Over the next few months, we are going to do a deep dive into the Beatitudes. This famous passage of Scripture from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount has much to teach us as women pastors and leaders both inside and outside the church. We must focus on God’s way rather than the way of the world in our leadership and lives.
These things we are going to discuss may make you feel uncomfortable, stretch you in ways you didn’t know you could, and may go against everything in you that is natural—that’s okay. Jesus came to challenge us, flip our worlds upside right, and help us be more like Him, not more like the world. In order to do that, we must let go of our preconceived ideas, and the things we have learned from the world and dive deeply with fresh eyes into what He is saying. Are you ready to be transformed?
Success?
Matthew writes in Chapters 5-7 a famous sermon that we know as “The Sermon on the Mount”. This sermon is powerful, life changing, and flips what we are taught in our culture on its head. This passage of Scripture is sometimes widely known and something that if you’ve been around the church for a fair bit of time, you’ve heard preached or taught about numerous times—or maybe you’ve even preached and taught it numerous times. It may even be so familiar that we skim over it quickly rather than drink deeply from this passage when we encounter it.
In our culture, we are taught to strive for success; not just in the secular world, but in the church world too. The church leaders with the biggest numbers get applauded. Those who perform the most baptisms are lauded. Women pastors—and men pastors too—we must stop striving for the applause of people and strive to constantly and consistently walk in obedience to the One and Only who has called us.
A Clean Brain
This is going to take some “brain-washing” maybe: and some of us may need our brains washed of all the negative thoughts and words that have been spoken to us and/or about us that speak louder than the Truth. Some rewiring of the mind and a change of focus may need to be done to truly grasp that obedience is better than striving.
Walking in your calling and fulfilling it is better than posting big numbers and gaining a name and platform for yourself.
As I’ve listened to and been processing the podcast “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill”, I saw glimmers of myself and the dark side of leadership that we all like to ignore and pretend is not there.
So what things are truly important? Jesus tells us what the best things are in the Beatitudes and these professions can turn everything that we hold sacred and dear on their head. Let’s read through this passage slowly and take some time to assess our own motives, intentions, and expectations. Be honest with yourself and ask yourself, “Am I tracking with Jesus or has something else become my first love?”
The Beatitudes
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’ 2 Matthew 5:1-12 NRSV
So What Is Ministry Really About?
See, it’s not numbers in seats, but names of real people who are being transformed by the Gospel that matter. I am often reminded of what our current DS says about people - “every number has a name, and every name matters to Jesus.”1 This is true and something we must remind ourselves of as we encounter and minister to others. Jesus saw people: stopped and looked them in the face, met them in their needs, loved them unconditionally, and felt their pain.
When I look through and study the Scriptures, I am awestruck by the prophets of old (for many reasons and unfortunately, we do not have time to get into right now). Let’s consider three in particular: Jonah, Jeremiah, and John the Baptist.
Jonah was disobedient and tried to run away from his calling, but eventually, though argumentatively, submitted to God’s call and an entire city was transformed by the message he shared. Jeremiah on the other hand, prophesied and spoke God’s word faithfully, yet he did not have a single convert in his ministry. Then comes along John the Baptist, who spoke of himself as one that “must decrease.”
When we consider our own ministries, do we ever consider anything less than converting a city to be successful? Are we okay with preaching the Gospel and never having a convert - or do we think (and are told) that there’s something wrong with us if we don’t? Consider even John the Baptist’s ministry of decreasing…who in their right mind would celebrate a decreasing ministry?
Jonah, Jeremiah, and John had very different callings and very different ministries to very different peoples. None is more important than another and none should be more celebrated. Yes, Jonah’s disobedience was bad, his attitude leaves a lot to be desired, but if we’re simply counting conversions, he is a profound success. Jeremiah’s obedience and faithfulness to God and sharing God’s message is inspiring, but if we use the same measure of simply counting conversions, he was a miserable failure. John the Baptist started strong, then realized that his ministry must decrease and Jesus’ ministry must increase. Again, if we’re counting conversions only, he would not be top shelf.
Each of these prophets walked in obedience to their calling—well, except Jonah; he operated at less than full obedience, but even in that, God still worked miraculously through him. God calls us, each one who has been called to be on mission with Him. God equips us, and will give each of us everything we need to fulfill the calling He has given us, and God will be with us throughout the mission that He has us on. God called, equipped, and was with Jonah, Jeremiah, and John and He will be with you too.
Don’t worry about metrics and things you can see as much as being obedient to the calling God has for your life. Also, don’t take this as a license to be lazy and not fulfill your calling. This is between you and Jesus. Are you walking in obedience to His calling or trying to fulfill a ministry that someone has put on you?
Make it Personal
- As we have begun to look at the Beatitudes, is there one in particular that jumps out at you?
- Is there one that especially speaks to your soul, something that Jesus is desperately trying to minister to your heart through?
- Take that particular Beatitude and write it down, memorize it, meditate on it, ask God how to make it part of who you are, surrendering all old thoughts, ways, and expectations; and instead pick up the mantle of truth that He has for you.
The Beatitudes will change the trajectory of your life if you allow them to. If you take the Beatitudes seriously, grasping and reaching for power and significance will come to an end and you will learn to be okay living in obscurity (if that’s what He’s calling you to) rather than seeking out celebrity status.
- Can you be okay with being who God is calling you to—be it highly visible and celebrity, someone who is obedient and doesn’t celebrate all the fruit, or even someone who must decrease? May everything you do be for the glory and lifting up of Jesus rather than your own platform building.
- Spend some time in solitude and silence and see where He is guiding you.
References
- Rev. Peter Moore, DS Atlantic District of the Wesleyan Church
- https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A1-12&version=NRSV
Photo: Jan Brueghel the Elder (Flemish, 1568 - 1625)The Sermon on the Mount, 1598, Oil on copper.
https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/738/jan-brueghel-the-elder-the-sermon-on-the-mount-flemish-1598/?dz=0.3670,0.3790,1.71
