The Workers and The Watchers

This past week I was faced with an interesting dilema - I really want to honor the people who serve on our music ministry teams by giving them some time off over the summer, BUT I don't have anyone to cover for them while they are away! So I thought to myself, 'What do I do?'.

Now I realize that it is a very "deep well" that has many issues related to it, but I believe the primary reason for my dilema is the unfortunate truth that in most churches 10% of the people handle 90% of the workload. (I would say our community is blessed in this area, and that we have a much higher percentage rate). These are what I will call the 'workers' and the 'watchers'

These are my thoughts about Workers:

I believe Workers do because they recognize the value of something (ie: leading a small group, or sunday school class) and are willing to 'sacrifice' themselves to ensure that this valued thing doesn't fall by the wayside. They are the ones who ensure the boat stays afloat even if it means they're the only one with a bucket in their hand. I believe most church leaders function in this reality (even if they don't believe it).

Here's the problem - by always making sure the perverbial gap gets filled, the Worker models to the Watcher that it's OK to simply sit back and do nothing! Effectively solidifying the Watchers position as a watcher and the Workers position as a worker. Why would a Watcher suddenly be compelled to become a Worker if all of the work is taken care of by the Workers?

The results are simple, the Workers begin to burn out (and resent the Watchers) while the Watchers end up confused as to why the Workers keep dropping like flies!

I'd like to think that I am comfortable with having a boat or two sink (occasionally) if it means my Workers can receive a well deserved rest. After all, if there's nobody to row your boat there's no point in having one that floats! However, not all Workers buy into that mindset. Sure they promote the idea of giving people a break, but when push comes to shove and the ship starts going down us Lead Workers are often the first people to go to "work". (Once again solidifying themselves as a Worker while others sit around and Watch). I know I've done it on many occasions, and if you've spent more than a week in Church ministry you've don it too!

So how do Lead Wokers help Watchers become Workers? I think it's quite simple:

1) STOP DOING EVERYTHING!

It's OK to give your Workers a rest, (it's called Sabbath) and if things don't get done rest assured in the truth that The Church will survive! It might not be your church, small c, but Christ's Church will carry on (and that's the one that counts).

The bottom line is this - if you are doing all the work then you haven't understood that we are a Body that requires every part to do it's part by becoming a Worker. It is the only way we can be spiritually healthy (and pleasing to God).

If you need some encouragement in this area I would invite you to study the book of Ephesians and check out Andy Stanley's book "Choosing to Cheat".


2) Introduce "Systematic Controlled Pursecution" (SCP)

Have you ever considered the growth taking place around the persecuted church and concluded that perhaps persecution can be a good thing? Well it is! God designed it to be that way. God designed us to rise up under the hand of oppression and strain. We are by nature overcomers, just as Christ is the ultimate overcomer.

Every good parent understands that consequence is a great motivator! We hate to loose out on something because we dropped the ball. It is one of the primary fruits of maturity, taking responsibility for our actions. People who aren't forced to learn this skill are considered coddled or babies. In North America we have an entire industry built around how to deal with middle aged children who still allow their mothers to do everything for them - and many of these mothers don't see anything harmful in what their doing!

But what happens when you allow a child to suffer for their consequences? They begin to learn. They begin to grow up! Suffering is a form of persecution, and suffering produces perserverence, perserverence that leads to hope!

If we truly want to help our Watchers become Workers we need to understand that introducing Systematic Controlled Persecution (SCP) will help them grow up. (Before you go searching "SCP" on Google I have to tell you that it's not yet a recognized treatment for lethargy or complacency, but I'm working on it!)

So what exactly is SCP? It is the decision, by a Lead Worker, to allow something of value to experience a season of struggle/loss for the purpose of testing it's value to the Watcher.

When a Wathcer experiences a 'loss of service' it produces one of two reations.

1) They won't care that it's gone because it really didn't mean that much to them to begin with. (If this is the case, you have a much deeper heart issue to content with then simple complacency.)

OR

2) They will come to a place of discomfort (or panic) and be compelled to alleviate their discomfort by moving. (Now it should be noted that 'moving' can either mean being moved to action, or simply repositioning themselves in a place where the absent 'service' continues to exist).

In the end it is probably safe to say that burning ourselves out as Workers is by far an easier choice to make then venturing into the land of SCP, but in the end we must choose those things that are going to result in the growth of the Body. And sometimes persecution is the best way to do that.

Now before you go and cancel all of your programs, keep in mind that the heart of SCP is not frustration or revenge, but of genuine love and the well-being of Christ's beloved. It is rooted and grounded in the love of Christ - a love that cares not only for it's own interests but also the interests of others. And that like Christ, we must only do what the Father asks us to do. Obedience is truly better then sacrifice!

Our responsibility as Workers lies in the place of prayer - so that we may know that which we are called to carry for the Lord, and that which we are called to surrender to the Lord.

Happy persecuting!