Our FBC was sharing the other day that – as a video guy – he is often asked to make a film fast and cheap, and also, it should be really good. FBC always says, “You can pick two.”
If a project is fast and cheap, it won’t be good.
If a project is good and cheap, it won’t be fast.
If a project is fast and good, it won’t be cheap.
This translates into ministry and mission as well. Can we all agree that:
- Followers of Jesus are called to make a positive difference in the world.
- There is a lot of work to do (i.e. the world is a hot mess.)
We in church often want fast: bake sale, car wash. Something we can throw together without much effort.
We also want cheap: Maybe Elder Dave’s brother can fix it. He wouldn’t charge much.
We also want good: Lives are changed.
In ministry as in film making, we can pick two:
- We can do fast and cheap ministry, but it won’t be good.
- We can do good and cheap ministry, but it won’t be fast.
- We can do fast and good ministry, but it won’t be cheap.
Whether we are talking about feeding the hungry, building affordable housing, bringing equity to our justice systems, or changing our congregation’s culture from one that serves ourselves to one that serves our neighbors, we need to either take the time needed, spend the money needed, and/or put in the effort needed. And prayer is always a good idea.
What kind of church are we willing to be? Are we simply going through the motions?
Where is God leading us? And do we want fast, cheap, or good? We can pick two. The non-negotiable additional pick: faithful.
A Church for Starving Artists 