the ministry of reconciliation

When I speak to a group of people to often their hearing of what I am saying is more beneficial to me than to them. My audience becomes a group of people for me to exercise my “preaching hobby” on. I see people as existing for my benefit so I can do what I like to do or feel “called” to do.

Ministry as a whole is too often practiced this way. We say we are “called” to ministry, and then we go and find a group of people that we can practice our ministry hobby on. Our ministry to people becomes more about “our calling” then the real, eternal needs of the people we are engaged with.

We have been given the ministry of reconciliation. People are living lives separated from God, and in a real sense walking around in darkness completely unaware of true reality. The practice of ministry; the practice of preaching has to be about more than a hobby. It has to be about more than our personal sense of “calling” and fulfillment. It has to be about God’s glory. It has to be about people meeting Jesus and being reconciled to their creator.