2nd Reason “Why”
Posted by pastorpic on September 16, 2008
Back to our “Why” Question meeting… Our church went through the NCD survey, and came up with “Gift Based Ministry” being our lowest category. We held a meeting to determine “Why”, and six things came up. We’ve talked about one already – People being afraid of judgment, criticism, etc. last week. I want to look briefly at the second one, and that is:
Don’t know what our gifts are or how to develop them. Church doesn’t know what gifts people have.
I think that there are legitimately 2 parts to this – people don’t know what their gifts are, and the church doesn’t know what gifts people have.
Part 1 – people don’t know what their gifts are. For some, I think there’s just general confusion about what “spiritual gifts” are. How do Spiritual Gifts differ from talents? How do I figure out what gift I have? Could I have more than one? If I’m really good at something, could that be my spiritual gift? Will Spiritual gifts make me feel important and special? Answering these questions is, in part, the church’s responsibility – and we’ll be addressing this in a sermon series soon. Part of it also is accomplishable through “smart” Bible study. I think we run the risk of opening ourselves up to deception if we decide we’re going to find out more about spiritual gifts by checking out two dozen books and reading what other people have to say about spiritual gifts. We have to start with the Bible and then, if we still have questions, find reliable sources to help after that. The four main listings of gifts in the New Testament (there are some others that could be added from OT scriptures) are in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 4.
Part 2 – Church
doesn’t know what gifts people have. This is an issue, and because of it, as we’ll see in other findings later, people often find themselves burning out or ministering in areas that they don’t feel gifted (which will eventually lead to burnout.) I’m not 100% sure how to overcome this, but I know that part of it needs to come from better communication between people and the church about their areas of giftedness. It’s not enough for the church to ‘guess’ about a person’s giftedness, and it’s not really enough for a person to come and say that “I’m gifted in teaching.” Ministry has to go beyond just sticking a person who’s gifted in teaching in a teaching spot, or a person in service into a serving spot, or a person who’s gifted in praying for healing into some vague healing ministry. The church has to not only know gifts, but know people, and have ministries available for them to be involved in. We need to find a way to know people, know their gifts, know our ministries, and have ways for gifted people to get involved in ministry.
MikeV said
One of the things that always perplexes me is, why people are so willing or even intent on working in areas that are outside of there areas of gifting. It is one thing to fill in because there is a need that has to be filled, it is completely another to desire to fill a position, long term, when the gifting just isn’t there i.e. can’t teach but, insists on teaching, can’t sing, insists on being on the worship team… I’m sure there is an endless list.
How do we create a culture where it is ok to have an occasional failure, but also have people be willing to be guided to areas where they may be better suited and have a greater potential for success?
pastorpic said
Good point, Mike.
I think that part of it is a perceived (or actual) hierarchy of gifts in our church culture. People who sing or teach may seem to receive more “reward” from their investment – so even if a person can’t, because they are seeking that kind of fulfillment, they continue to attempt and invest.
I really think that from a leadership point of view we need to “process” failure better. When a person doesn’t succeed in a particular ministry, rather than just picking them up, patting them on the back, and sending them back into the battle, we should help them process what went wrong, why, and help them find ministries in which they are successful.
I also think in part there is an “American Idol Syndrome.” People think they’re being mean if they don’t tell someone that this might not be their calling in life. After several seasons f AI – I think we see the tragic results of no one telling them that they need to look another direction…