Dr. Meredith Griffin | The Flourishing Life™

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Meredith Griffin

The Decade of Service

The second decade of the twenty-first century has officially begun. What a wonder it would be if, a decade from now, we looked back upon the next ten years as the “decade of service”. We, individual believers in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord as well as the Church catholic, have an opportunity to show that the previous decades of me-ism and decadent opulence within Western Christianity were an anomaly. We have an opportunity to return the servant and service to others first dynamic that has been a hallmark of the Church for centuries.

Listen, I am not naive enough to believe that the history of the Church hasn’t before been marred by TBN style self-indulgence, or that similar forays into prosperity focused gospel ramblings will not occur in the future. What I am saying is that the overwhelming intrusion of such teachings into the mainstream of the Church in recent history is alarming, and the tide must be stemmed.

Is the gospel message inward-focused? No. Is the gospel me-focused? No. The gospel calls me to deny my desires in order to be used to fulfill God’s ultimate desire, the redemption of his creation. The gospel compels me to think of myself after I have considered the needs of those around me, to love (actively) whenever the opportunity avails itself. Our Lord Jesus was the penultimate example of a servant and leader in action. We are called Christians because of our desire to emulate his faith and actions, and fulfill his mission. If these statements are true, and I believe them to be, then we should move to make ourselves stellar examples of what it means to “serve and not be served.”

Who’s Vision Will You Pursue in the New Year?

In less than two days we will all be saying farewell to 2009, and hello to 2010. For many people the end of year routine will be the same; they will set a course for the new year, things to accomplish in the coming twelve months. As a Christian and pastor, I must pose the following question: who’s vision will you pursue in the new year?

Watch night services across the country will be populated with people looking for a fresh start, and preachers in pulpits eager to tell them that one is on the way. New money, new jobs, new businesses, new relationships, new jobs, new academic degrees…will all be spoken of as God’s vision for you in the new year. Many churches will ensure that we jam our way out of the old year and into the new. Men and women will leave church feeling wonderful about what is in store, but will they have a clear understanding of the vision that they should pursue?

We weren’t saved from an eternity of separation from the God who loves and created us, so that we can become self-indulgent in ways that previous generations could only imagine. In other words…its not about us! God has a vision, and it is that vision that we ought to pursue daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly. God’s vision entails those who belong to him being holy. His vision sees those who are called by his name desiring to serve others, rather than being served themselves. The vision that God has is for a people who shun sin and selfishness, in order to pursue righteousness and selflessness. In God’s vision, those who are called by his name remember that their bodies are not their own…they have been bought with a price. God’s vision holds reconciled relationships, selfless service to others, sharing his message of love with the world through word and deed.

I don’t doubt that those who belong to God are taken care of by him. I don’t doubt that God takes great care of everything and everyone that belongs to him. The Bible tells us that Solomon couldn’t adorn himself like the lillies that God took dressed in splendor. The Bible speaks of God’s great care for the well-being of birds, though they have no barns. God will care for those he loves. Since this is the case, our personal care is not the vision that we should pursue primarily in any given year. We should desire and envision being servants of the most high God. We should envision using everything that he has given us to glorify his name and advance his mission in the earth. Who’s vision will you pursue in the new year, your’s or God’s?

Not Really Seeing a Lot of Servants in Ministry

I’ve pretty much sworn off of “Christian” television. The various networks seemed to be filled with individuals and couples alike, bent on flaunting varying forms of selfishness, self-exaltation, and idolatry. The little doctrinally sound or orthodox ministry that is televised is far outweighed by the fluff and heresy that appears. Where is the widespread outrage from ministers and ministries that believe that orthodoxy has died a slow death on television and in local church ministry? Where are the servants?

I’m in the process of writing my doctoral dissertation that seeks to address the dearth of servants, and in particular servant leaders, in the local church. My passion for this topic stems from the steady decline of servants in ministry leadership that I have watched occur over nearly twenty years in local church ministry leadership. We, the Church, have reached the point where the drought of servants in ministry leadership must decline or the fulfillment of our mission is in extreme jeopardy. Let me explain that last statement a bit more…God’s use of us in the fulfillment of his mission is in extreme jeopardy. I have no doubt that God’s will be done and his mission in the earth fulfilled, with or without us.

I just needed to rant for a moment about what I’m seeing in the local church and in the Church worldwide. Where are the servants? Where are those who serve because it needs to be done, not so that they can make a name for themselves? Where are those who served regardless of who sees, without a banner or camera present? I know that there are some out there, my fear is that there are far too few? What do you think?

Back in the Game

I’m now the proud owner of a newly rebuilt Apple notebook computer. Its been a year since my Dell notebook died. I’ve been looking at, and resisting, the Mac revolution for years. My family surprised me with this new toy for Christmas. So I’ve got no more excuses, its time to get the dissertation completed and get back to regular posting. Here we go!

Courageous Leadership Needed

Let me state right here at the beginning that this is a rant. I believe that it is founded in fact and truth, but it is a rant nonetheless. The Christian Church in the U.S. is in need of more courageous leadership.

There was a time in the Church’s history in this country when it led the charge in many areas, both spiritually and culturally. For the most part, those times have passed. There are still ministries whose leaders are determined to stand with their integrity intact, while boldly advancing Christ’s mission and agenda. Sadly, the majority of Christian leaders are content to be cheap knock-offs of whatever leader or ministry seems to be the most popular at the time. This is not just sad, its dangerous.

Many of our burgeoning leaders are weaned in the vast wasteland of Christian television. Before you type in another web address and write me off, remember that this is a rant and hear me out. Not all Christian television is bad, but most only exemplifies the lack of courageous leadership that I am lamenting in this post.

Courageous leadership doesn’t follow the crowd, but stays on the path of righteousness. Courageous leadership has a clearly articulated set of beliefs to protect itself from being swayed by every wind of doctrine. Courageous leadership has God’s mission and vision as the only aim and measure of ministry success. Courageous leadership doesn’t equate the amassing of personal wealth, influence, or titles as the only measure of being in God’s will or favor. Courageous leadership is willing to make difficult decisions, to the detriment of oneself, to ensure the success of Christ’s mission.

I’m seeing too many clones of self-serving at best, heretical at worst leaders launching ministries these days. Glitz and glamour are not prerequisites to effectiveness in ministry. They may draw a crowd, but they won’t grow a people. A question that I asked many times prior to responding affirmatively to the urge to start a church was?”why does God need another Church?” What will the ministry of your church do differently from the thousands that exist, to advance his mission?

Some leaders need to find the courage to change and do ministry for God, not themselves. Some leaders need to find the courage to speak with the voice they feel inside, regardless of the crowd’s response. Some leaders need to find the courage to seek another vocation, and allow God to put a truly courageous leader in their place.

Stay blessed.