It’s Not My Job

Last week I wrote about the Bovina church’s bulletin board. If you remember, there was a devilish creature lecturing a set of bullet points on how to ensure a church doesn’t grow. The devil’s first bullet point was: “It’s not my job.”

First, let’s remember that church growth is a result, not a pursuit. God provides the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6), not us. He simply uses us to facilitate it. So, in a sense, it’s true: “It’s not my job.” Moreover, a “job” is probably not the best way to view one’s service to God to begin with.

Our commission is towards discipleship (Matthew 28:18-20). We accomplish this by living like Jesus, our Master Teacher, and teaching others to do the same. Discipleship is a heavenly mentoring program. Such was how Jesus’ approach, and such is our great calling. We sow the seed of the Living Word, water it, but God is the one responsible for the growth.

This being said, every disciple is called to a radical discipleship. No one is exempt. Disciples, by nature, make other disciples. Not all have the same gifts, but each of us are called to live out the Way of Jesus and teach others to do the same. To claim a disciple’s identity, yet not embrace the commission, is to deny the identity. It shows no love for Christ or for genuine disciples, yet love is the litmus test for discipleship (John 13:35).

Genuine discipleship produces natural growth, God derived growth; it doesn’t force it. Jesus adds to his church, not us (Acts 2:47). Our calling isn’t to grow the church, it’s to be the church. When the church is the church, the body grows and develops, naturally, by design (Ephesians 4:1-16). No, your job isn’t to grow the church, but your calling is to be loving channels through whom God works to expand his kingdom on the earth!