The Ministry of the Mundane

By: Michael Tummillo
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:24:37
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If I were to be "known" for one thing after the spark of my life has expired, it would be this: that I firmly believed that, where Christian disciplines are concerned, there should be NO SEPARATION between the SACRED and the SECULAR.

I believe that one of the most unfortunate things about the spiritual renewal, or revival - whatever you call it - that so many Believers are praying for, searching for, even conjuring up when there's no revival in sight (at least not along the lines of, let's say, Lanphier's Revival, the 1857-1860 Awakening), is that far too many are searching for "hyper-spiritual" manifestations as proof that "it" is actually occurring. Gold fillings appearing in people's teeth, folks being "slain in the Spirit," tongue-talking...these and reports of other miraculous signs seem to be the only gauge many people are using as validation that the goose bumps raised at this or that service or conference were, indeed, the "real deal" and that the Holy Ghost really did make an appearance on this or that occasion. I take issue with this stuff: A) because very few of these people are growing gold teeth at home while, let's say, doing the dishes and B) the Holy Ghost never goes ANYWHERE until you or I bring Him there; I say again, God never shows up UNTIL I get there. After all, He lives in me.

And in you.

In my own home, my wife hears me use the phrase - "ministry of the mundane" - quite frequently. That statement in itself reveals that we, as a couple, are frequently involved in some pretty mundane things. Eating, doing laundry, "getting ready," cleaning house, mowing lawns, answering phones, paying bills, shopping, commuting, fixing broken things, pushing back our cuticles and matching our socks - far outweigh the time spent in “ministry.” Could it possibly be that these things could classify as ministry themselves? After all, none of these things appear to be very spiritual.

For years, as I read the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42) - Martha working while Mary sat at Jesus' feet - I always saw Martha as being less than spiritual. I now believe the key words in this story revolve around Martha’s attitude. We read she was "distracted by all the preparations that had to be made" and that she approached Jesus and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” Jesus gently rebuked her saying “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” I can’t believe Jesus was suggesting that she stop fixing dinner; hospitality to the Middle Eastern culture remains a very important occurrence even today. Besides, Jesus often ate meals that were prepared for Him.

No, He spoke to the attitude of Martha's heart. She was grumbling about the mundane while Mary concentrated on the spiritual. Martha did not realize, as I did not for many years, the two are not mutually exclusive. I contend that we are all called to do the work of Martha - serving the Lord in all we do - with the spirit of Mary - ever attentive to His teachings. As spirit-beings engaged in this earthly experience, how can anything else be expected of us? How can we possibly do anything more.

Or less?

THE DAILY DRUDGE

There seems to be quite a reluctance for Believers to come to terms with our spiritual lives as being largely mundane. Let's face it: as it is in the natural, so it is in the spiritual. Sooner or later we must own up to the fact that discipleship is getting on with the daily drudge, but finding faith and hope and getting in-touch with God right there. A wise minister once taught that we should ask, "Lord, where are you in this situation? What are you trying to teach me here?" Our availability gives God the opportunity to do miracles every day.

When we hear the word "worship," most Christians automatically think of one of the glorious, inspiring songs that are being written and produced these days. I love these tunes myself but contend that most styles of worship desperately need to make the important connection between ordinary life and the experience of God in the midst of it all if they are not to become merely meaningless and emotion-tingling ditties. In other words, if it falls under the category of "worship," we too often fail to ask who exactly is being worshipped and why? Many folks, like me, merely like the song. They've merely swapped their secular favorites for these new, Christian styles. That's hardly worship at all.

The Hebrew word Avodah is defined as meaning "the work of one's life." It is the transliteration of the Hebrew word for worship and work. Have you ever thought about that connection? Work is another form of worship, a daily opportunity to show people the love of Jesus, to let light shine in dark places, to speak a word to one who is weary. As a "carrier" of Christ, you are a living, breathing Ark of the New Covenant. In 1 Chronicles 13:14, we read a fascinating statement that must not be overlooked. It reads: "The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household and everything he had." The Old Testament reveals that the ark carried the presence of God and that King David left the ark with this particular farmer, Obed-Edom.

In the New Testament, we read that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells within us (Rom 8:11). The Holy Spirit - God Himself - lives in you. That being so, we should expect that our mere presence commands a blessing everywhere we go. It's imperative that Christians grasp that concept. Most do not. Armed with that knowledge, how dare we fearfully retreat from anything we perceive as being "worldly"? Jesus didn't. The hookers, the poor, the drunks and the children loved that about Him.

LET'S WORSHIP TOGETHER!

The core activity of the Church - defined as any two or more gathered in His name on ANY day of the week, in ANY place -should be worship. We, as makers of disciples, must learn how to lead mortal people to our immortal God. Worship must become an attitude which is present 24/7, not merely the Christian concert-type, theater-style worship which presents itself today as if our Sunday morning Sing-Along (also referred to as "corporate worship") was intended to be the individual Christian's pinnacle of praise for the week.

I remember a well-known Christian musician who took the stage at the first Christian concert I ever attended. His opening words were "Jesus wouldn't be here tonight...He'd be out there, in the world, looking for the lost and hurting people throughout this city."

The crowd grew strangely silent.

He was right.

There should be no great divide between sacred and secular. All that God's people are, all that we do, and all that we have, will be our daily offering. Worship should be about shopping in the supermarket, driving on congested freeways...even our checkbooks should reveal the worship of our God and our dedication to His Kingdom purposes. It's an attitude of the heart, I believe. I Samuel 16:7 declares, "man looks at the OUTSIDE but God looks at the HEART" (emphasis mine).

The ark of the New Covenant, carrying God with us as we go.

That's you.

And me.

Where we go, He goes. It's really that simple.

Keep that in mind as you do the things you do. "Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (I Cor 10:31).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael's mission is to bring Discipleship and Encouragement to the Body of Christ. Since 1999, he has broadcast nearly six hundred inspirational articles and a dozen booklets on subjects that will interest the thinking Christian, all designed to accelerate the process of spiritual development in God's people.

He is the founder of t.e.a.m. ministries (team1min@aol.com). An Author, Pastoral Counselor and Teacher, his eMail broadcasts, known as "Your Town for Jesus" are reaching millions around the globe WEEKLY. Write team1min@aol.com if you'd like to SUBSCRIBE.

A licensed/ordained minister, a Certified Workplace Chaplain, and a Professional Member of NIBIC, he has ministered in Methodist, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Baptist, Disciples of Christ, College and Cowboy churches. He is also a Speaker on the Christian Speaker Network and may be available to speak to your church or Christian group.

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