Blog #6 Diligent and Deep

1 Timothy 4:16 Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

I have held this advice to young Timothy very dear to my heart throughout my almost 40 years of ministry. It counsels watchfulness toward ministry dangers as well as advising positive care. There have been times when I needed to watch my ‘physical life’ when ministry pressures took its toll. There are always times when I need to watch my spiritual life, lest the ‘walk’ doesn’t match the ‘talk’. And above all, diligence in doctrinal teaching is non-negotiable for ‘saving’ of both myself and those who hear me. It is therefore a no brainer that for the ministry of CWI (N America) to have saving impact, it must be marked by ministry diligence and doctrinal depth.

Just a week or so ago I was privileged to be present at my daughter’s performance of Carmen in Bizet’s classic opera. Aside from my biased opinion of her outstanding vocal and dramatic abilities - gifts given and utilized for the glory of God - I watched as the whole Janiec Opera Company engaged as one, in their labors, small and large, to present an evening of talent, diligence, and emotional passion for the craft. After my emotions subsided, I mused that their diligence and depth was a rebuke on a whole different level.

A Rebuke regarding Diligence

Whether it is on the sports field, or the music world, we are amazed at the diligence of those who engage in their field of passion. We celebrate the hard work and excellence and rejoice in achievement. But why should running the Christian race, pommeling the body for Christian service, and generally working hard in the kingdom be minimalized to a ‘Jesus loves you just the way you are’.

The lethargy and subpar accepted standards of Christian living are rebuked by the people of the world, who excel in their field; who give hours to training, and whose work ethic would shame our 5 minutes a day Christianity. Frank Houghton penned the words of one of my most loved missionary hymns:

We bear the torch that flaming fell from the hands of those
who gave their lives proclaiming that Jesus died and rose;
ours is the same commission, the same glad message ours;
fired by the same ambition, to you we yield our pow'rs.

O Father, who sustained them, O Spirit, who inspired,
Savior, whose love constrained them to toil with zeal untired,
from cowardice defend us, from lethargy awake!
Forth on your errands send us to labor for your sake.

A Rebuke concerning Depth

The devil is in the detail, or rather, the depth is in the detail. To return to the opera image, I sat in on one of their teaching times. One young man’s performance was minutely taken apart, with criticism of the detail of his stance, his facial expression, his walk, his accent, not to mention the tone and quality of every vocal note. The twenty plus young people watched, listened as masters in the field at the top table gave their comment on the detail, and it was deep!

How deep should we go in evangelism? Is it just ‘Jesus loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life’? I was recently engaged in street evangelism in Pittsburgh. Upon posing a question to a passer-by, I soon discovered his roots were Jewish and Catholic, but he was reading a hefty tome of around 400 pages, on Japanese poetry! Apart from the conversation ensuing as to ‘absolute truth’, I came away and thought about the rebuke to much modern Christianity. How many Christians rarely read books at all, and if they do, it maxes out at around 150 pages.

I have the magnum opus on my shelf of Dutch theologian of the 17th century, Wilhelmus A Brakel. 4 volumes of about 1,200 pages each. (Before you ask, I am part way through Volume 3!) My point is not to display my love of reading, but rather to make the point that this was not written to sit nicely on someone’s shelf. In a former age books had depth and they were read! Ministers and missionaries were expected to also have this depth. It was simply a following the advice to young Timothy about taking care over your life. It demanded depth of reading and substantial contemplation of complex subjects. Doctrinal decline occurs when such care is absent.

The Christian church must do better. Kingdom ministries must do better. The world in all its excellencies rebukes us. What depth has our ‘performance’? (Do not misunderstand my terminology!)

A Rebuke concerning Corporate health

Despite challenges of a small Covid outbreak among the musicians, the cast of Carmen came together, in vocal unity. Despite the challenges of the young people coming together from all parts of the country, with a huge variety of backgrounds, there was a communal work ethic. When the maestro gave orders, or changed their schedules, they had to comply, as one.

The individualism of the modern church stands rebuked by such corporate healthiness of focused musicians. And should we not be focused, upon a corporate healthiness. Should we not lament laxity, weakness, superficiality, within the body of all manner of kingdom ministries?

We must not be happy with evan-jello-calism that sells short a full orbed gospel of substantial doctrinal content. Missionary work is a ‘missio dei’; a sending forth from God. We in CWI desire our ministry to have a corporate health. We desire the churches we are among, and within whom we minister, to have a corporate health. Communally we must work hard at this. The maestro has given orders. We should comply.

A Rebuke concerning Ultimate goal

The diligence and depth of a small opera company to prepare for the day of performance is a rebuke to us. The Great Day when all shall be revealed is fast approaching. Is wood, hay and stubble, all we have to offer?

A recent controversy at the Southern Baptist Convention concerned the self-boasting of a certain celebrity pastor. He certainly ‘performed’ well and took his bows and applause from the Convention. He may now have his reward. Such pragmatism in ministry always seeks performance results on a human level.

But is that what we seek in CWI (N America)? In our care of ourselves and our teaching, all we desire on that Great Day is ‘Well done, good and faithful…’

The opera students all received a well done from the maestro. Their work, diligent and deep, paid off, on the day. Their goal was achieved – a passionate performance with musical excellence, and engaged diligence from every member of the company, from the time the curtain went up to its dramatic finale in the death of Carmen. (Spoiler!)

And shall we do less from the moment of new birth to our death?

Conclusion

We in CWINA must pay close attention to ministry life.

We in CWINA must pay close attention to ministry doctrine.

Diligence and depth is not optional. Lowest common denominator ministry, at the local church level or missionary labors, is not only unhealthy, but is a disservice to our Maestro! We perform for the Day! We therefore practice hard in every detailed aspect, developing a healthy ministry and pursuing excellence in gospel presentation and pulpit ministry.

If a secular group of singers can produce a performance such as I witnessed in Brevard North Carolina; surely all the kingdom labors of church and missionary societies, must do even better. To live, labor and excel in life and doctrine – as doing everything unto the Lord – this will be to the saving health of myself, and all to whom we minister.

STEPHEN ATKINSON