In a GCI Weekly Update letter on LGBT issues, I noted that singleness should be viewed as a spiritual gift. In this letter I’ll develop that thought further, beginning with the related topic of Spirit-anointed humanity. As noted by the apostle John, Jesus was given the Holy Spirit “without limit” (John 3:34). By the Spirit’s power, Jesus performed the miracles we read about in the four Gospels. Those miracles were a testimony both to the Spirit’s power and to the fullness of the godhead in Christ. A.W. Tozer put it this way:
While our Lord Jesus was on earth, he did not accomplish his great deeds of power in the strength of his deity. I believe he did them all in the strength and authority of his Spirit-anointed humanity (Jesus, Our Man in Glory).
Dove of the Holy Spirit by Bernini (public domain via Wikimedia Commons)
While remaining eternally one with the Spirit in his divinity, Jesus was “filled” with the Spirit in his humanity. On our behalf, Jesus had the Spirit in a human way so that we, mere human beings, could have the Spirit dwelling within us. As we follow Jesus, our human spirits are joined to the Spirit-anointed humanity of Jesus.
Thus the new life we have in Christ is from the indwelling Spirit, who then gifts us for ministry with Jesus. Paul explains this gifting in 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14, where he exhorts Christians to eagerly desire spiritual gifts (Greek: charismata), which are given not for personal benefit, but to build up the body of Christ. Even though some gifts are more visible than others, all are needed for the proper functioning of the church in its mission to the world. The charismata of singleness is one such gift, and a vital one at that.
Unfortunately, many have not recognized singleness as the gift from God that it is. It is often wrongly reasoned that since marriage is a blessing from God, being single must not be a blessing. Some go so far as to state that it’s contrary to God’s will to remain single. Can you imagine how this wrong-headed message is heard by those who remain single, either by choice or for other reasons (such as needing to leave an abusive marriage)? The reality is that singleness and marriage are both gifts from God, though these gifts (like all spiritual gifts) are not permanent, personal possessions. Marriages end, and widows and widowers, now single, are also gifts of God to the church (my dad often referred to a group of widows he served as his “prayer warriors”).
When we are in a relationship with the Lord, we are able to find purpose and contentment in all the circumstances we face (excluding those that contradict God’s holiness), knowing that God, who is ever-faithful and full of grace, gives us all we need. Being content does not mean being free from unfulfilled desire. In Christ, all our desires are being redeemed, transformed and reordered. But as we look to Christ daily, and seek to serve others in his name, we find that his grace is indeed sufficient for the day. We are content in him and in being channels of his grace as members of his body, the church.
Note how Paul addresses his own singleness as a spiritual gift from God:
I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift [charismata] from God; one has this gift, another has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do (1 Corinthians 7:7-8).
Here Paul identifies singleness and marriage as God’s gifts. Given the circumstances of that time, Paul favored singleness, but he noted that both singleness and marriage bear witness to God’s purposes and faithfulness. Though careful not to denigrate marriage (as some in Corinth were doing), Paul wanted the church as a whole, and unmarried persons in particular, to understand the benefits of remaining single:
I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife—and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord (1 Corinthians 7:32-35).
In honoring marriage in the church today, we often forget (or even dismiss) what Paul says about singleness being a special gift from God. That is a mistake we need to avoid.
When Jesus, in Matthew 19, conversed with his disciples about marriage, divorce and singleness, he used the term εὐνοῦχος (eunoúxos), which figuratively means someone who voluntarily chooses a life of sexual abstinence (when used in the literal sense, the word refers to one who is castrated). This Greek term is translated as the English word eunuch, and refers to those who cannot produce children, as well as those who remain single due to life circumstances. Note this exhortation from Jesus:
Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it (Matthew 19:11-12 ESV).
Like Paul, Jesus viewed singleness as a gift—something that “given,” that some are able to “receive.” For Jesus, singleness is a gift that some in the body of Christ are able to receive for the sake of unencumbered service to the kingdom of God.
We’ve all witnessed the giftedness of those who, being single, are able to serve others, taking on extensive responsibilities in and outside the church because they don’t have the same responsibilities as those who are married and raising children. I’m not suggesting we take advantage of those who are single—far from it. My intent is to bring attention to the unique ways a single person can use his or her gifting to serve not themselves but serve God and his church. Such selfless service is not a natural occurrence (singles can be just as self-centered as marrieds!). Selfless giving comes from the Father who loves us and by his Spirit strengthens us and sets us free to up-build the body of Christ and bear faithful witness to the world.
I’ve been personally blessed by many adults who, remaining single, have dedicated their lives to serving others as prayer warriors and in countless other ways. We thank God for the gift of singleness, just as we thank him for the gift of marriage and the many other gifts by which he builds up the church for its ministry with Jesus to the world.
Thom Rainer of LifeWay, in a recent post on his blog, noted five ways some senior adult churches were able to become younger. In that post he made this important comment:
I am not suggesting there is anything inherently wrong with a congregation of senior adults. But I have been asked on numerous occasions how these churches can possibly reach younger families. Rather than give you my own subjective opinions, let me share with you five different ways some churches have actually accomplished this feat.
On a related note, Haydn Shaw, in his book Sticking Points, wrote this:
Hoping your church can reach everyone puts the focus on your church, not on the people you’re trying to reach, and in no time you’ll be asking the dead-end question again. Go young or grow old together—both benefit the Kingdom of God. Just don’t fool yourself into thinking you can do both if you keep doing what you’ve been doing (p. 207).
For a summary by Ed Stetzer of the key points in Shaw’s book, click here.
Here from GCI-Canada retired pastor Willi Mandel is an update related to a previous prayer request concerning his health.
I received some good news recently. A cat-scan showed that my tumor has not grown since last year. The doctor asked how I have been feeling the last few months—I said I felt OK. He gave me a print-out of the scan results, which show that my tumor may be a thymic neoplasm (thyoma or thymic carcinoma). He suggested another scan in nine months. The scan also showed that I have severe coronary artery calcification. I have an appointment with another doctor in October to follow up on that issue. Thank you for your prayers so far, and now I request prayer about this new issue.
Cards may be sent to:
Wilhelm and Ingrid Mandel 747 Tanner Drive Kingston, ON K7M 9G7 CANADA
A Renewal Church cohort that includes 18 pastors and ministry leaders from the U.S. Western Region met recently at GCI’s home office in Glendora, California. The group meets regularly to sharpen its outreach ministries by receiving training in methods for connecting with and discipling unchurched people.
During the meeting, encouraging stories were shared concerning steps forward in these important aspects of being disciple-making churches. GCI Church Multiplication Ministries (CMM) national coordinator Heber Ticas (standing in the picture below), provided training on the topics of small groups, ministry shift (changing ministry paradigms), and other important aspects of disciple-making ministry. The cohort was challenged regarding ways to change the culture within their congregations to be more fully-aligned with the incarnational, community-oriented nature of Jesus’ ongoing ministry to the world.
Since Christians fellowship by eating together, the group shared a wonderful lunch that provided time for relationship-building.
This update is from Emmanuel Okai, National Ministry Leader for GCI Ghana.
The 2015 Annual Convention of Ghana was simultaneously held in Lolobi-Kumasi and Kutunse. About 150 attended at Lolobi–Kumasi where the theme was “Come celebrate the goodness of God.” Meetings were held at the town square, providing opportunities to minister to members of the community.
About 500 attended in Kutunse, where the theme was based on John 14:3. Meetings were filled with music and dance (see pictures below) and various groups and individuals gave special music in praise of the Lord, whose coming was celebrated with great anticipation. During the convention, deacons and deaconesses were ordained to serve two local congregations, and little children were blessed. A highlight of the convention was the musical presentations from various congregations including a children’s choir that performed a musical skit in which the Apostles Creed was recited. A new group named Couples for Christ GCI was inaugurated to help young couples experience a stable married life, and to be involved in community service projects. Convention activities included hiking, family day, and a visit to Pastor Alfred Ablordeppey who is unwell. Prayers for his healing are requested.
GCI’s Crossing Borders mission organization will be embarking on its 20th trip into Mexico on December 11-14. Ages 15-99 are invited to come along. On this trip (among many activities), participants will hand-deliver shoeboxes full of supplies and gifts to children in Mexico. For more information about attending or about sending shoebox gifts, go to cbmission.org/ or telephone 903-746-4463.
Here is part 4 of an 8-part essay by Dr. Gary Deddo titled “The Christian life and our participation in Christ’s continuing ministry.” To read other parts, click on a number: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8. For all 8 parts combined in one article, click here.
Without Purse or Script by Liz Lemon Swindle (used with permission)
Recap of part 3
In part 3 of this series we addressed several common objections to taking seriously and realistically our union with Christ: It sounds too good to be true; it seems to say we are somehow confused with Christ; there seems to be no place for us to be or to act. All of these objections are misunderstandings based on false assumptions and false logic. Now in part 4 we’ll explore more in depth what our union and communion with Christ involves.
Who We Are: Our Identity in Christ
What does our union with Christ add up to, if it is not a moral, psychological, volitional or telic union? Perhaps the best word we can use in our contemporary situation to convey who we are in Christ is to say our union with Christ determines our identity. Identity seems to be summed up in who or what gives us our meaning, our purpose, our significance, our security, our dignity and destiny. These elements are essential to who we think we are, and how we act and respond to things around us. Union with Christ means that he is the sole and ultimate source of our meaning, purpose, significance, security, dignity and destiny. Others may remind us of our identity in Christ by what they say to us and in how they treat us. We may, and indeed ought to, remind others, be signs and witnesses to who others are in Christ. But only Christ, our Creator and Redeemer, can be the source of our identity. This is why we worship God alone. We worship what gives us our ultimate identity. In this sense who or what we serve or treasure indicates our identity. We can serve/worship only one real master.
The problem is, there are many sources we may look to in order to derive or secure our identity. In our secular society none of them have to do with the God of the Bible, revealed in Jesus Christ. So we can seek to establish our identities through our work or careers, through financial success, possessions, through social approval, personal achievement, leisure activities, educational achievement, political power and influence and through relationships with family, friends, co-workers, etc. The list is endless. Representatives of these various spheres of human life often broadcast grandiose promises of giving us a more secure sense of identity if we will only fulfill certain conditions: get that degree, achieve that promotion, buy a certain thing, live a certain place, realize some potential, fall in love, fulfill a certain fantasy, etc. But these are all conditionally offered potential sources of identity. Only if and when, a, b, c, then you can gain a more secure identity, be somebody. Even more important, these things cannot give us our real identity. They are false idols and cannot provide us with any ultimate or lasting meaning, purpose, security, dignity, or destiny. They cannot tell us who we are, for they do not know, and do not care! They are not your Creator nor your Redeemer. They are no gods!
The Danger of Christ-Plus
The danger in the church, the believing community, is to acknowledge Christ, but then seek out supplemental sources of identity. That amounts to serving two masters—trying to live a Christ-plus life (Christ plus x, y, or z). But what we add on can never serve as sources of identity. They can only be spheres in which we live out our identity given to us as a free gift by the grace of God. Once we add on the plus, the plus will inevitably make itself the key and central point. A competition will be set up in which the plus element demands to take over and serves as the real ultimate source of identity.
This dynamic is addressed often in the New Testament, especially in the letter to the Galatians and in the letter to the Hebrews. Adding on something to Christ is not a neutral and safe thing. It is a danger and ultimately means Christ is not being honored as the only ultimate source of identity, is not the only object of our worship. We become at best divided in mind and heart, soul and body. As we say these days, this is not sustainable. Our union with Christ means he provides us with our true identity as a freely given gift of his grace. We are the children of God sharing in his very Sonship with the Father by the Holy Spirit.
The Christian Life as Participation in Christ’s Continuing Ministry
So then what light does our union with Christ shed on the Christian life of obedience, or our calling to ministry? I have found that the word participation, which is a translation of the biblical Greek word koinonia, is indispensable. Our obedience and our ministry can only be properly grasped as a sharing in or participating in the obedience and ministry of Jesus Christ.
But if Christian life and ministry is somehow participation, what is it that we actually get involved in? Christ has completed his once-for-all ministry. How can we get involved in that? We can’t attempt to redo what he has done. How can we participate? This line of questioning indicates that we often forget or perhaps never fully grasped the fact that the risen Christ ascended in his bodily form with his humanity, a humanity not only intact but now glorified. James Torrance used to put these questions to his classes: “When do we really see the true humanity of Christ? Was it when he was hungry? Was it when he was asleep in the boat? Or was it when he was angry in the temple? No. We see Christ’s true humanity and so ours, in his ascension. There we see our humanity sanctified and glorified in him as he takes us with him as our substitute and representative into the very presence of the Father.”
The humanity Christ assumed at conception was not cast off like the empty external fuel tank of the space shuttle, only to fall back to earth some minutes after its blastoff for outer space. No, the incarnation is permanent because, as Paul put it, the man Jesus Christ is (and remains to this day) our mediator (1 Timothy 2:5). His perfected humanity remains the only meeting place for God and humanity to meet.
But not only does his humanity abide, his ministry also continues. His gracious service did not end at the cross. Yes, the reconciling work was finished, but that reconciling work was for the sake of our living out of that recreated relationship now securely reestablished. As we see throughout the book of Hebrews, we serve a living Lord who continually intercedes for us. He remains the one true apostle, the one true leader of our worship, the one true pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Our Lord Jesus Christ remains ever vigilant, ever active. He is no retired Savior who is now unemployed.
All our responses to Christ are nothing more than following Christ in his present activity and engaging in the ministry that he is actively doing now through the Holy Spirit. When we preach the gospel, we participate in the apostolic ministry of Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit continues to bear witness to Christ and to our need for Christ. When we love a neighbor, or love an enemy, for the sake of Christ and his kingdom, we are merely catching up with God. We’re merely going to work with God. When we pray, we’re joining Christ in his faithful prayers of intercessions for us and for the world. When we worship, we are joining in with all the faithful, including those who have gone before us who are continually worshiping following the leadership of Jesus Christ, our great worship leader (leitourgos).
Even when we confess our sins, we join with Jesus himself who is the only one who truly knows the depth of sin, who is perfectly repentant and so for us received the baptism of John the Baptist. But as our great mediator who knows our weaknesses, he takes our weak faith and meager repentance and graciously makes it his own, perfects it and passes it on to the Father. On the basis of the work of Christ to save us, rescue us from sin, we are saved for participation, fellowship, communion in an ongoing relationship of wonderful exchange.
When we see our whole lives this way, we join with the apostle Paul, who proclaimed, “I live yet not I but Christ who lives in me.” That is not just a platitude that sounds nice. The whole of the Christian life is actually a participation in the life and ministry of Christ. So we can say, I pray, yet not I but Christ prays in me. I obey, yet not I but Christ obeys in me. I have faith, yet not I but Christ has faith in me. I hunger and thirst for righteousness and reconciliation, yet not I but Christ in me.
The joy, peace and love that Christ wants for us is not a joy, peace and love that are like Christ’s, that we somehow achieve with God’s help. No, by his Spirit, Christ tells us he intends to share with us his joy, his peace, his love, and his righteousness. And, from the foundations of the earth, he never thought otherwise!
Never view yourself apart from Christ, for that is not who you are.
Jeff McSwain (pictured at right), a member of the GCI-USA Church Administration and Development team, is national coordinator for the GCI-USA Intern Program. Jeff and his wife Susan were recently profiled in an article appearing in a Durham, North Carolina newspaper. To read the article, click here.
The Gospels indicate that Jesus focused much of his ministry on four groups: his inner circle of Peter, James and John; his 12 disciples; 70 other disciples; and large crowds. Jesus mentored the inner circle, taught and traveled with the 12 and 70, and taught and fed the crowds. Though he gave priority to the first two groups, he profoundly impacted all four. No matter the group’s size, Jesus masterfully ministered God’s love in ways that were life-transforming.
As pastoral leaders, we’re called to minister with Jesus to all sorts of groups in our world. With him we reach out to our inner circles of family and close friends, and to the church(es) we have been appointed to serve including the leadership teams and members. We also join Jesus in ministering to co-workers, neighbors and others people in the community at large. The challenges we face in these areas can leave us feeling inadequate, particularly as we compare ourselves with seemingly “successful” ministers. In conversations with GCI pastoral leaders, I often hear about these feelings. I’m sure most of us, at times, have wondered if we’re up to the tasks to which God has called us. If you wrestle with feelings of inadequacy, I hope this letter brings you some comfort and assurance.
Jesus and his disciples (used with permission)
Truth be told, when it comes to sharing in ministry with Jesus, we’re all inadequate for the task as Paul notes in 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 NASB. But sometimes an appropriate sense of inadequacy is unhelpfully inflamed by a faulty understanding of what constitutes “successful” ministry.
It’s easy to misunderstand the actual nature of Jesus’ ministry given the range of responses he personally elicited from those he ministered to. Though he was perfect, some considered Jesus’ ministry to be unsuccessful. Scripture also shows us that Jesus’ original disciples where not supermen. Like us, they needed love, relationships, food and shelter. As they ministered with Jesus, they often were misunderstood and made mistakes. Like us, they were on a journey of transformation and they encountered trials along the way. As a result, they often needed comfort and assurance just like we do. As a wise man once said: there is nothing new under the sun.
We learn a great deal by observing Jesus at work in his earthly ministry. He came to save the world, yet he did not meet all the needs of every person. On those occasions when Jesus did perform spectacular healings, his purpose was to declare the present and coming kingdom. For example, he healed a few lepers who came his way, but we don’t find him going into leper colonies to heal all who suffered. His strategy confused and even displeased some people, including some of his disciples.
Christ in the house of Martha and Mary by Johannes Vermeer (public domain via Wikimedia Commons)
You’ll recall the story of Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus. Though they were close friends, Jesus did not rush to their side when he learned that Lazarus was sick and near death. In fact, Jesus stayed put for two days before going to them. And then when he told his disciples that it was time to make a “pastoral visit,” they warned Jesus of the dangers: “Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” (John 11:8). Jesus replied by explaining his reason for now going: “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up” (John 11:11).
As often happened, the disciples misunderstood Jesus: “‘Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.’ Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him'” (John 11:12-15). Stirred to action by Jesus’ comments, the now gung-ho disciples expressed their willingness to risk their lives to travel with Jesus: “Thomas…said to the rest of the disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him'” (John 11:16).
Lazarus had been dead at least four days when Jesus and his disciples arrived (John 11:17). Martha expressed her disappointment with Jesus by saying: “If you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask” (John 11:21-22). Even when Jesus explained, “Your brother will rise again” (John 11:23), Martha heard it as a reference to the resurrection at the last day. Mary too was disappointed with Jesus: “When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died'” (John 11:32).
I find comfort and assurance in this account in three ways. First, it assures me that Jesus truly is “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). It is greatly comforting to know that we have a never-ending, fully-conscious relationship with Jesus that transcends all trials, including death. Second, I’m comforted knowing that Jesus did not judge his friends for being disappointed with him. Third, I’m assured that Jesus often has in his mind a bigger picture than the one I’m able to see. That’s why I trust in and rely upon him. I’m sure you do as well.
Used with permission, Leadership Journal
In his earthly ministry, Jesus (in his humanity) faced the same limits of time, space and energy that we do. As a result, the way he ministered to his inner circle was different than the way he ministered to the crowds. Jesus had to prioritize his time, and he took time away from the demands of ministry to rest. As sometimes happens to us, Jesus faced people who were disappointed with his ministry, and he did not persuade or win over everyone he spoke with. In fact, Jesus, the very love of God in person, had some bitter enemies. I find comfort and assurance in knowing these things—I hope you do too.
The hard reality is this: faithful ministry does not always produce the outcomes we desire. Not all ministry leads to “success,” as some define it. But our calling is not to look to what others are doing, nor to what we believe we aren’t doing as well as we think we should. Instead, we look to Jesus (Hebrews 12:2), understanding that his ministry is ours and our ministry is his. We trust him, knowing he continues to be faithful as we seek to share, by grace, in what he is doing. In that sharing we will, of course, be imperfect—we’ll continue to need to learn and grow as Jesus, by the Spirit, equips, guides and transforms us.
As I think about who Jesus is, about what he has and is doing, and about our calling to share in ministry with him, I find both comfort and assurance. I hope you do too.
Thanking God for you and for your faithful ministry in the Lord,
