Sometimes we forget that ministry isn't limited to the walls of our homes and our churches. The topic reminds me of a recent post by Dave Treat. Read it and consider starting a different kind of group!
I was catching up on emails and enjoying my coffee (Intelligentsia... recommended by Scot McKnight) at a coffee house up the street from Willow when I heard it. There were two guys sitting behind me, one middle aged, one younger, both clearly on the staff of a local church. I couldn't make out everything they said... nor was I trying... until I heard this from the younger one:
"... but this guy feels like God is calling him to make a lot of money so he can help the poor. Jesus never did that! Jesus never made any money!"
His implication, bolstered by further comments, was that "this guy" is a jerk, mistaken, misguided, missing the boat. If "this guy" really wanted to help the poor, he would renounce his worldly capitalism and do "real" ministry (presumably by volunteering to do something "significant" to assist a church-sponsored program.)
I nearly choked. I nearly blew Dark Roast out my nose. I nearly turned around and asked him who he thought paid for the Last Supper. I wondered, briefly, if Jesus was out of God's will for the first 30 years of his life. After all, he was a carpenter at "Joseph and Sons."
It is this kind of comment and the poor reasoning that supported it that confuses the thousands of missionaries already laboring in the marketplace. I've led a number of workplace small groups for men and women whose influence on behalf of the kingdom surpasses that of the pastors telling them to "give it up for God" and to get out of the marketplace and get into ministry.
Have you ever thought about starting a small group at work? If your employer is open to the idea of letting you use a meeting room, or even if you have to go offsite for your study, it can be a life changing experience. Literally. While I was working security for a local retailer I would have some pretty intense spiritual discussions with a few of my co-workers. Our jobs allowed us to talk and work at the same time and there were numerous occasions where I would pull out my bible to answer a question or clarify a point. On one occasion it brought my co-worker to tears and we prayed about the challenges they faced.
