Viva la difference ...

Come with me on a bit of historical journey ... Imagine walking through the Judean wilderness - up ahead is the "mighty" River Jordan ... along its banks stands the wild and wooly prophet John, calling to the people to come and be baptised ...

"Baptism??" they wonder, "we know about the Miqvah, but what is this Baptism that crazed man keeps hollering about??"

John for his part is dressed the part of the desert ascetitic ... he beard is wild and unkempt, his hair is long, his clothing is rough and somewhat aromatic ... He is yelling about the need for the people to repent and to accept the act of Baptism to wash away thier sins and make them acceptable before God ...

People are lining up three deep along the river banks waiting their turn ... there is a festive air to the whole scene ... there is a sense of expectancy, like something BIG is about to happen ...

NOW, as John stands in the river he is talking about one coming after him who is greater then he is, one that John is not even worthy to his sandals ...

And suddenly, there he is - a man in his early thirties, his robes are dirty from wandering the highways and byways of Judea ... his hair is long, his beard is unkempt (though neater then John's) and his appearance is not dissimilar to John's ... He is surrounded by a motley crew of men and women ... he stands on the river bank and smiles at his cousin - then he begins to speak ...

Now, if you want the scriptural version of what Jesus said in that moment - turn to the New Testment Gospel accounts ... but imagine for a minute if Jesus instead said - "John, can't you tone it down a bit?? All this talk of repentance and the sword is a real downer, it's turning people off ... it makes them uncomfortable. You need to reign yourself in a bit John. Stick to stuff the crowds want, stop making people uncomfortable will ya???"

Sound far fetched??

Not in the modern church ... I have in my journey repeatedly had colleagues rebuke and rebuff me (sometimes publically, sometimes privately) for things that are theological and practical ... My style is mine - not theirs and vice versa ... My way of approaching things is to some blunt and gruff ... I can be intimidating (usually without trying) ... and I can scare the begeepers out of people ... But that is not me - I have bad days, and I have moments when my back is up ... (so do we all)

Yet, for each person that I've intimidated or offended there are numerous others who are encouraged, enlivened and uplifted by me ... and that is true of all ministers. You don't have to search long or hard in a church to find opposition to the leadership ... sometimes the concerns are legitimate, but often it is a matter of style and personality (and sometimes it is an age thing). In every church there are those who think the current minister is great, and there are those who think he/she is a total jerk, and there are dozens in between ... The challenge to be addressed and overcome is one of not attacking the style of the person, but commenting on the content of thier message ...

How many of us know of a fabulous minister who was a lousy speaker, but was a great person who exuded love and care? The message was openly recieved ... the style, or lack thereof was overlooked ...

The challenge in the Church is to allow ministry personnell to be themselves ... I would hope I never criticise a colleague for their style (the content of their sermon's are fair game), and I would trust that they extend the same basic courtesy ...

Perhaps the bigger challenge is the loss of civility in this United Church of ours ... and if we are civil and respectful we won't have a scene like John and Jesus exchanging barbs at the Jordan River - instead they will minister alongside one another and together help herald the Kingdom of God that is meant to be ...

The work of the Kingdom can never happen if we are living and dying by popularity contests ... this isn't Survivor, American Idol or The Apprentice - this is the Church, the incarnate Body of Christ, where a diverse multitude of people are called to ministry - some have ways that appeal to us, some have ways that offend us (sometimes the same person represents the same thing to a community) - our challenge is to check our bias at the door and let the Gospel sweep over us ... The Kingdom will never come if we determine success or failure by voting and popularity ... let's leave that to the entertainment industry ...

The Spirit is busy - may we be open to it's work ...

may it be so,