Comments on: Obedience and Children’s Ministry Mayhem - by Susan Lawrence

By: Marnie

Marnie — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:48:14 +0000

Thanks for the post Susan. It’s a great encouragement for those starting out, but also for those of us who, after years of ministry, forget the “tug” and only think about the duty.

By: susan

susan — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 21:09:55 +0000

Ha! I love Lao Tzu! And how appropriate.

New thing is right: I’m used to working with teenagers, not children, and have constantly felt all-thumbs when dealing with the 8-and-unders. Humbling, refining, and all things like that. Certainly keeps things fresh!

I hear you, Molly, on getting obedience for obedience’s sake (that’s what often said, isn’t it?) alone. And that wasn’t the point of “to obey is better than sacrifice” anyway.

By: susan

susan — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:56:04 +0000

“Result will take care of themselves when we are alive to the work.” This is a great truth I don’t think I starting growing into until well into my 30s (and I’m 37 right now).

Having more of a relationship-based relationship with the Trinity, instead of a work- or results-based relationship (i.e. “How much have I accomplished for You today? This week?”), has changed my perspective, has changed me. And it’s so much more meaningful and rich.

Relying more on the Holy Spirit’s own work in others’ hearts, besides my own, has changed me and given me back a lot more freedom.

Good work is worth doing. Even when we have to work into the truth that it is indeed “good work.”

By: Dale Fincher

Dale Fincher — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:01:25 +0000

Good thoughts, Molly… I wonder if we can take the extra step (just to make an emphasis to those who favor “blind” obedience) to say that “critical thinking skills and an ear ever turned towards the inner voice” is also an obedience… and a very big one… for it is obedience toward God’s design in us!

Today I obeyed by thinking heard about deliberate being and holy action….

By: Molly

Molly — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:35:40 +0000

I wholeheartedly agree that when we do what makes us glow (that groove, our gift, whatever it is) and lose ourselves in the doing of it, the results take care of themselves. One of my favorite lines:

“Do your work.
Then step back.
The only path to serenity.”
(Lao Tzu)

Good for you for trying a new thing, working out the bugs, putting your heart into it and discovering a sense of satisfaction and pleasure in the doing.

The downside of “obedience” is when we faithfully do, do, do what shouldn’t be done in the first place. This is the great grief born when one discovers that ones theology/paradigm is in error. One can become quite excellent at obedience…to ones own destruction or to others. Critical thinking skills and an ear ever turned towards the inner intuitive voice (Voice?) are must-have partners to the practice of obedience.