A Good Minister

A Good Minister

The time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.

John 4:23

It is always fascinating to me that we humans seemed to have split the true religion of God into many segments and parts. Have you noticed that too? Some of us are more comfortable with quiet, calm worship services; others among us like more spirited, exciting services. Some people like a minister who speaks calmly with reason; others prefer a minister who shouts and moves around a lot. “Different strokes for different folks” is the way the phrase goes.

Yet, I sometimes wonder if God is really concerned about our comfort. Rather, he may be more concerned with our spiritual completeness. And when we throw out the parts of his complete truth to suit ourselves, in order to be comfortable, do we not also throw out vital parts of the whole?

One well-known minister, Edgar DeWitt Jones, once addressed this issue by propounding the specifications of what he thought made a good minister:

He should get religion like a Methodist; experience it like a Baptist; be sure of it like a Disciple; stick to it like a Lutheran; pray for it like a Presbyterian; conciliate it like a Congregationalist; glorify it like a Jew; be proud of it like an Episcopalian; practice it like a Christian Scientist; propagate it like a Roman Catholic; work for it like a Salvation Army lassie; and enjoy it like a Charismatic.

The question is, why do we have to give up anything? Why can we not include all the elements of truth? That way, no one would be comfortable or uncomfortable all the time, but we could all be complete all the time. What do you think?

Dear Father, forgive us for treating your worship like a meal at the cafeteria—just picking and choosing the parts we like. Instead, Father, please help us to worship you wholly, in spirit and in truth. Amen.