My continuing education class this Thursday focused on Leadership and the qualities a leader possesses and manifests especially in the midst of a crisis. The main example of leadership in this particular session was Sir Ernest Shackleton who in the early 1900's led an expedition to cross Antarctica on foot for the first time.
There are many things to focus on regarding Shackleton's quest, but one of the things which struck me early was the advertisement Shackleton sent out regarding the expedition. It read:
"MEN WANTED FOR HAZARDOUS JOURNEY. SMALL WAGES,
BITTER COLD, LONG MONTHS OF COMPLETE DARKNESS,
CONSTANT DANGER, SAFE RETURN DOUBTFUL. HONOR AND
RECOGNITION IN CASE OF SUCCESS."
Read that over very carefully and take a best guess how many folks you thing would answer such an add. 20? 50? A max of 100?
Shackleton had over 5000 apply.
He chose 25, and one more actually stowed away on the ship.
I thought about that add long and hard. And I thought about the adds our churches and congregations might be running in this day and age.
ANY WARM BODY WANTED TO FILL A PEW
RATHER COMFORTABLE SEATING
NO REQUIREMENTS OR SELF-SACRIFICE NEEDED
ONLY NEED AN HOUR OF YOUR TIME TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF
Or:
EXCLUSIVE GROUP SEEKS FOLKS LIKE US
NO DRINKERS, CUSSERS, SMOKERS, DANCERS, GAYS (or whatever preferred sin you wish to list here)
DEMAND 10% OF YOUR INCOME BUT LITTLE ELSE
DRESS NICELY AND GOD WILL BLESS
LEAVE COMFORTABLE KNOWING GOD LOVES YOU
AND HE FROWNS ON ANYONE NOT LIKE US
I'm sure I could write a few more creative ones, but I think you get the point. Where is the sense of risk, adventure, and life-changing witness in our "advertising"? Where is the sense of "if you decide to go on this journey, you will be forever changed"? Where is the sense of "your life may be on the line should you go on this adventure?"
It seems our congregations and our churches have come a long way from Jesus' ultimate call to discipleship, "Take up your cross and follow me." Jesus' instructions are basically, "Get prepared to die if you follow me." Oh sure, we sugar coat it--die to ourselves; die to our possessions; die to the things we like and love and put God first. But I don't think Jesus was being that figurative. I think he meant what he said. "Follow me, and you will likely die." It wasn't a stretch considering 11 of the 12 disciples died violently at the hands of those who wished them silenced.
We are fortunate in the U.S. that we don't run into the same sort of obstacles the early disciples ran into. We've got it easy, and perhaps this is part of our downfall. We don't have to take risks, so we don't. We know many people are into comfort and escape from pain, so we try our darndest to make things easy or we stoke peoples' egos so that they feel safe and secure in their salvation at the expense of others.
But is this the heart of church?
Is this the heart of following Christ?
What if...
What if our "advertisements" were different? What if we took to heart our calling to follow Jesus with all the joys, and...dare I say it...with all the troubles, such a life will bring?
MEN AND WOMEN WANTED FOR A DIFFICULT JOURNEY
TO HELP MAKE THE KINGDOM OF GOD A PRESENT REALITY
EXPECT SCORN, HATRED, JEALOUSY, AND ANGER FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY
EXPECT SACRIFICE, HARDSHIP AND NO FINANCIAL RETURN
EXPECT LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCES, SOME OF THEM PAINFUL
ULTIMATE JOY AND SATISFACTION IN THE VERY LONG TERM
How many do you think would answer that advertisement?
Would you?
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