"Take your ministry seriously, but don't take yourself seriously."

I can't recall who told me that 25+ years ago, but it has stuck with me. Whoever it was probably saw a young, arrogant know-it-all and thought he should shape me a bit. Good call.  The point was, God can and will do His work and, yes, He delights to use His people, but no, I'm not the centre of the universe and God's not wiping His sweaty brow, relieved that I'm here to sort out global mission on His behalf.

(By the way, to those who know me and think the advice had no effect, just imagine what kind of train wreck I'd be if I hadn't had this counsel.)

Wind forward to 2012, and Jonathan Martin has written a piece - at times, sarcastic and frustrated - called Gender, Race, Pentecost and Why the World Has Moved On.  Some people might find it a bit hard-hitting (but maybe that's because they take themselves too seriously?)

The article is a call to those of us in the West to recognise that "the future has arrived and it has little to do with people like (us)".  In short, he's saying that the Spirit of God has moved on, while we Westerners sit on the deck of the Titanic (in our systematically theologised camps) and think we're at the centre of the world. We're used to it. In Martin's view, it was a good run, and we enjoyed it. 

I resonate with Martin's article. Every pastor in the West needs to understand the trends. Few that I meet really do. I agree with Martin that we've been seduced by our own innate sense of self-importance, which is enabled by our prosperity and political power. 

So, should we Westerners just pull up a Titanic deck chair and let the Spirit move? Or, as a friend asked me, "why didn't you tell my husband this before he left commercial banking" (and went into church leadership)? He could have made his millions and sent them from the 'Titanic' to support those women who are starting churches in the Global South. Fair point.

Over the next few posts, I'd like to offer a few thoughts from here in Albania, very aware of my 'unknown' friends - and I can honestly say heroes - here, who are doing ministry that makes me look pathetic...