FredMcKinnon.Com

Let’s face it.  Ministry is tough.  As leaders, we are held to a higher standard.  The world is watching and they are eager to pounce on the story when someone in ministry screws up.

The fact of the matter is this – we are all destined to screw up.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not discounting the power of God’s Holy Spirit – the power to transform our lives, and change us “from glory to glory”.  Still, this is a process.  We are still human, and though we have a new “birth” through Christ, the old sinful nature still wrestles with us.

Don’t take my word for it – listen to the Apostle Paul:

15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. (Romans 7: 15-20, ESV – YouVersion.Com)

We discussed this last week during the re:create conference for a while.  We paint ourselves into corners by pretending we have it all together – that we are living the perfect lives.  We would never get vulnerable and confess our struggles – then, we find ourselves out of a job, crucified, and kicked around.  It happens all the time.  I once even confessed a struggle AFTER I’d sought out counseling and was walking in victory and it still was used against me.  Thankfully, God vindicated that one in my behalf.

So we find ourselves in this “don’t ask, don’t tell” environment.  Don’t ask your staff or co-laborers how they are doing … because truth be told, we’re afraid of what the truth may be.  And whatever you do … “don’t tell” or volunteer anything.

I want to see this culture changed in ministry.  It’s time that we learn to walk in love and trust one another.  It’s time we find people who can hear our struggles and help us wihout us fearing the fierce kick in the butt from the religious crowd.  As Randy Elrod said this past week, “I’m tired of people getting fired by people who haven’t been caught”.

What about you – do you ask, do you tell?  Do you have a safe place?  Don’t fool yourself – we all have issues.  How do we wrestle with them?   By hiding them in the dark?  No – those things that are hidden need to be exposed.

Thoughts?