Friday, May 9, 2008

Incredible incompetence

So I was talking to my boss the other day. I forget what the subject was, something about using his office for counseling, maybe. What it was isn't very significant. At the end of the conversation, Dave said something along the lines of "hey man, if you ever feel like you want to share something with the church and take on a Sunday, let me know". That's one of those expressions that kind of makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit.

I appreciate that the leaders here want me to have authority and all.  They are doing a great job of challenging me and the rest of the church to view my position as a pastor and less as a youth guy.  The problem is, I'm comfortable with youth.  I can stand up and teach a group of students for an hour with my zipper down...trust me, I know from experience.  Adults are different.  

Some adults view me as a pastor, but most don't.  I'm pretty much the monkey boy with the red vest clanging symbols (eerily biblical, huh?).  It's an interesting dynamic 

over half of the U.S. population is under the age of 18.  Why isn't half of the church population under 18?

So dave wants me to lead another service.  I won't lie, I want me to lead another service.  My gastrointestinal reflexes do not want me to.  

The more I find out, the less I know.  Did you know that the greek word "disciple" is only used in the gospels and acts?  This is my new kick...biblical discipleship.  Christian discipleship isn't very biblical.  If we took it literally, instead of making other disciples of Jesus we would have the cajones to make disciples of ourselves.  Screwed up, messy, passionate disciples like us.  Those who need to be discipled need to see following Jesus in action.  Following is the other word used (commonly translated disciple) to describe jesus' followers.  That's the word Paul uses. 

Much like my apprehensions in leading a service, Christians are afraid that their incompetence will do more harm than good.  So we make disciples of Jesus--and they have no model of what that means. 

Kind of like throwing a kid in the river to teach her how to swim.

1 comment:

  1. I hope Dave didn't freak out your gag reflex to the same capacity his son can with some of his comic tales

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