Turn Them Loose

Too often churches are scared and overly conservative when it comes to empowering people for ministry. They opt for control and protection rather than freedom and empowerment. Their motives may be good, but I’m not sure such a mentality is as productive as we think.

Let’s not forget that God used a donkey, a harlot, a murder, an adulterer, and a number of immoral kings to accomplish His purposes. Then there was the ragtag group of disciples that Jesus selected, gave “authority”, and sent out 2x2 long before we would have deemed them ready.

If we really want to see rapid growth we must be willing to take a chance and empower people. Every church in the New Testament had moral and doctrinal issues. Every single one! The reason was because they were growing so fast they had to empower people who had not passed all the classes or gotten their act fully together.

What if we weren’t as cautious, judgmental, or scared? What if we cashed in our idealistic view about qualifications for ministry and service? What if we allowed people to serve sooner rather than later? Yes, we would have to clean up a few more messes. But, we might see people doing things we never thought they could do. Furthermore, we might see the Kingdom rapidly expanding like it did 2000 years ago.