Flashback Friday: Why You Shouldn’t Serve The Church
Every Friday I dig into the archives and dust off an old post. If you haven’t read it, it’s new to you!
You don’t have to live in Church World very long before you realize that Professional Church People are pretty intent on getting you to do stuff: volunteer in the nursery. Teach the 7th grade boys’ class. Set up tables for the 41st Annual Bake Sale and Turkey Shoot. As a matter of fact, if you’re not careful your name will be on every volunteer list and sign up form and database that’s existed since St. Peter chartered First Baptist Jerusalem.
The tactics that pastors and ministry leaders use can be just as varied as the volunteer positions themselves: announcements. Pleas. Begging. Cajoling. And guilt trips? Oh man, way too many pastors are certified travel agents for guilt trips.
Let’s be honest: guilt is a great motivator. It’ll get you out of your pew and into a volunteer spot quicker than you can say Vacation Bible School Craft Room. But guilt will hardly bring you to maturity. You’ll never grow through guilt. You never serve out of joy. You may never know if you’re actually serving where you’re wired.
Read the entire original post here.
