The Great Debate (Part 2)

I heard it said once that "the Pastor of a huge church doesn't have to pray as much as the Pastor of a small church."  I'm sure, like me, your first reaction to that statement is not positive.  That can't be true.  Well, it's certainly not a rule but in the right context, it is true.  Here's why.

For the next few moments I'm going to be speaking from a perspective of stereotypes so please remember that as you filter my thoughts.  I'm the Student Pastor of a large ministry and I've been on staff of one of the largest churches in the country.  For me, it is true.  I say that because I've also been the Student Pastor to a group totaling four in attendance.  The "small church" mentality is that I have to do as much as I can and work as hard as I can while praying and preaching as much as possible.  The "large church" mentality is who knows why God is allowing us to have the success we have; let's just keep praying, working and trusting God to do what He does. 

Here's how this relates to "The Great Debate."  Most of the time "small" churches look at "large" churches and say "they are too showy; they're not deep enough."  While "large" churches look at "small" churches and say "that's nice to pray all the time but at some point you're going to actually do some work."  Again, this is the stereotype. 

Here's what I came across a few days ago that I believe speaks to this subject.

And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.  Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.  For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

2 Corinthians 8: 10-12

Both parts are equally important.  You must seek God's direction and provision along with being diligent to work toward the tasks God has place before you.  I think that any time we as a ministry begin to lean to either side we need realignment.  Success is dependent on God and any perceived "win" apart from God is not success.  We however, can never justify laziness or slothful behavior by saying "we're just leaning on God."

What are your thoughts?

Comments

[Jeff Johnson]

Phillip,

I agree with what you are saying. Maybe you have blogged about this before, but I'd be interested in your thoughts about how "success" in ministry is defined, especially since you've worked in both small and large churches.

[TaurinH@mac.com]

Phillip, like you i come from a large church also. Was involved in student ministries for years and I know the mentalities. Also being in the media world coming out of that large church into a smaller one has opened my eyes to a lot of things. I think what happens is that people put so much weight in being bigger and better than others. Which is sad but it is the way human nature is. Mega churches want to be bigger and more spiritual than the others and small churches want to attain that insane status or they want to stay the size they are. What i see happening is consumerism, if church B's student ministry is 40 kids, ours needs to be 80 kids, if they have 24 hour prayer, we need to have 48 hour prayer. they gave 2 million to missions we need to give 4 million, so forth and so on. The thing is i believe that God has called us all to different sizes. Some of us are called to the small church and that is the way we are wired and equipped, others are called to the mega churches. One isn't better than the other. As far as success in ministry, that is a whole different conversation.