Church or Ministry?

Bethany and I thought we had come to a fork in the road. It seemed our ministry would not let us have Sundays off to go to church and now our church was asking us to take a membership class on Sunday mornings or to look for a different small group. Ouch! Our church was asking us to consider giving up our ministry and our ministry was asking us to give up church. That is how is looked at first to us. So we asked ourselves what is more important? Church or ministry?

This led to one of the most painful bible studies I can remember having as Bethany and I searched scripture trying to find out if ministry or church involvement is more important. Let me save anyone who might find themselves in that place some trouble: both are important. You should not be trying to decide if faith or love is more important or if Jesus or God is more important or if praying or reading the word is more important. We decided to stop trying to pick one thing over the other and instead make every effort to live a well-rounded Christian life. Here is a nice list of scripture pertaining to the importance of church involvement and also of ministry. God desires both for His children.

Church Involvement

• Love one another (John 13:34)
• Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:5)
• Honor one another (Romans 12:10)
• Rejoice with one another (Romans 12:15)
• Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)
• Carry one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2)
• Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32)
• Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
• Offer hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9)
• Confess our sins to one another (James 5:16)
• Pray for one another (James 5:16)
• Don't give up meeting together (Hebrews 10:25)
• Worship God and serve Him (Matthew 4:10)
• Hear the word of God (Romans 10:17)

Ministry Involvement

• Give to the needy (Matthew 6:2)
• We are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14)
• Go and make disciples and teach them to obey Christ's teachings (Matthew 28:16)
• Give to the poor (Mark 10:21)
• The sick sinners need a doctor, not the healthy (Mark 2:17)
• Welcome little children in the name of Christ (Mark 9:37)
• Whenever you give a banquet invite the lowly people of society (Luke 14:13)
• Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10)
• People need to hear the gospel (Romans 1:16)
• When we live a Godly life we will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12)
• Preach the word (2 Timothy 4:2)
• Live good lives among pagans (1 Peter 2:12)
• Look after orphans and widows in their distress (James 1:27)

So you can imagine Bethany and I trying to decide which one was more important and what to do. What a nightmare of a discussion! Thankfully the discussion is now over but our situation has not yet fully resolved itself. Based on scripture and our experience, Bethany and I feel convicted about the importance of church involvement as well as our ministry. We have missed the fellowship and support of the church long enough and have seen the ways the church could help us and GAP in so many ways. My desire is to see the church and para-church team up to accomplish the mandates of scripture and bring God's kingdom here in Tucson.

Prayers: Pray for us as we try to explain our conviction about church to those we work with in GAP ministries. Pray for understanding so that we might be able to adjust our schedules to receive more of the fellowship, love, community, and support of a local church. Pray that the church would be willing to work with our situation and not ask us to give up our ministry. Pray for us also as we return to one of the hardest houses for us to work in tomorrow. Pray especially for Bethany that God would open her eyes to the good work she is doing and show her the fruit of her service to Him. Pray that we would both be filled with hope in God's promise and see Him at work in our situation!

Praises: I had a great meeting with the pastor of the church today. We looked at our church/ministry situation and he was very understanding. He has a great heart to follow scripture and build God's kingdom. It was very encouraging! Also praise God for a wonderful small group who shows Christ's love to us.