How to Kill Children’s Ministry? – Step 2
Does anyone in ministry ever ask, “How can we kill our own ministry, especially our children’s ministry?” If so, they are drinking spiked cool – aid; however, many would say emphatically, “no!” Rather, plans are made, curriculum chosen, rules implemented and patterns set in place with the purpose of doing the work of ministry (though not everyone or everything is done with purpose). Normally, a ministry dies a slow, agonizing, miserable and ugly death. Therefore, what is causing this death?
Does anyone in ministry ever ask, “How can we kill our own ministry, especially our children’s ministry?” If so, they are drinking spiked cool – aid; however, many would say emphatically, “no!” Rather, plans are made, curriculum chosen, rules implemented and patterns set in place with the purpose of doing the work of ministry (though not everyone or everything is done with purpose). Normally, a ministry dies a slow, agonizing, miserable and ugly death. Therefore, what is causing this death?
Jesus speaks with spiritually dead ministry leaders causing death in their communities (Mark 3:1-6). The religious leaders basis of trust was the law, especially the law in themselves. Rather than belief in God, they believed in the obedience to the law. In so doing, they served the law rather than the law serving them as God purposed. The law was to give life, protection and light to those believing in God.
As Jesus entered their church building (synagogue), a disabled man needed healing of his withered hand. The religious leaders saw the need to not work on the Sabbath, and Jesus saw the Sabbath as a time to heal the need. Jesus displays the ultimate obedience to the Father by doing good to another. Is the command then to be like Jesus, create a healing campaign and enter churches worldwide to heal all peoples? No. Rather, the principle is God is good, which means the law is good and meant to give people rest. If healing brings the ultimate rest on a Sabbath, so let it be!
Jesus offers a puzzling question to the religious leaders, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill (Mark 3:4)?” The leaders were bringing death, while Jesus brought life. So shall our children’s ministries bring life! When our pastors, directors, helpers and parents live life on the basis of faith in Jesus, their motivation to obey is transformed. Their ideas, traditions, heritage and “this is how it has been done” mentality of ministry whither as the core of their decision-making. The gospel pervades the thoughts, processes, and situational responses to people. Basically, how can we change children when by their very nature they cannot be changed except by the transformation of their will through belief in Jesus? Yes, they can be morphed into an Amish style Christianity, but that does not lead to Christianity nor strengthens it.
Result, teachers become tender to children who are rowdy, disobedient and dirty. Parents respect and are flexible with the teachers. Pastors maintain thankfulness for the workers, even when workers create mistakes. Teacher’s militant, verbal, sharp, dissenting and demeaning character changes to fruit of the Spirit – loving, joyful, self-control and so on. Pastors understand how to create rules to manage people, not tolerating rebellion but to lovingly instruct and train teachers, parents and children to follow Jesus. Each room tends to be more hospitable to believer’s children who are not perfect, unbelievers and guests rather than the abrasive, bitter smell of corroding ministry no one desires to partake in. That is good news, bringing ministry to life!
To be continued …
Further Reading:
Vintage Church: Timeless Truths and Timely Methods
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This is part of the blog posts series from Missional Education on the gospel in children’s ministry.
