Horse Meat or Beef?

The catchphrase "It does what is says on the tin" might not seem quite so believable in the light of the recent news about the use of horse meat as a substitute for beef in several well known brand items.  In a not too unrelated matter I have found myself having to invest time sorting out problems where churches or Christian organisations have appointed people to leadership roles only to find out later that they were not all that they seemed to be.

The apostle Paul had something to say about this in his first letter to Timothy.

"Don’t appoint people to church leadership positions too hastily." 

(1 Tim. 5:22 The Message)

On at least five occasions Paul commends people who have been "proved" to be true.  That is they had been tested and found true.  In 1 Timothy 3 Paul urges Timothy to be sure that potential deacons have "first been tested". Indeed this was the principle in choosing the first seven to deaconal ministry in Acts 6.

Independent churches and para-church organisations are particularly vulnerable.  All too often at a time of need someone turns up that seems to be better than could have been imagined.  The opportunity is grasped before someone else grabs them.  Appointments are made without thoroughly checking the credentials. Then, time and again, they turn out to be incompetent at best, though sometimes absolute rogues.   Sadly, I have found that often the last people you would really want in a position of responsibility are the people who are best at "selling themselves".

God's work is too important to take chances.  A person who is genuine will not mind a church or organisation checking them out thoroughly; in fact they will usually be pleased that you do.  Independent churches are especially vulnerable.  It's healthy to realise vulnerability.  If such a church is part of an associational body then always take advantage of those within the association with special responsibility for placements.

I have spent much of the past seven months seeking to put right situations that were spoiled by a man who seemed to be excellent, but brought a mission organisation to its knees. Once in office, typically, he shied away from accountability. We don't want to believe the worst about anyone and would rather believe that all will be well.  Of course, none of us is perfect, but it is wise to be on our guard.  By now I have probably spent several years of my life clearing up bad situations for others that could so easily have been avoided.

Of course it is important that we examine our own lives.  Is there integrity?  Have we been proved true?  I grew up in Hastings and spent happy moments in childhood watching the machine that made sticks of Hastings Rock.  When produced by an expert it always had the words 'Hastings Rock' wherever the stick was broken.  May God graciously help us so that "Christlike" runs through every part of our being.

This Week's Diary for Prayer

• Preparation for the Rural Evangelism Network Conference
• Follow-up for recent rural mission consultations
• Writing and sending out the Rural Evangelism Newsletter
• Our ministry on various websites
• Ministry on Sundays at Yelvertoft Congregational Church
• Gartree Prison on Tuesday afternoon (last week I had a good discussion with one of the choir)
• Telephone conference for the Congregational Federation's Ministry and Mission Fund also on Tuesday afternoon.  Pray for wisdom as we respond to requests from churches for grants.
• On Thursday we have the second of our series of Bible Discussion Groups exploring the Letter to the Hebrews.
• Friday morning I have to undertake a glucose tolerance test following the results from a recent blood test.
• Saturday 23rd I will be in Nottingham taking part in the Congregational Federation's Mission and Society Committee.

The call of God to share in his mission can come at any time and in many different ways.  But it comes to us all as Christians.  It may be a call to speak a few words of the good news to someone, or to help them realise how much God loves them.  It may be a call to act rather than pass by on the other side.  It is almost certain to be inconvenient in some way.  But when it comes, how we respond will indicate whether we are what God expects us to be.  I hope we won't prove to be the equivalent of horse meat!

Barry