Conflating Ministry with Tools for Ministry

These are tools for Ministry:

• Church Buildings
• Steeples
• Bells
• Cemeteries
• Membership Rolls
• Bylaws
• Constitutions
• Classrooms
• Playgrounds
• Institutional Kitchens
• Pews
• Baptismal Fonts
• Communion Tables
• Crosses
• Bibles (!)
• Letterhead
• Offering Apps
• Coffee Makers
• Church Signs
• Musical Instruments
• Choir and Clergy Robes
• Church Screens
• Church Bulletins
• Bible Studies
• Vacation Bible School
• Lecture Series
• Church Staff (!)
• Degrees and Certifications

This is Ministry:

• Feeding People (in every way)
• Comforting the Sick and Grieving
• Protecting the Vulnerable
• Celebrating Resurrection and Recovery
• Forgiving Our Enemies
• Forgiving Ourselves
• Housing the Unhoused
• Relieving the Overwhelmed
• Loving the Unloveable
• Visiting the Imprisoned
• Nurturing the Spiritually Curious

Obviously neither is a comprehensive list.

In the five weeks since I returned from Sabbatical, I have noticed once again that church conflicts happen when we confuse Ministry with Tools for Ministry. Imagine caring as much about serving our neighbors as we worry about what they wear to church. Imagine spending as much time befriending the lonely as we spend arguing about whether or not to replace the sanctuary carpet.

I’ll ask it again: did Jesus die for this? Yes, if it’s people. No, if it’s stuff. Have a wonderful weekend.