Although the church is not a
business, there are valuable resources from the business world that can be very
helpful to those who lead churches, judicatories, or faith-based
organizations. I welcome the insights of
people like Patrick Lencioni, Jim Collins, Seth Godin, Daniel Pink, and others
who provide information and ideas that give us a new perspective on what we are
doing as believers. Of course, any
writer, speaker, or leader—secular or sacred—needs to meet the tests of
soundness and integrity but people like these often provide us with “best
practices” that challenge us to do more.
They call us to do not just the minimum but to be better.
Christians are called to do more
than the bare minimum in their lives and kingdom service. The little book of James is a valuable
resource as we consider the criteria by which our lives and ministry should be
evaluated. In James 1:22-25, we find
these words:
"Do
not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone
who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks
at his face in a mirror and,
after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But
whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues
in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in
what they do."
James holds us to a high
standard. In a very few pages, he
challenges us to be better than the world.
Because of our relationship with God, we should settle for nothing less
than the best in our lives, relationships, and service.
The words of James call the
church not just to provide the bare minimum required by law or to follow the “best
practices” of the world but to go further and pursue kingdom practices. We should not only meet the basic personnel
policies required by law or match the best standards that effective businesses
use but go beyond and adhere to higher standards.
For example, churches and church
related ministries ought to have the most progressive personnel policies and benefits
available. We should be in the forefront
of providing maternity and paternity leave policies that encourage healthy
families. We should be encouraging our
employees (and our members and supporters as well) to follow good health
practices. We should be providing the
resources that help our employees do their jobs well and develop their
skills. In short, rather than thinking
about the least that we can do to meet the minimum standards, we should be
willing to go beyond.
This calls for good stewardship
of resources by those in decision-making roles.
It also expects those employed by the church or organization to be wise
servants of the ministry.
We serve the One who knows not
only our actions but the desires of our hearts.
We have “looked in the mirror” and seen what God requires of us. We cannot look away and forget what we have
been called to show the world—excellence not mediocrity.
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