Pillars are Just Crutches

I just finished a rather powerful book called, In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen.  He shares his insights on leadership that he gained through his move from being a Harvard professor to ministering to mentally handicapped people in Ontario, Canada.  I previously wrote on his section about relevance and now I’ll continue with a look at the next section about popularity.

The second temptation that Nouwen talks about is the temptation to be popular or spectacular.  He talks about how being at Daybreak stripped him of his individuality.  He used to do things alone and could go on his own route, but when he made his transition there was always someone there with him or wondering where he was.  Nouwen comments that we have this feeling that we have to do things solo and that we need to have recognition for the things that we have done.  However, fhis is just the temptation to be popular

.As a remedy to this Nouwen switches tracks to talk about Jesus send his disciples out, not alone, but in pairs.  This works to keep people accountable, as Nouwen notes, “I have found over and over again how hard it is to be truly faithful to Jesus when I am alone” (p.58).  The partner is a vital part of ministry for guidance, accountability and encouragement.

Just earlier I posted about pastors who are using video so they can preach in more than one venue at a time.  I think this is a classic example of not having people in ministry that you can work with.

Nouwen also remarks that confession and forgiveness are the keys to help from falling for the popularity temptation.  I know first hand that confession and forgiveness have had a huge hand in helping curb any temptation and let me know that I will always be in need, not only of the grace and mercy of God, but also of the people around me who are an encouragement and support.

We are left with the realization that ministry cannot be about popularity and any such goal only serves to make a fall that much greater.

I just finished reading a remarkable little book by Henri J. M. Nouwen who was a Catholic priest who taught at Harvard and ended up being a Chaplin at Daybreak for the mentally handicapped and their helpers.  The book is entitled, ‘In the Name of Jesus’.  The book is about Christian leadership, but it’s unlike anyother Christian leadership book I have ever read.

In his introduction he sets the stage of how he arrived at Daybreak from Harvard and he shares how that transition had given him a new perspective on Christian leadership.  In doing so he uses the tempation of Jesus as his guide.  The first temptation being turning the stone to bread.

This is the temptation to be relevant, and what a temptation, Jesus was hungry, he hadn’t eaten in weeks!  Some bread would have hit the spot!  Mr. Nouwen shares that Jesus came into the world, and when He was tempted with what He could do (feed himself with food that he desperately needed) He responded with what he should do, feed himself with God’s word.

This has big applications within the church today!  Many churches have tried to be relevant and reach out to the lowest common denominator, in doing so they have taken away the gospel message so as not to offend people.  They are being completely relevant to the world and feeding their congregations self-help messages that have been stripped of the Word of God.  They are no longer preaching sermon, they are giving seminars.  As a result, souls are lost.

Instead of attempting to be relevant Nouwen asks the question, “Am I in love with Jesus?”  The answer to this question is more important than what people may think of me or whether I get the result I expect or want.  It will also determine how close I am to Him and what my spiritual life is like.  He encourages us to seek God through contemplative prayer, simply dwelling in the presence of God.

To the churches great demise, prayer has become synonymous with ‘doing nothing’.  Churches are more focused on programs than spiritual disciplines and they have created a culture where busyness, noise, and attendance is often linked to success.  Whereas often the opposite is need, stillness, silence and solitude.

Instead of seeking relevance we should be prayerfully seeking God.