the adultery of ministry

Several days ago, I shared some thoughts on ministry (See January 30 post). I am convinced that our paradigm of ministry is flawed. In fact, I believe that our perception of ministry frequently inhibits abundant life.

I know from experience that it becomes easy to focus on ministry, on the building and expanding of it. I know from experience how quickly my focus turns from God to the protection and perpetuation of ministry (especially MY ministry). I know from experience how I find my worth as a person in the success of my ministry. I know from experience that the adulation of people can quickly cause me to lose sight of my God-given purpose for living. I know from expereince that my vision for ministry can overtake me in a way that causes me to forget about people. I know from experience that ministry can cause me to turn away from God.

Any time that "my ministry" causes me to neglect people and to reject the "messiness" of their life, I can be sure that my priorities no longer align with God's priorities. When I find my worth in the success of my ministry, I have ceased to be intimate with God and instead have become intimate with my ministry.

In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus rebukes people who seem to be very concious of "their ministy". They prophesied, cast out demons, and performed wonders, all in the name of Jesus. It seems as if these people found a great deal of their identity in the greatness of their ministry. Contrast that with people Jesus describes in Matthew 25:33-40. They never seemed to be really aware of their ministry and the impact of their life. I believe that for them, doing the heart of the Father came naturally. Their focus was not on a ministry but on being with the Father.

I like to ask leaders how they are doing with God. The majority answer this question with some answer that pertains to the ministry activities with which they are involved. Their relationship with God is built on a ministry foundation. If these leaders had no ministry platform, I wonder how they would relate to God (or even IF they would relate to God) .

Any lover that steals our heart from oneness with the Father's heart is an adulterous lover. Perhaps the most insidious of all false lovers is ministry as we define it in the church today.