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.
Doug Spada from His Church At Work says that "the majority of believers spend the majority of their time interacting with the majority of the unchurched world in the marketplace." So... should we encourage them to abandon the mission field, or equip them to fulfill the mission God has clearly given them? Workplace small groups are a perfect way to do the latter.
If you are a pastor, ask yourself what would happen if ALL your people went into "full-time ministry." First, their influence for the kingdom would diminish, not increase. Second, your salary would disappear overnight, and you would have to get... a job. Who knows? Your kingdom influence might increase.
This labor Day, think about, pray for, and equip your marketplace missionaries. Start some workplace small groups. Put together a sermon series. (Os Hillman of Marketplace Leaders noted that most believers report that they have never heard a single sermon supporting their ministry at work.) The links above have some great resources, quotes, and bible studies you can use to get started. let me know if you need more.
And let me know what you think.
