I want to be Manure

I Want To Be Manure

Taken from a previous post on Mabey Memories

This seems quite a strange title, doesn’t it? Let me explain. I write this after spending time in various spots around town this past week. I have been privileged to share and pray with three other men over a cup of coffee a couple nights ago, have attended a regional tournament high school basketball game, and counseled with a young man fighting to regain his spiritual walk after choosing unwisely in a couple areas of life. In each spot I had the overwhelming sense that it was in similar places that Jesus spent his time of ministry.

If Jesus had come into today’s world, into the towns and cities of America, where would he spend his time? If we gain a sense from the gospels that the ministry of Jesus was in the dusty streets of first century Judea, in the homes of tax collectors and sinners, on a mountainside where all who passed by would have opportunity to hear, where then would he be today?

It seems that for many Christians today, the time they spend in the world is mainly to go places and take part in things that give them the opportunity to be served. They go to the restaurant on Sunday afternoons, and are professionally served by the wait staff. They shop at the stores, being served by the sales people who work there. Many of these same Christians do very important service inside the walls of their church each Sunday, or on a weeknight. I seek not to take away from the ministry they perform there. But I find it interesting that very few of them seem to be looking for opportunities to perform the ministry of Jesus Christ in their own neighborhoods. They seem content to serve within the walls of the church, but take very few opportunities to serve in the community, where many of the needs are discovered.

In Jesus’ day, much of the “ministry” went on in the temple. Most felt that they were left out of the ministry because they were not priests and levites. It took Jesus to minister outside the walls of the temple, to show that servanthood was for the world, not just for inside a building. It seems that the church always finds renewal when it rediscovers a “Jesus for the streets.” One of my all-time favorite quotes was made by a Hispanic evangelist by the name of Luis Palau. He declares:
“The church is like manure. Pile it up, and it stinks up the neighborhood. Spread it out, and it enriches the world.” Jesus came into the world, “not to be served, but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus spread himself out pretty well, what with all his blood covering the sins of the whole world, enriching it with his sacrificial life. Seems like we could spread ourselves out a little more, don’t you think? Just Thinking.