ii. Seeking first the kingdom and God’s righteousness, boldly and
fearlessly proclaiming the Gospel (Matt 6:33, 10:26-33)
CABC-WR held the Perspectives
Course on Thursday evenings in March. The classes cover a simplified overview
of church history and emphasise the importance missions. It includes practical
tasks on spreading the gospel and ways we can support missionaries. It was easy
to apply: I was already supporting two missionaries financially and shared some
personal testimonies when I caught up with friends. I think it is a good course
for planting seeds of the Gospel in people’s hearts, but inadequate for
discipleship. Furthermore, as John Wesley puts it, “the world is my parish.”
Most of our time is spent in our workplace.[1] Research
in Australia shows that the two most inappropriate places to discuss
spirituality and religion are in shopping centres and community events. To me,
this suggests that the workplace is where the “gold” is. People tend to be put
off by strangers in public spaces, but are more likely to be receptive to
people whom they trust. The workplace is one possible place to build such
relationships. Boldly and fearlessly proclaiming the Gospel in the workplace is
where the challenge lies. Many ministers are theologically trained but could
not relate to practical problems people face at work. The church tends to
divide life and work into sacred and secular compartments, with work done
outside the church being seen as secular work. Those of us who are not in
fulltime ministry can feel like we are living a double life, where we are
disintegrating instead of integrating faith of work.[2]
The clinic I work in is
extremely busy, so my time with each patient is short and task-orientated. In
this context, I feel tested in my patience and gentleness, and must constantly
remind myself to seek first the kingdom of God’s righteousness. God is the
source of love. The power to transforms lives comes from Him. By myself, I can
do nothing. Over the years, I tried my best to practice
what Martin coins as “Holy Working”.[3] I
found that as I gradually became more patient and gentle, I am proclaiming the
Gospel through my actions, which is much more convincing. Research also shows
that people living out authentic faith is the greatest attraction to further
investigation religion.[4] I
try to stick to Christian values. When people try to tempt me to do what is
wrong (eg. produce a report that is different from my observation), I am firm
in rejecting these. My clinical workplace has been helpful in challenging me
and helping me grow.
iii. Demonstrating the characteristics and qualities of a servant (Mk10:35-45)
Rev Fu organised a Valentine’s day dinner for five church
couples. There were only four people involved with the organisation and
preparation of this event: Rev Fu, her husband, me, and another brother. This
is very different from previous church events I had been involved with which
had large busy teams where tasks were more divided up and felt more mechanical.
This time, I served in ways I never done before, such thinking about how to set
up and decorate the tables, helping with food preparation, and waitressing the
couples. This is a more personalised approach to serving, which helps build closer
relationships. Just like how buying a cake to give someone as a present feels
different from making a cake for someone. Closer relationships help teamwork. Gospel
leaders cannot be “lone rangers.” Even Jesus needed a team, however flawed the
team members happened to be.[5]
Much of the
condemnations of the Old Testament prophets revolve around a misuse of work,
eg. Ezekiel34 condemned Israel’s leaders for their brutal treatment of the
“sheep”. Leadership is about service, about shepherds who care for the sheep.[6] “Whoever
wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all” (Mark9:35). Greenleaf believes “the great leader
is seen as servant first.”[7] Leadership
is about leaving your comfort zone and taking a risk to engage those around
you.[8] For
Greenleaf, serving does not mean one is a martyr or a slave, but one who
consciously nurtures the mature growth of self, other people, institutions, and
communities, the objective being to building a better, more caring society.[9]
The servant-leader is committed to the growth of every individual within his or
her institution.[10] It
is the power to influence rather than the power to control.[11]
Whilst I have assisted with ministry tasks, I do not have much experience in
leadership. One of Rev Fu’s goals is for me to be able to lead a small group
later on. I have to further develop skills to engage and express care for
others, perhaps through pastoral visitations. For example, the skill of
“attending”, which means relating to others with openness, attentiveness, and
prayerfulness, bringing about the presence of the Holy Spirit.[12]
vi. Offering one’s body as a living sacrifice, being transformed by the
renewing of the mind, using one’s gifts enthusiastically, never lacking in
zeal, keeping one’s spiritual fervour, serving the Lord (Rom12:1-13)
Ultimately,
self-sacrifice is the highest act of servanthood. “…unless a kernel of wheat
falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it
produces many seeds” (John12:24). Jesus himself sets the best example, by
creating around him a community of the marginalised such as the tax collectors,
the poor, and social outcasts, then giving his life as a ransom for many on the
cross.[13] I
am still a far way from Jesus. After all, only Christ himself can live the
Christian life, and he does this in us and through us (John 15:1-8; cf.
2Corinthians 2:14).[14]
The first sacrifices I made were career related, becoming a GP so I do not have
to do shift-work and can attend and serve in church every Sunday. Then I obeyed
God’s calling to work in a place that do not seem to be too attractive
financially. I further sacrificed my time and finance to study MDiv. I am leaving
my comfort zone to try out a wider range of tasks so growth is happening and
more spiritual gifts can be discovered. There is a human paradox: the more a
person reaches out beyond herself, the more she is enriched and deepened, and
the more she grows in likeness to God.[15]
For example, expanding
my relational capacity by trying to speak to different people, as God has
commanded us to “make disciples of all nations” and “love your neighbours as
yourselves”. However, the thought of getting close to the homeless and drug
addicts is still quite uncomfortable for me. I am still far from Jesus, who
loves every single person. I do not like public speaking but am trying out the
task of MC for Sunday service, so God can use me on the pulpit one day. Ultimately,
being a living sacrifice is to live our whole life in God’s presence. So I am
trying to develop the “spirituality of the presence”[16],
beginning with daily Scriptural readings, spiritual reflection and continuous
prayer, especially in my clinical workplace.[17] Yancy
believes it is important to offer God your heart from time to time, even in the
midst of chores, so it becomes a habit.[18]
The parable of the talents (Luke19:12-27) illustrate the eschatological
danger of not using our time and talents wisely.[19] I
need a close fellowship with the Holy Spirit, which directs me and provides me
with the power to cooperate with God so I can do God’s work.[20]
Hopefully if I am obedient enough, my capacity to do God’s work will be
increased so one day I will be willing to go to unreached people.
viii. Setting forth the truth plainly, preaching the Lord Jesus Christ,
persevering under trials, fixing one’s eyes on what is unseen and eternal (2Cor4:1-18)
The notion that “bigger
is better” makes it tempting for us to distort the Word of God to benefit
ourselves or suit our audience[21],
so we see an expansion in the size of our ministry. There is a temptation to
perceive the pastor as an enterprising entrepreneur who only needs to adopt the
latest marketing advice from the business schools.[22]
However, we can see that Ezekiel’s calling is not to success but to
faithfulness. Every aspect of the call remains under the sovereign control of
God, especially the results, and apparent effectiveness is no proof of calling.[23]
This challenges the notion that “bigger is better.” The primary goal of one’s
ministry is to bring glory to God by preaching and modelling the message he has
been given[24],
no matter the consequences.[25]
It is getting
increasingly difficult to set forth the truth plainly these days. For instance,
the legalisation of same sex marriage is raging in Taiwan. When I was on an
educational exchange in Taiwan last year, most of the younger doctors were
highly supportive of same sex marriage, and criticise Christian values on their
social media. Although some people inquisitive about Christianity told me they
cannot accept that a loving God makes people go to hell, I cannot sugar-coat on
the essentials of faith.[26]
Furthermore, people can be preaching the truth, but be unbalanced in their
selection of topics, eg. Focusing on success and grace. I will try keeping a
balance in my future preaching. In reality, people get stuck at points in their
lives even though they know God had called them, ie. not in a position of
influence and have no ability to change their environment, the movie “Silence”
is an extreme example. Luckily I am not persecuted for my faith! Spiritually, we have to constantly remind
ourselves that we are called not to success but to follow Christ, and that
everything in this world will pass, but there is also an everlasting home to
return to.
ix. Living by faith not by sight, making it one’s goal to please the Lord
in view of his return (2Cor5:1-10)
We live in a fallen
world and the impact of sin infiltrates all places, including the church. There
is no such thing as a perfect church. Rather than seek to find or build a
“perfect” church, we go where God is calling us. Adams observes that “you must
love the congregation as it actually is now, not… five years from now. You must
get to know the people and love them each and all as they actually are, not as
the people you want them to become... Only after you have lived together in
love can you move forward together in hope.”[27] This
is a challenge because I am new to the CABC-WR. I put this in my prayers and
God seem to be opening the doors as I become more familiarised with the people.
I think the greatest challenge is to love those who you do not get on with.
There was an interpersonal conflict this year which I put in the hands of God,
and God is opening the doors for reconciliation currently.
Christian spirituality is often described as a journey rather than a
destination. Brueggemann suggests that life of faith is a journey with God
characterised by three basic movements: being oriented, being disoriented, and
being surprisingly reoriented.[28]
Our journey and growth as disciples means we need to expand the overlap between
belief, attitude and action so that they align.[29] Colossians3:23 reminds us that it is God
we work for, and our work is the gift he prepared for us[30]
so that we can learn to be a disciple. “Work is about stewardship,
productivity, fruitfulness, relationships, for the good of the world, and for
the glory of God.”[31]
xii. Demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal5:22-23)
In addition to my patients
being the cultivators for my fruits of the Spirit, my family and friends are
also my teachers. In the small group, the parents of teenagers started discussing
the challenges of raising children. Their children drive them “angry as a devil”.
We have to remember that children are our inheritance from God, and also part
of the process in shaping us to be more like Christ. We have to accept that our
children can be quite different from us, and affirm them rather than discourage
them. However, there are times where we have to put a stop to destructive
behaviours, and we can only pray to God that our children can see the love
behind this. The elders in our lives can be teachers of our patience too. I
have been encountering elders with early dementia in our family, the work
setting and the church setting. Sometimes when you have just answered their
question, they ask the same question again. Other times they have dangerous
habits eg. not locking the door properly at night, but gets angry when you try
to tell them about safer methods. In those circumstances, we can only offer our
presence and prayers and assist them physically, which requires patience, kindness,
and gentleness.
We are human beings, not
human doings. God is more concerned with who we become than what we accomplish.[32] As branches of the true vine, we do
not create life, but we receive it through our connection with the vine. Good
works are not attained by dependence on our own fleshly efforts; instead, they
flow from the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells us (Galatians5:16-25).[33] Prayer is the central avenue God uses to transform
us.[34] Paul wrote, “be imitators of me as I am of
Christ.” 1Corinthians11-1. Paul’s use of the word imitators is important.
Modelling, observing and copying is vital to discipleship because of the
biblical view of the way disciples must learn.[35]
In addition to imitating Christ, it is also important to find good mentors. We
learn to do ministry by imitating those who do it well.[36]
Interestingly, as I reflect on my calling from last Friday until this
week, on the 12July there was a bombardment of doctor+missions+holistic care
related messages (which was what I have been thinking about for the last week):
When I first opened my eyes a pastor from Melbourne posted about his “five
star” Christian GP who did a three week short mission in Cambodia. Then I
received an email from RACGP about the new government incentive for GPs to
provide psychotherapies so as to provide more holistic care for patients. Then
a pastor from Gold Coast posted something about searching for a GP to provide
holistic care for a community. I have never encountered this many
doctor+mission+holistic care messages in one day! This does not seem to be some
random coincidence. So I don't know what doors will open up in the future, but it seems to be something along this direction.
Bibliography:
Adams, Joanna M. “What I Would Like to Tell My Colleagues in
Ministry.” In Best Advice: Wisdom on
Ministry from 30 Leading Pastors and Preachers, edited by William J. Carl,
1-6. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009.
Agosto, Efrain. Servant
leadership: Jesus & Paul. St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2005.
Barnes, Craig. “Three Temptations of the Pastor.” In Best Advice: Wisdom on Ministry from 30
Leading Pastors and Preachers, edited by William J. Carl, 14-20. Louisville:
Westminster John Knox Press, 2009.
Block,
Daniel I. The Book of Ezekiel Chapters
1-24. Grand Rapids: William B Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1997.
Boa,
Kenneth. Conformed to His Image: Biblical and Practical Approaches to
Spiritual Formation, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001
Buchanan, John. “Why Stay in the Church?” In Best Advice: Wisdom on Ministry from 30
Leading Pastors and Preachers, edited by William J. Carl, 14-20. Louisville:
Westminster John Knox Press, 2009.
Calhoun, Adele Ahlberg. Spiritual
Disciplines Handbook. Downer’s Grove: IVP Books, 2015.
Crossan, John Dominic. Jesus:
A Revolutionary Biography. San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1994.
Dawson, Gerrit Scott. “The Christian Life as a Journey.” In Companions in Christ. Participant's Book: A
Small-Group Experience in Spiritual Formation, edited by Willard, Dallas,
and Don Simpson, 17-24. Nashville: Upper Room Books, 2001.
Duguid,
Iain M. Ezekiel: The NIV Application
Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999.
Foster,
Richard J. Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth,
London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1999.
Greenleaf, Robert K. Servant
Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness.
Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1991.
Greenleaf, Robert K. The
Power of Servant Leadership. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers,
1998.
Guinness, Os. The Call:
Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life, Nashville: Word,
1998.
Lore, John S. “Servant-Leadership in a Christian
Organization: The Sisters of St. Joseph Health System.” In Insights on Leadership, edited by Larry C. Spears, 297-307. New
York: John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1998.
Malphurs, Aubrey. A
New Kind of Church. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2007.
Martin, Kara. Workship:
How To Use Your Work To Worship God. Singapore: Graceworks Private Limited,
2017.
McCrindle, Mark. Faith
and Belief in Australia: A national study on religion, spirituality and
worldview trends. Australia: McCrindle Research Pty Ltd, 2017.
Osmer, Richard R. Practical
Theology: An Introduction. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing
Company, 2008.
Sipe, James W., and Frick, Don M. Seven Pillars of Servant Leadership: Practicing the Wisdom of Leading
by Serving. New York: Paulist Press, 2009.
“Transformational Discipleship Program Foundation Module 1”,
Morling College, 2017.
Wang, Ying-fan
Yvonne. Dr Yvonne Wang’s Blabberings. Last modified July 8, 2017. http://dryvonnewang.blogspot.com.au
Wright, Walter C. Relational
Leadership: A Biblical Model for Influence and Service. Colorado Springs:
Biblica, 2009.
Yancey, Philip. Reaching
for the Invisible God: What Can We Expect to Find? Grand Rapids: Zondervan
Publishing House, 2000.
[1]
Mark McCrindle, Faith and Belief in
Australia: A national study on religion, spirituality and worldview trends (Australia:
McCrindle Research Pty Ltd, 2017), 27.
[2] Kara
Martin, Workship: How To Use Your Work To
Worship God (Singapore: Graceworks Private Limited, 2017), xix.
[3] Martin,
Workship, 69. Holy Working is
virtuous, where you set high standards for yourself in the workplace, with a
focus on personal moral transformation and training in godliness.
[4] McCrindle,
Faith and Belief in Australia, 26.
[5]
Efrain Agosto, Servant leadership: Jesus
& Paul (St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2005), 96.
[6] Walter
C. Wright, Relational Leadership: A
Biblical Model for Influence and Service (Colorado Springs: Biblical, 2009),
38.
[7] Robert
K. Greenleaf, Servant Leadership: A
Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness(Mahwah: Paulist
Press, 1991), 7.
[8] Wright,
Relational Leadership, 41.
[9] James
W. Sipe, and Don M. Frick, Seven Pillars
of Servant Leadership: Practicing the Wisdom of Leading by Serving (New
York: Paulist Press 2009), 38.
[10]
Robert K Greenleaf, The Power of Servant
Leadership, (San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 1998), 7.
[11] John
S. Lore, “Servant-Leadership in a Christian Organization: The Sisters of St.
Joseph Health System,” in Insights on
Leadership, ed. Larry C. Spears (New York: John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1998),
307.
[12] Richard
R.Osmer, Practical Theology: An
Introduction(Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2008), 34.
[13] John
Dominic Crossan, Jesus: A Revolutionary
Biography, (San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1994), 75-91.
[14] Kenneth Boa, Conformed to His
Image: Biblical and Practical Approaches to Spiritual Formation (Grand
Rapids: Zondervan, 2001), 102-04.
[15] Philip Yancey, Reaching
for the Invisible God: What Can We Expect to Find? (Grand Rapids: Zondervan
Publishing House, 2000), 239.
[16] Osmer,
Practical Theology, 34.
[17] Martin,
Workship, 85-86.
[18]
Yancey, Reaching for the Invisible God,
204-205.
[19] Agosto,
Servant leadership, 84.
[20] Martin,
Workship, 104.
[21] Martin,
Workship, 78.
[22] Craig
Barnes, “Three Temptations of the Pastor,” in Best Advice: Wisdom on Ministry from 30 Leading Pastors and Preachers,
ed. William J. Carl. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009), 19.
[23] Daniel
I.Block, The Book of Ezekiel Chapters
1-24(Grand Rapids: William B Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1997), 131.
[24] Iain M. Duguid, Ezekiel: The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan,
1999), 74.
[25] Duguid, Ezekiel, 75.
[26] Aubry
Malphurs, A New Kind of Church(Grand
Rapids: Baker Books, 2007), 136. The inspiration of the Bible as the Word of
God. The existence of only one true God as three coequal and coeternal persons
(the Trinity). The deity and substitutionary atonement of Christ. The bodily
resurrection of Christ. The physical return of Christ.
[27]
Joanna M. Adams, “What I Would Like to Tell My Colleagues in Ministry,” in Best Advice: Wisdom on Ministry from 30
Leading Pastors and Preachers, ed. William J. Carl. (Louisville:
Westminster John Knox Press, 2009), 4.
[28]
Gerrit Scott Dawson, “The Christian Life as a Journey,” in Companions in Christ. Participant's Book: A Small-Group Experience in
Spiritual Formation, ed. by Willard, Dallas, and Don Simpson (Nashville:
Upper Room Books, 2001), 18.
[29]
“Transformational Discipleship Program Foundation Module 1”, (Morling College,
2017), 7.
[30] Martin,
Workship, 13.
[31] Martin,
Workship, 23.
[32] Adele
Ahlberg Calhoun, Spiritual Disciplines
Handbook (Downer’s Grove: IVP Books, 2015), 21.
[33] Kenneth Boa, Conformed to His
Image: Biblical and Practical Approaches to Spiritual Formation (Grand
Rapids: Zondervan, 2001), 102-04.
[34] Richard J. Foster, Celebration of
Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth (London: Hodder & Stoughton,
1999), 42.
[35] Os Guinness, The
Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life (Nashville:
Word, 1998), 85.
[36]
John Buchanan, “Why Stay in the Church?” in Best
Advice: Wisdom on Ministry from 30 Leading Pastors and Preachers, ed.
William J. Carl. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009), 29.
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