Three Cs Can Change Your Life

Consider the people in your church, in your ministry, on your core team. They are, I’d imagine, a diverse bunch.

Some treat you like a faithful fan. They are your cheerleaders. They encourage you when you’re down. They ask how they can help. They look for ways to promote your ministry—and you—around every corner. You feel GREAT when you’re around these people.

They contribute.

Others treat you like a valued member of the team. They gladly receive everything you have to offer. They may be thankful, and sometimes they express their gratitude. They are probably the majority of the people in your church. You feel FINE when you’re around these people.

They consume.

And then there are those who seem to devalue you and your best efforts. They are against every initiative. If there is a conversation about you, they will either graciously remain silent or maliciously speak ill of you. You feel TERRIBLE when you’re around these people.

They contaminate.

It isn’t hard to imagine where you want to spend most of your time, is it? Those who contribute are my favorites too.

Now, flip the script.

Consider the segments of your congregation:

   children

   youth

   young adults

   middle adults

   older adults

   really old adults.

Now, be brutally honest with yourself: When you’re around them how do you make them feel?

Do you contaminate? Consume? Contribute? 

Ask yourself again… not how do you think you behave around them. But how do you MAKE THEM FEEL when you’re around them?

There will always be all three kinds of folks. If Jesus had them in his group, we’ll have them in ours too. But I’d imagine there are some things we could do, you and I, to contaminate less, to consume less, and to contribute more.

Perhaps your (full time, part time, volunteer) ministry would be served if you took 3 minutes right now to imagine some things you could do. As a launching point, I encourage you to reflect on Eugene Peterson's translation of Romans 12:9-18a:

Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it.

Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good.

Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame.

Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant.

Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder.

Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality

 Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath.

Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy;

share tears when they’re down.

Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up.

Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.

Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone.