Love unpacked

My calling to a lifetime of ministry has always been very clear and strong in my life. It came with clarity after a summer of ministry in churches and camps, working with people, learning from God. It was right after that and before my third year of college, when He started talking with me about answering a call he had on my life.

The truth was that I was willing to work for Him, full steam. But I didn’t want it to be in Pastoral ministry. Many of my pastors during my teen years were more about their own kingdoms, than Gods. A number of them brought division to the church.

And honestly, I didn’t understand pastors who were about keeping the big wheels turning, more than they were about the people. Pastors who wanted to protect old church systems and old rules, who seemed to care little about people, and Gods church.

Yes I was naïve what with me telling God what I would and wouldn’t do for him. But he was patient with me. I mean, look at me now having completed 39 years in local church pastoral ministry.

Anyway, this morning we were walking and talking. You might call it praying. I was reflecting on the unique pastoral ministry opportunities He’s led us in. Lay pastoral ministry in a large bilingual language and cultural church in southern Ontario. Starting a new church in South Winnipeg. Helping heal a broken church in Saskatchewan. And ending up in a rural country church in a field in Alberta.

He showed me how, over the years He has kept me from pastoral work that was all about systems, structures and keeping big wheels turning. The exact things I never wanted to be involved with. The clarity struck me with such care.

Many times I have wondered why God led me to the churches I have served and not others I thought I might prefer. I expect there are many reasons most of which I won’t know until I see Him face to face. But this morning he did show me something amazing. That none of the churches I’ve pastored have forced me to change my values. I’ve never had to give up my principles of people over systems and structures.

When we demand that the rules of the church become more important than the people who make up The Church, it has become religion. And I’ve never wanted to spend my life propagating religion.