Some words just tick me off. I know that I should be more mature than that, but I am not. The thing that is interesting is that it is not the "bad" words that cause me the most grief. It is the "good" words that bug me, mainly Christian words.
Here is the deal. I am going to write down a Christian word that I don't like and then explain why I don't like it. What I ask of you is to do the same thing in the comments section. This is risky for me because it means that I may find that no one cares or wants to comment. I guess that I might even find out that no ones reads this, except Tim. He is the only one that ever comments.
This fear of finding out that no one reads this explains why I don't keep a counter on the blog anymore. I just could not stand the revelation that I am irrelevant to so many. But enough whining. On to the topic at hand. Oh, Chris C., make sure you leave a comment, ok?
The word that I don't like is ministry. I don't like it because it seems like believers use it whenever they want to cover up something that they know is selfish. I am going to buy a new backpack because I need one for my climbing ministry. Why do we need a word that compartmentalizes our life into Christian and secular. Why can't we be one or the other? I think that we should get a backpack if we need one, but at the same time we need to be careful about expecting god to endorse our consumerism. There are lots of other reasons that I don't like this word but time runs short. I need to eat lunch so that I will have enough energy to support my ministry, um, sorry...job.
9 comments:
this was a very nice post i think. i didnt quite understand your comment on how a word can compartmentalize our lives into christian and secular, but it got me thinking and questioning and i thank you for that.
a word that im not the biggest fan of is denomination. i understand that it is all about questions of doctrine, and we all have those questions and different opinions, but i feel that sometimes we focus too much on that stuff and lose sight of the bigger picture or the common goal. i have never seen a word that creates such a barrier or friction among a body of believers than that word. anyways, thank you for your thoughts.
Chris, I just mean that if we worry more about loving Jesus and living like he would have us live, we would not have much need for a "ministry." Instead we would just live for him. Our whole life is his so why do we need to dedicate a part of it to him. It is all his.
Hahaha. I’m with you.
Here are a few more excuses, er…words and phrases that I’m not fond of…
“You’ve got to be willing to take risks.” That’s true, but they should be calculated risks. I feel like most people who use this phrase really mean, “I really, really want to do this and want you to back me up.”
Another is…
“I don’t like stats”, which is short for “We’re not reaching anybody, so please don’t ask.”
so trent I know that Jesus calls us all to be followers of him. Do you belive that some of use are called to be not ministers but leaders to a higher standered?
I think that we have used the word Minister/ministery to lossely.
I think that we are all called to be His. I really cannot think of a higher standard than that.
If you are asking about our vocation, I would say that I think our vocation matters more to us than to Him. If our heart is dedicated to Him it will not matter what our vocation is. I think...
By the way Tim, I am afraid I am guilty of the stats comment.
Bare in mind that there are many, MANY ways of keeping them. Stats, simply for the sake of numbers in the Baptist Messanger, can certainly become pointless and even arrogant. But stats can and should also provide a means of accountability. How is your church spending its time and is it being affective in its efforts? For instance, most churches could say that they provide opportunities for worship and usually have stats to prove it. But what about discipleship, mission, and social action? I know plenty of churches who don't offer much in the way of discleship, and know very few who offer opportunities in mission and social action.
There are bad ways of keeping stats that, though they can suggest that a church is being affective, really don't show much at all. But getting rid of them all together isn't any wiser than getting rid of discipleship in your church simply because the way you're currently doing it isn't working.
(not sure if any of that was coherant. I'm watching the Wizard of Oz with my daughter right now.)
So, I definitely agree with Chris on the whole denominational phrase. I would like to think maybe we could grow closer as a Christian community (not due to controversial poltics) and be more connected as one body.
One of the phrases I do not like and struggle (that I think is another way of compartmentalizing our lives) is the quote unqote Christian rock music. Now before everyone thinks I'm a pagan, let me explain. I fully understand that it can be difficult to find a decent or main stream rock band that doesn't cuss or have some perverted songs; my problem is when "Christian" band just write songs that don't cuss and just sing the whole happy I-have-a-crush-on-you type songs. If you just sing songs about everyday life and make them happy, I don't know why that should be labeled Christian. I love all sorts of music and I hate when Christian seemed upset with me when I don't listen to their approved happy blas'e music. I like creative music and don't feel like I should have to settle for an approved list of band just because they are labeled Christian in Walmart.
Kristy-
I am not sure what you are getting at exactly. What makes Christian music? And does it really matter? I mean, can't we learn to discern art apart from a certain industry telling us that this or that is good and acceptable? I whole-heartedly believe in Scripture being the standard of discernment by-the-way. (vague, I know)
Trent-
There are a lot of words that get me. But I am afraid that they are the ones I use and I don't want to give away the cake here. But, I am learning and I see that I've used the word "called" wrong. I mean, that I think I could move about in Mormon circles just as well as Baptist circles.
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