Does ministry have to change who you are? Yes! No! Sounds a bit schizophrenic doesn’t it? But hang with me for a minute. When you talk about “who you are,” what you’re really discussing is your personality. I laughed when I surfed Wikipedia. Turns out the only section that discusses “personality alteration” or “change” is when it relates to a cult. Scary how is it that when some people demonstrate or discuss “the call” we’re inspired, while others make you turn your head and whisper, “Cult…” Why is that? Do I have to become like everyone else? If I’m created “in the image of God”, why would I want to exchange that for anyone else’s ?
When I explored the call as a young adult, I had my heroes and I had my zero’s. Some drove me closer to Christ. Others make you turn to a friend and say, “If I ever act like that, please shoot me!” Not too long ago, it seemed like everyone who preached ended every sentence with the word HUH!!! Maybe you’ve heard them before. They say, “I’m tellin’ you, huh! Today is the day of salvation, Huh!” I know everyone who talks like that isn’t illegitimate, but for me it just seems to lack authenticity. I never hear people talking like that at a football game or in a classroom. No, God wants us to be the same person in ministry we are among friends. So No! Ministry does not have to change who you are.
The other side to this story is the change we experience subconsciously from emulating those we idolize. Right now many of my students are huge fans of Mark Driscoll. Rightly so! He’s relevant, engaging, a great communicator, and a dynamic leader. He may be an effective minister, but God hasn’t called you to be Mark Driscoll, he’s called you to be you. You were made “in His own image” (Gen. 1:27). So why do we try to rework it?
It’s a tricky line to tow. Let me be blunt—when grappling with the call to ministry, struggling through issues of self-identity can be healthy or extremely distracting. The way to stay true to “who God has created you to be” is to realize just that: God has created you to be! His motivation in creating you in His image was to show the glory of His image, not the glory of you. So when you’re seeking to find your identity—wrestle with His identity. When you’re looking for what image to reflect, look no further than His image. Ministry only has room for one image. Your choice is to worry about your own, or work on reflecting His.
Andrew Murch, Evergreen Christian Community, Olympia Wa
Paul Conway, Zion Bible College, Haverhill, Ma
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This is so true. Over the few years I have been a Christian. I have struggled with living a Holy life and while going to school, it was the worst. Now I know I can be real with my friends but at the same time experience the inner change that Christ wants me to. Awesome!!!!
Awesome! Remain strong in God Joseph. If you stand for Christ in your school, He will be faithful to you and you will receive many blessings for being a witness to those around you. About the inner change you are experiencing, the bible says in Ezekiel 36:26-27 that, ” I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” God will begin to move in your life as long as you allow Him to. He will not force anything on you, but as long as you remain faithful to Him, you wil contiune to grow. If you have any prayer requests or questions, feel free to email us. Enjoy