another, just like He loves us. With mercy, compassion and grace. No strings attached, arms wide open kind of love. John 13:34

"Love Those Who Hate You" Matthew 5:44 In Action

Recently on their newest tour, the band Switchfoot has been catching a lot of flack from people who seem to put their preference as commandments.  In the first video, they even call them "Ditch-foot."  Not an example of Christ to the world folks.  Don't do that.  Ever.  Put the bullhorn away and never, ever call Switchfoot "heavy metal".  They're not.  One of my largest struggles is dealing with folks like that.  I generally want to take the Bible and show them why they are wrong, and where preference goes wrong with what Christ taught us.  However, I have a difficult time doing that out of love, so I typically refrain.  I formerly loved the study of Apologetics, and defending my faith.  I still love it, but I loved a chance to debate someone because I "named and claimed" 1 Peter 3:15 which says, "but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,".  I would always miss the "gentleness and respect" part of it and I hurt people as well as hurt myself.  (I apologize and ask forgiveness to any people that I may have hurt and have not personally asked forgiveness from due to location, or other reasons.)  I also, ignored the scripture in it's context and the rest of the passage which reads, "Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.  Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.  For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.  For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water." (1 Peter 3:8-20 ESV)

My goal is to now treat others through love, putting my preference aside along with my pride.  My preference is to never minister and love on people who aren't like me.  It isn't any of our preference.  However, Christ was surrounded by people who were not like Him and He loved them to death.  Literally, without condition.  I read an article this morning about Switchfoot and their protesters.  There are some videos within the article, which I will link to this post.  Jon Foreman, the lead singer, shows an act of grace, mercy and love to these protesters who have appeared at their shows multiple times.  His quote on twitter about it said "So stoked the protesters are here again-treat em with love and respect y'all! Love is the only response. #LoveAloneIsWorthTheFight"  The hashtag being a reference to their newest single, which is awesome.  I've always heard Switchfoot called the "nicest guys in rock".  This title comes from their many crossover hits from Christian charts to rock charts.  Everyone who has met them has always said they're extremely friendly and always looking out for the people at their shows, and always being very humble.  Foreman also said regarding the protesters, "They're morons just like I'm a moron, but we're loved by this extravagant God and I have but one debt, which is to love them."  Which leads me to Christ's teaching in Matthew 5:43-47, "“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers,i what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?"

My point and my prayer for myself is simple, love others, even the ones who hate you and wish bad ju-ju on you.  Also, don't allow your preference to hold your worship back.  God is our audience, not the people sitting in seats or standing in an auditorium.  They are only our co-worshipers.

The article link can be found here.