Rest and the Christian Experience – Jakob Lillvik
August 1, 2010
As some of you may already know, I’m taking the month of August of from my duties as Worship Leader at Whitton Avenue. While there are a myriad of reasons for taking this time off, the biggest goal for the next month is for me to rest and reevaluate my ministry so I can return in September refreshed and rejuvenated. I’ll be taking a week to go to Seattle and spend my time here visiting other churches and making connections with other leaders who have the same job as me throughout the Valley. Through encouragement from Christ-loving friends and family, here are some of the things that I’ve learned that have led me to this sabbatical.
Firstly, if you’re already heavily involved in full-time ministry – paid or otherwise – for your church body, find time to rest. Rest well. We try very hard to shepherd the flock, and we place ourselves on a pedestal in which we must be strong, and take on an increasing amount of duties, and we attempt to appear strong, but instead we wear ourselves to the bone. If you feel bogged down by your work, take time to stop what you’re doing to reflect, reinvent, and revamp your own ministry. Make a habit of staying in the Word, deliberately creating a quiet-time to listen to the Spirit, and meet with other church leaders who undertake similar duties throughout your community. It’s not weakness – it’s being smart, being in touch with yourself, and being in touch with the Holy Spirit.
For everyone else? I’ve said this many times – if you attend a church body, you’re in full time ministry. We are called vocationally to glorify God and portray His image to others through our communities, schools, and workplaces. Furthermore, as we live in our body, the church, we all have a role to play, as the Spirit has given us all gifts to serve Yahweh in His church. Remember when Paul talks about “some are an eye, some are an ear” and so on? There’s nothing in your physical body that doesn’t do anything, but many of our Western churches act as if this were true. Yes, the brain and heart are the important ones (though, allegorically, these places are taken by Christ and his Gospel) but does that mean that the skin is unimportant? Or the kidneys, or lymph nodes, or hair? We all have a part to play, so please act like it.
I’ve heard so many people saying how they want to be a part of full-time ministry, but they want the glorious parts, and perhaps they aren’t listening to the Spirit in how they can serve their local church. Sure, everyone wants to sing up front to show off their voice, but do they have enough passion for Christ to fold bulletins? Most people don’t jump at the opportunity. Or to voluntarily clean up, or give rides for those who can’t drive themselves? This is a challenge to myself primarily, and to anyone in the body. But Paul says in Philippians 2 that our motivation to serve one another comes from our encouragement in Christ, not something we bring about on our own. Reflect on Christ’s passion for us in worship, letting the Spirit flow from you, and serving can be as refreshing as worshipping through song.
Find a role, plug in, love God, love others, drink the Water you serve, and be the Body.