I rushed out of my jiu jitsu class crying. Trying to get out before anyone saw the tears. Don’t misunderstand me: I wasn’t hurt or injured. Nobody had bullied me. All things considered, it had been an unusually successful sparring session for me. I was crying because as I walked off the mat, a guy I barely knew said, “Man, you have been working hard, I am really proud of you.” And the tears started immediately.
It had been a dark week for me. Very dark. It was a season in my ministry leadership where I was hurt, doubting, and felt forgotten. Those simple words made me cry because my heart was aching for affirmation and even a teaspoon of encouragement was enough to break through the walls around my heart. I had made a terrible trade, a trade I find common among ministry leaders: I traded my identity in Christ for a pattern of hustle for Christ. I forgot who I was. And I was withering in the work.
I know I’m not alone. Some of you are experiencing this now. Placing “what we do” in front of “who we are” is the most common temptation and the most dangerous trap in ministry. When we get these out of order, we will find ourselves discouraged, exhausted, and attempting to do the Lord’s work in our own ways.
Across the New Testament, particularly in Paul’s letters, we find a structure of “indicative/imperative.” Paul begins his letters by telling his audience who they are - the “indicative.” He focuses on questions of identity, before he begins to encourage them away from or towards certain behaviors. The indicative of Paul’s letters leads the way. But it is followed by the “imperative.” The logic of his letters is: “You are a new creation in Christ. So then, live like you have been made new.” We see this structure in one of the most famous passages in the New Testament.
Ephesians 2:1-10: “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air…carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace…For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.”
Ephesians follows this “indicative/imperative” structure for the whole of the letter, but in these ten verses you get to see the logic clearly. Paul reminds the church that they were born “dead” and because of this that they “carried out the inclinations of our flesh.” Because they were identified by sin and the tyranny of the “ruler of the power of the air,” they did what was wicked. Their identity preceded their actions. But the good news works the same way. As they are “made alive with Christ” and “saved by grace through faith” they are now given a new way of living in the world. The last verse makes this clear: “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works…”
It is crucial for ministry leaders, of all callings and offices, to remember: Who you are in Christ is more important than what you do for Christ. The consequences of getting this out of order are dire. Our identity in Christ is the engine of a faithful ministry. If we forsake or forget that engine, we will burn out. So, who is the ministry leader?
Notice that before Jesus Christ performs any miracles, teaches any crowds, or does battle with Satan in the wilderness; He is declared the “beloved Son” of the Father at His baptism. What is true of Jesus Christ by nature becomes ours by grace when we are united to Jesus. This is not just a true message for the people we serve, it is the fundamental reality of our lives. The ministry leader is a child of God first, foremost, and forever.
For those in Christ, before we are pastors, deacons, volunteers or leaders, we are children of God. We are sons and daughters before we are servants. Adopted in Christ before we are ordained by a church.
Ministry is heavy, but it’s near impossible when it becomes our identity. The burden is too much to bear. In Christ Jesus, we have been freed from the tyranny of being known by any other name or title than “beloved.”
