I remember as a kid sitting in church and wondering how and where my pastor got his sermons. I somehow concluded that God came to my pastor’s office on Friday and personally delivered that week’s sermon. Little did I know that many pastor’s are still praying on Saturday for God to give them a sermon. In my childlike view of God and church, there was a sense of mystery.
There are days in ministry when I long for that childlike sense of mystery and the supernatural. One of the dangers for those of us who handle the work of God everyday in ministry is that the mysterious can become mundane. The supernatural can become quite natural.
A sobering example of this reality is seen in the sons of Eli. They had grown up in church. The things of God had become common. In their case, familiarity had indeed bred contempt. Serving as priests had become nothing more than a job. 1 Samuel 2:12-13a (NLT) says Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respect for the Lord or for their duties as priests.
There is the potential to fall into the trap of simply “cranking out” services. This is especially true if you are doing multiple services every week. We run the danger of manufacturing a church experience rather than making a worship service a place where we truly seek God and meet him.
When the wonder leaves, it will not be long before cynicism and disillusionment will follow. Keeping that sense of mystery and awe is not easy, but I do know that paying attention to my soul helps me in this struggle. When my time with God is fresh and unrushed, I have a greater sense of wonder and awe.
So, how are you doing with this? Has ministry become mechanical, routine, and predictable? Allow your heart to be re-captured by the wonder and mystery of the great God we have been called to serve.
Posted on
Sunday, March 22, 2009
by Lance Witt
filed under