Churches alleviate, Governement eradicate, Business accelerate

We all agree that the solutions to the problems we face are some combination of churches, government, and business. Too often it seems that my liberal friends put too much emphasis on government and my conservative friends put too much emphasis on churches and my libertarian friends put too much emphasis on business.

As one who works in the church I can tell you that most churches are set up to temporarily alleviate a social ill. Governments are large enough to eradicate a social ill. Businesses are savvy enough to accelerate toward a solution. 

For instance, lets look at the problem of malaria.

Churches can raise money to buy nets to alleviate the spread of malaria (see the nothing but nets campaign). But the church, even one as connected as the Roman Catholic church, cannot eradicate malaria. Churches cannot make policies or laws that are binding to society. 

Which is why we need governments to make laws and policies to ensure malaria is eradicated. While some of the libertarian cut want to eliminate the FDA, I am thankful that government is there to ensure the eradication of these ills. Because for all its failings, the government is the best tool we have to ensure eradication.

But business is another tool that is essential in this equation. When business gets involved the solution(s) to the problem are brought about much faster than just by way of churches and governments. Business can incentive the everyday person to participate in the solution, and as more people become part of the solution the solution accelerates.  

Taking the political aspect out for just a moment, we all need each other. Liberals need business, conservatives need government, libertarians need churches. 

If we are not able to live into that then we may just end up like this fella as reported by the Onion.

Evangelism? Ya, I don't do that, but would you support me in my marathon?

Lets face it, we all are evangelists for something. Some may not like the word "evangelism" or identify as "evangelical" because of a particular social stigma, but even the most liberal atheist is evangelical for something.

Everyone is an evangelist. From locavores to free market capitalists. From the 99% to the 1%. From the soccer mom to the marathon runner. Everyone  is an evangelist.

Liberal and mainline Christians need to get over being afraid of being evangelistic.

Evangelism is not something that just one sliver of Christianity has a monopoly on. While we sit back and remain distant and silent on evangelism there is a small group of people taking a term of Good News and turn it into a battering ram of bad news.

I do not think that you have to be a Christian to be a good person, but I do think that everyone needs to be apart of a spiritual community to be whole.

Evangelism in not about getting sinners to be saved, but about working with others to ensure we are all made whole.

Ministry Motivation

Someone asked the other day, "Why do you do what you do?"

Not a bad question. Who really wants to work in the non-profit sector in a position that has dwindling social status and is difficult to make friends because your social life suffers at the hands of having to work weekends? Oh, did I mention that you get to face the darkness of people's lives and are asked to share "Good News" at all times? 

There are three things that motivate me in ministry beyond the fact that I believe I am called into this work. (I would not choose this for myself for the above mentioned reasons, but I cannot imagine doing anything else).

I am willing to bet that my motivators are also similar to those fortunate enough to have a job that fits their vocation.

In no real order, the primary motivators are:

• Passion
• Purpose
• Prophetic

I have a passion of helping people spiritually develop and mature. I have a growing sense that the amount of spiritual immaturity is growing and needs to be addressed (see some of the immature responses to the Sandy Hook shooting). I am passionate about helping people to spiritually mature. I am willing to bet those who have found their vocation are motivated by a deep passion.

Another motivator in my life is a deep sense of purpose to do what I am called to do. My purpose and passion are very much related and overlap all the time. It is my sense of purpose that gives me the courage/strength that is needed to have difficult conversations that are easily dodged if my purpose was more focused on making people happy.

Finally, those who have a clear purpose and passion for their vocation some tend to have a prophetic understanding of their vocation. What I mean by this is that to be prophetic is to be one who speaks truth to power even in the face of personal danger. A person may be passionate about  their job and even have a clear purpose as to what they want to do, but are not interested in putting their very self on the line for the sake of their vocation. Being prophetic is a double edged sword that does not garner a lot of friends, but frankly is a motivating factor for me and those I admire.

So what motivates you to do what you do?