To Be Forgotten

"You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." James 4:14


Consistently I come face to face with a guttural inclination to build my own kingdom. I suppose that is the way of our human experience. Labor well, make a name for yourself, influence, cash out and retire. Even in the church I can attempt to build a ministry based on my personality and try to so align structures and personnel around me as the center creating and prolonging my influence, establishing my legacy.


It really is pastoral insecurity. I lose the trust I once had in Christ to build his church and I expend myself in proving my worth and ability. A firm remedy for this way of living and leading is found in the words of James. Speaking to the one that would make great declarations of going to this place or that and profiting, James says, "what is your life? For you are a mist that vanishes... you are mere vapor." Mist is temporary and forgettable. Vapor blows away with time, and not that much time. This is a reminder that I will, and should be, forgotten and that is a good thing if I am thinking right.


You see, for all of us, to be forgotten is either a fear or a freedom.


If all I am living for, whether I know it or not, is my own legacy then the idea of being forgotten is terrible for me. I fear it. All the sweat, ingenuity and excellence I pour out is for not if it was for me. I know men that this fear is greatly effecting, even crippling in ministry. Every new action or innovation is at the heart level an attempt to validate themselves and prove they have the magic touch. And I get it. This is me on too many days. But ministry or life out of fear is ridiculous and in opposition to biblical calls to not fear. There is a better way.


When I recognize that the legacy I am laboring toward is a gospel legacy, the proclamation of Jesus and his grace through generations, I am freed from insecurity and fear and invest time and energy with joy and passion. I actually love with the enthusiasm that Paul writes about in Romans 12 and leave people not with my own vapor but the One that remains forever, Jesus. I give up the things I think only I can manage. I share the pulpit and teaching opportunities. I allow others to use their gifts. I highlight others rather than myself. And I rest well trusting that Christ really will build his church with the collection of broken people he has called to it. To be forgotten is freeing as I live as my truest self, the redeemed sinner that doesn't have all the answers.


So today, whether you are pastor or not, and especially if you are a pastor, let the reality of your soon-to-be-forgotten status free you to share grace and the goodness of Christ released from the burden of fear and legacy for your own sake. And when the time comes, vanish, you are going to eventually. The way of freedom is more of an adventure anyway so get in on it!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Artisan Disruption

This week while in Phoenix for a couple of stirring days thinking about equipping the church and living into our missional calling together I experienced artisan disruption.  The lads and I were heading to the second day of the gathering and decided to find some local coffee spot to fuel our morning. When the first stop was closed we rounded the corner into another shop that pushed against our attempts at constant efficiency.  Inside a small art gallery (which also had a hair salon) there was a coffee bar, with one barista doing more than just making drinks, he was making art. The guy had form, precision, and and exacting hand as he made each drink.  The line was out the door yet he carried on, unhurried, unhindered by demand. He was the artisan.  At first I felt out of place. After all I am the guy who drinks from carafes at Panera because I have a sip membership. So to be in a bespoke establishment pulled me out of my element to begin with. This is a discomfort I enjoy
Read more

We don't need better slogans we need to better understand grace

Admit it, you, like me have wasted entirely too much time thinking of new acronyms and poster ideas that will launch us into holiness. And all that we have achieved is lame preaching on being "better" and trying harder and the realization that we fail time and time again. We don't get grace. Matt Chandler is staring this problem in the face and calling it out. "The problem as I perceive it as a Pastor is that most of those who claim to know and love God want to see sin lose its power in their lives and walk in greater intimacy with Christ; most are exhausted and have been trying to mortify sin by promises and threats rather than through the weapons grace provides. By "promises" I mean they believe that they will have life to the “full” and get a great house in heaven if they behave in this manner or that manner..." "Another very popular sport... is fighting residual sin with our own vows and resolution—these become our defense.  In the end, you a
Read more

The Scandal of Free Turtles

Image
My son has/had a couple of turtles. Red-eared sliders who thankfully resided at my dear Aunt's place in town. In her spoiling of my children, somehow turtles were purchased and nurtured. We saw these turtles every week and they were very well taken care of.  Then my beloved Aunt decides to move to Arizona. The plan had long been that once we bought a house the turtles would reside with us in a pond of some sort on our property. But as the inevitable transition approached we balked and my Aunt set out to find a new home for Fred and Percy.  This brings us to our scandalous story.  My Aunt arranged for the turtles to live in a pond, in a gated community, in the back yard of a local dentist. We set out on Sunday to meet and send off the turtles to their new home. But as we arrived at the gate, the doctor was not answering her phone and we didn't know how to get in.  After some time someone drove in and our cars quickly followed through the open gate. Parking at the house the secon
Read more