underground and out of sight

“Take care! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, because then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give a gift to someone in need, don’t shout about it as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I assure you, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone, don’t tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. “And now about prayer. When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. (From Matthew 6)

I am fascinated by these words. When I read them, I am reminded once again how the kingdom of God differs dramatically from the ways of man. Our insecurities cause us to search for validity. As a result we frequently "advertise" our ministries.

On the other hand, the way of the kingdom is not as much about public activity as it is about the hidden work of God. For 300 years the church expanded and grew in the midst of persecution and resistance. It was primarily a hidden work, hidden in order to survive. More recently, the explosive growth of the church in China occurred almost entirely underground, out of sight of the general public.

I have been involved  in church planting for most of my adult life. For years we would advertise heavily when we started a new church. As I reflect on our past strategy, I conclude that our strategy was born more from the ways of man than from the ways of God. In my experience, the most transformational ministry occurs not in a public meeting but in relational interaction. The relational interaction usually occurs out of sight, hidden from the general public.

Unfortunately the hidden, relational ministry usually does little to satisfy our need for validation. I suspect God designed it this way. True ministry is not about fulfilling our need for validation.