Comments on: Busy, Frantic, and Overwhelmed?

By: Jim Martin

Jim Martin — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 19:54:01 +0000

Michelle,A very nice comment. What you say is so true. We have created these very, very busy churches which have impacted people in ways we may not even realize. I appreciate you bringing this to the forefront (along with a few others who have left comments).

By: Jim Martin

Jim Martin — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 19:41:10 +0000

Dave,(Regarding the new paragraphs. Several people have mentioned that. I will check into that today. Thanks for asking.)You are so right regarding reducing the organized ministries of churches. Sometimes, churches feel so cluttered that we are very active and busy but may not be doing any one thing particularly well.

By: Jim Martin

Jim Martin — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 19:37:52 +0000

Keith,Thanks for your comment. So very true. I like Rainer and need to read that book.

By: Keith Davis

Keith Davis — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 04:31:59 +0000

I’m reading a book that is relevant to this conversation called "Simple Church" by Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger. It tells of the effects on people in churches that have a simple goal and message of ministry. Sometimes we try and fit in too much stuff in a week. Even if it’s good things, it’s still too much.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 23:38:11 +0000

This sounds similar to the philosophy of Andy Stanley. They reduced all of the ministries of the church to a very small number, perhaps three? The idea was to eliminate everything that they were not good at – very good. This left worship services, Christian education, and maybe one other. Adding ministries is allowed, but the sponsor must show to the leadership that the church was absolutely the best place for this ministry to occur. Else it did not happen. I may not have all the details exactly perfect here, but the idea is correct. Is it easy to implement? Of course not, especially in an establishment church. Carrie’s comment and your answer relate to reducing the ministries of an individual. I think all of this equally applies to the organization as well. Last: are you the only one who can make newlines in comments?

By: Michelle Van Loon

Michelle Van Loon — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 22:27:43 +0000

For many people who really want to follow Jesus, a major cause of our busyness is the church. All of those activities – Bible studies and drama practices and Sunday School teaching. If you get good enough at being busy at the church, they make you a leader, which makes you even busier.
The last 3 years of our lives have been spent in transition (a sudden move, my husband’s extended job search while he finished seminary on a part-time basis, launching our kids into adulthood, and me writing 3 books) – which has prohibited us from participating in all of that church-sponsored busyness.
Prior to this, I had been craving a simplified life and time with God, and yet, I still find myself wrestling with who I really am as a Christian because no one at church needs me to be running anything, teaching anything, planning a service, writing a drama, working in the office, folding bulletins… my Christian-busy habits have shaped my identity far more than I ever realized.
Your words hit the bulls-eye for me today. Thanks.

By: Jim Martin

Jim Martin — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:41:01 +0000

Keith,Thanks so much for your encouraging words.

By: Jim Martin

Jim Martin — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:40:35 +0000

Carrie,You raise a very good question for which there is no easy answer. I do think it is important to think through the activites that any one of us might be doing at the "church." One can be very committed to Jesus and be involved in one organized ministry at one’s church. One could also have little commitment to Jesus and his teachings and yet be invovled in half dozen organized mininstries at one’s church.Practically, I think it would help to think about the ministiries a person might already be involved with before we even begin to talk about what is happening at the church building. Married? That is a ministry. Have children? That is a ministry. Am I allowing God to use me with a person or two at work or in my neighborhood? That is ministry.What one ministry at our church really uses my gifts? Which one gives me great satisfaction as I see God really using me?Now, how many activities are left that I said "yes" to because someone asked me to help. For some people, one of the most God-honoring words that could be said is, "No– No I am unable to do that this this week, this month, this year, etc.

By: Jim Martin

Jim Martin — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:21:57 +0000

Makeesha,You are so right. Ministry does not have to be this way. Yet, the status quo can be a powerful strain in ministry. I just think that what we are about is worthy of something more than this. Thanks,

By: Jim Martin

Jim Martin — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:19:05 +0000

Frank,Thanks! I love the line from the Seinfeld episode. That is great.