I'm convinced that folks doing ministry (and many times any other job) spend way to much time trying to force themselves into a places/positions that they just weren't created, skilled, or gifted to fit into instead of finding the place in this world that God created them for.
I recently re-discovered the message below by Mark Driscoll from the Vintage Jesus series that he did at Mars Hill, and it really brought this into light for me. (Check out the video below.)
Driscoll proposes that there are basically three officers of the church, and I think these could also apply quite well to leaders in any ministry or business. They are as follows:
Prophet
Very much into study and research. Theologically motivated. Doctrinally zealous. Writerly type. Draws hard lines. Very black and white thinker. Tends toward proclamational preaching. Very high value on preaching. Vision tends to involve philosophy, faith statements, teaching trajectory of the church. A thinker. Pulpit gospel.
Priest
Trends extroverted. Big on mercy, encouragement, helps. Compassion and service. Tends toward gray thinking (not meaning morally, necessarily). Very high value on community and collaboration. Vision tends to involve cooperation, missional thinking, outreach programs, personal counseling. Very high value on counseling, hospital visits, marriages, and funerals. A feeler. Living room gospel.
King
Organizationally driven. A practical thinker but highly interested in "outside the box" thinking, visionary thinking. Likes data, research, numbers, troubleshooting "church systems." Thinks nuts and bolts. Problem solver. Big on leadership, motivating, coaching. Very high value on impact, quality, influence. Big on building and innovating. A doer. Strategic gospel.
I think most leaders are probably a mix of the three, but I would also say that most probably have a strong tendency towards one in particular.
I'm a King. 100% through and through. I live for schedules, appointments, details, systems, and excellence. It's in my blood and it's simply how that I was created.
This being said, I know that I can "exist" or "get by" in a place where that I'm trying to do preaching/teaching/writing on a constant basis. I can "exist", but really dislike being the guy who has to do hospital visits, lead outreach programs, and counsel the adults or teenagers who act like they have the maturity level of a 3yr. However, the place where I'll really thrive and shine will be places where you ask me to do things like: build a system to make something happen. Plan, Organize, and Coordinate an event?...I'm your man. Trouble shoot your computer/network problem...I'm there. And the list could go on. I'm the guy who puts feet to the vision of the Prophets and Priests. AND I LOVE THAT.
Where do you belong? What are you skilled/gifted to do? How are you using the knowledge of these things to fulfill your purpose?
I did a post a few months ago along these same lines HERE. JD Greear also did a post around this subject HERE. Both are worth a look.
This is a toughy for me. I see myself as a little of each. I enjoy studying theology and find myself pacing around my office pretty regularly. I am very extroverted and thrive in community. I tend to be more black & white but am pretty big on mercy. Vision is definitely missional. I am definitely a problem solver and enjoy the number stuff. I like data and systems. I'm big on leadership, coaching, impact and quality.
I'm more of a thinker than a doer. I put high value on the pulpit gospel, but not at the expense of the living room gospel. Maybe I'm just confused =D
Posted by: matholemu | December 02, 2009 at 10:58 AM