“People don’t want to just read the responsive reading when they are
told to.”
George Barna
“People are weary of all the constraints.”
D’Antonio
Perhaps
you are familiar with the famous story told by Peter Drucker: “This reporter
stops by a construction site and he interviews three bricklayers. He asks the
first bricklayer, ‘What are you doing?’ And he says, ‘Well, I’m making a living
laying these bricks.’ The reporter says, ‘Oh, that’s great. That’s very noble.’
He asks the next bricklayer, ‘What are you doing?’ And he says, ‘Well, I am
practicing the profession of bricklaying. I’m going to be best bricklayer
ever.’ And the reporter asks the third bricklayer, ‘What are you doing?’ And he
says, ‘I’m building a cathedral.’”
It
seems to me that most of us want to contribute to building a cathedral. Trouble
is we become so preoccupied with the process of building that cathedral that we
forget why we even showed-up for work. Though it is true that the small things
matter they can distract us from what its all about – building a cathedral. Of
course, the cathedral I speak of is figurative for most of us. Our cathedral
may be a meaningful relationship with another, a successful career, a
comfortable retirement or purposeful involvement with a charitable and
life-changing organization.
As
disciples of Jesus Christ (or as “members of the church” some would say) we
have each pledged ourselves to building the grandest of cathedrals, The Church
of Jesus Christ. I’m not talking about buildings but about people – building
people in relationship to the person of Jesus. Young congregations do this
well, making new followers and multiplying disciples for Jesus Christ. And as a
result, lives are transformed (Hear a mission statement in that somewhere?).
Young congregations know that together they are building a cathedral.
Unfortunately, as many congregations mature (grow older) they become
bricklayers. More time is spent writing “Responsive Readings” for worship than
making disciples and placing constraints upon people who want to do ministry.
Example: Telling someone that before they do something great for Jesus in the
church they must first have committee approval and then Session approval. And
friends, do I need to tell you that both bricklayers and cathedral builders
become tired? Yet, of the two, cathedral builders rarely notice.
If
we are going to be effective for Jesus Christ many reading this will need to
change their focus and the way they speak around the church. Bricklayers argue
about such things as “the worship service is too long” or, “someone is sitting
in my place.” Cathedral builders care more about whether lives are being
changed.
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