by Jesse Steele
money, technically, doesn’t exist. It’s those conversations and relationships you need to build. People are worth investing in.
Hank: But I don’t know what marketable skill I have. I don’t know what I can do. I feel like a Jack of all trades, but a Master of none.
Don: That’s the very key right there!
Hank: What?
Don: As a pastor, you have so much knowledge of people, administration, vision, function, leadership, communication… Professional pastors are among the most skilled, passionate, and gifted people in the world. Why pastors keep doing what they do could only be from their passion, combined with being brainwashed into thinking that their system is necessary. You are all set to lead your own business. You only lack one thing.
Hank: And what might that be?
Don: You need to learn, in your current job, right now, to admit what is most unnecessary.
Hank: The dead vision of the elders?
Don: Their vision is only dead because you keep trying to push wet noodles. You need to move on.
Hank: But then I’ll just find another church and they’ll find another pastor and it will start all over again.
Don: THERE I have you!
Hank: What?
Don: Break that cycle. We need church workers, but as deacons—like the Bible said, not leaders in a complicated, politicized, financially inbred codependency with the elders. That would be a business administration model— not a plan for God’s government. Take all your pastoral experience to the next level by completing your knowledge of what is not necessary.
Hank: How do I learn that?
Don: You’ll understand business when you do what is needed. Learning is in doing. Your next step in this is to be honest with yourself that your own job is the most unnecessary. Act on that ugly truth and you’ll be invaluable to the world.
Hank: That would take a step of faith.
Don: You’ve got to get out of the boat if you want to walk on water.
Hank: But what business will I do?
Don: You might not do business. You might go hungry. But, if you pray this through and you know the Lord leads you to that decision… is it worth being hungry so you can follow His leading?
Hank: Now you’re preaching the sermon. This is intense.
Don: Follow your God-given passions, stay true to your values, stick your hand out to say, “Hello,” and opportunity will find you. If you will stand your ground and follow Christ wherever He goes, people will build a road to you. This is the part that isn’t easy. The hard part is the part that most people get hung up on. Don’t waste your life doing “good” things that God didn’t create you for.
Hank: Wow. This is insane. I mean, you’ve got me thinking and all. But running the Church without this pastor position leading it… I mean, wow. Paul told me something about that the other day, but I can’t imagine how it could work. I don’t even know if it’s Biblical. But, frankly, status quo isn’t acceptable either. I mean, this can’t be the best God intended for His Church. He’s bigger than all this. So I’m left with no other option than to think about it. The Church is my passion. I’m a shepherd at heart. I want what’s Biblical, no matter what form it may take.
Don: Well. Time’s up. And I know just who to introduce you to for that.
Hank: Who?
Don: Oh, a friend from China.
Hank: China!? Is he Communist?
Don: No, he’s Christian.
Hank: Hudson Taylor?
Don: No, Hudson’s dead, but he was good at letting go of his own cultural stuff.
Hank: Yeah, and I thought Paul was dead to. Anyhow, if your friend isn’t Hudson and if he’s not a Communist, then what is he?
Don: He’s a Christian. Besides, give me some credit. I’m a business man. I know a lot of people in China.
Hank: Oh dear. That opens up a hot argument…
Don: I don’t mean outsourcing jobs. We need to employ people in our own country. What I mean is, China needs businessmen like me sharing the gospel by example, not just trying to proselytize oh-solo-mio and smuggle Bibles. The Chinese government actually prints Bibles for Christians, just to make sure that they are actually Bibles and not something else. I know this because the government and their businessmen respect me because of what I’ve done. Besides, their Church is the strongest and fastest growing in the world. If anyone can solve American pastor problems it’s a Christian from China. I’ll give him a call and we’ll see what happens.
Scene 3: Watchman
Watchman: Look out!
Hank: Ahh, well, hi there. Sorry. I almost plowed into you.
Watchman: It’s okay. I was looking out for you. Everyone needs someone to have his back.
Hank: I’m Hank.
Watchman: Nice to meet you, Hank. I’m Watchman.
Hank: Watchman!
Watchman: That’s me.
Hank: As in, you’re a person.
Watchman: Last time I checked.
Hank: You’re the person I was looking for.
Watchman: Oh, well, I knew I was looking out for someone. But it never occurred me that the someone might be looking for me. So, Don told me about you. He enjoys introducing brothers and sisters in Christ. It builds up the Body.
Hank: He seemed to think that I should try to eliminate my own position in the church. He says I need to realize what is necessary and what is not. Then I need to act on it. But I have serious questions.
Watchman: Okay. Let’s talk.
Hank: See, I’m a pastor and I’m trying to help my church as best as I can…
Watchman: That’s good. We should care about the entire Body of Christ.
Hank: …And I understand that I myself am not the problem in my congregation. And I’m not angry with the elders like I used to be. I’m trying to wrap my head around this idea that it’s the position, not the person, of “pastor” that’s causing the problem.
Watchman: The administration in God’s economy is central.
Hank: What do you mean?
Watchman: “Economy” comes from Greek, meaning “administration of the house”. God’s economy is His administration. We must do things according to the economy He taught us. Christ is the head. We can’t detach ourselves from His leadership. So, we must take careful notice of every structure He lays out. Even an administrative position itself can be a problem if it is not part of God’s plan for building up His Local Church.
Hank: Okay, so, even though a pastor is a great person who loves God, the administrative position can cause a problem if it’s not in agreement with God’s design. I’m starting to get this.
Watchman: We’re all learning. This is why we must maintain regular fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are all part of one Body and the Body of Christ must have circulation and communication, just like a physical, human body.
Hank: My hang up is with this idea that a pastor is a “function” rather than an “office”. I suppose it makes sense. But is it actually Biblical and even then, how could we possibly survive without pastors?
Watchman: Hank, I don’t want this to sound like an accusation because it’s not. But I must tell you the truth. Denominations like yours are barely surviving with the clerical-pastor administration. Surviving without that structure isn’t the question. The question is: How much more would the Local Church thrive without it?
Hank: What do you mean that we’re barely surviving with the position of pastor? We’re doing quite well, actually.
Watchman: Not in comparison to God’s economy.
Hank: Why do you say that?
Watchman: There are many fights among denominations. This comes from the fact that they operate with the position of a pastor defined as a kind of administrator. That’s not Biblical.
Hank: How so?
Watchman: Coming from a Chinese background, I was raised in a culture that understood the struggle for power.
Hank: Well, America. I don’t think about power. I prefer to think about freedom.
Watchman: In China’s history, we understand administration from a very simple perspective: One person at the top, no matter what his temperament or personality may be, will occupy decision-making power. Just by being there, he takes power from those under him.
Hank: Why are you so focused on “power”?
Watchman: I don’t mean “power” the way they mean it in America. For example, the Bible talks about the power of God. Every administration has influence and ability to cast the vision of an organization. In Chinese culture, with so many empires and civil wars in our history, we understand the dominating nature attached to the mere presence of a leader, regardless of his philosophy. China has had great turmoil throughout its history. Only in having a leader—any leader—was the “power” taken away from people who wanted to cause a disturbance. China isn’t the freest nation in the world, but it longs for peace on almost any terms. For us, that happens with a strong leader. This is how we understand the word power.
Hank: And that’s why America fears strong leaders. Too much power in the hands of a few people will corrupt, no matter how good their intentions are.
Watchman: Now you’re getting on to the financial-business philosophy that China has only recently explored. But, you’re also making the same point I was making.
Hank: Which point is that?
Watchman: The Communist government of China imprisoned many Christians. It’s not because that government is atheist like the Russians. It was all about squabbling for power. Christianity has a belief system and that system itself took power away from Communism’s ability to spread its ideas. Merely by existing, we occupy space. By occupying space, we occupy influence of some form or