Currently I am living in Mainz, Germany. I spend my time here ministering.
Which in saying that, it always seems to sound a little funny. Because truly that is what we are all called to do as we follow Christ. That is, to spend our lives ministering. But I suppose I would say it is my "profession" if you will. And that sounds even more strange... because I do not do what I do to get rich, or any money for that matter. If that is what I wanted, I simply wouldn't waste my time with a profession of ministry. I take on this way of life because I have been equipped and called by my God to do this work. We have all been equipped by God for something. Some of us are equipped in engineering, some of us are equipped for working with babies, and some of us are equipped to counsel. I happen to be equipped to preach and teach. Also, as we are in Christ, we have all been given gifts. Some of us have gifts of generosity, some faith, and others healing. I myself have been gifted with pastoring/shepherding, encouraging, and leading. Even though it seems we all have some tastes of many different gifts, I believe these are my strongest. Ok, so I know what I am equipped for, what I am gifted with. But what do I do with all that? What I must understand then is what I am passionate about. What is it in this world that gets my stomach churning, what are the things that I see that I simply can not leave alone. What are the injustices around me that I must fight against or die!? What do I love? Some have heavy hearts and great passions to see hungry people fed, others have a passion to see great quality structures built, or even others might have a passion to help the sick and diseased. Sure again I would say we all have something inside us that would like to see all these good things happen. But my passion lies with people. But maybe even more specific, the people of God. My heart burns for the church. I can't stand to see the people of God in places where they are not being discipled, where they are not maturing, where they are not excercizing their faith.
All that to say, that is why my profession is ministry. Even beyond that though... why should I call what I do ministry? Doesn't the person who is equipped to work with children, gifted with generosity, and passionate about hungry kids in the world have just as much right as me to say their profession is ministry. Doesn't the person who is equipped to engineer, gifted with discernment, and passionate about building quality things have the right to call whatever they do ministry as they do it all for the sake of Christ!? I think so. The people of God must wake up and realize that each and everyone of us are called to do the very same things the Apostles did. To make disciples in the nations.
We have far too long attempted to draw line between those who minister and those who "don't." I am no more of a minister than any other member in the body of Christ. We are all called to impact the world and invest in the lives around us for Christ. Don't write that off and say that it is someone's else job to do that. God is tired of fat Christian. I don't mean size, but I mean heart, soul, and mind as-well. We are so good and soaking up God, and getting all the "I Need" out of Him. But being straight forward with you - we absolutely and positively (and repusively) are horrible at putting feet on our faith. We have become gluttons. This may sound shrude and harsh. But Christians have tried to be too nice for too long.
God is waiting to use us. But we must first stand up, we must first understand who we are, what we are equpped and gifted to do. We must get angry against the injustices in our world. And we must Act. I pray we Act.