Here's Your Dinghy

As a pastor I sometimes feel as though I am trying to row a big cruise ship. I’m pushing and struggling to move the vessel forward while many are just along for the ride. This is a heavy burden that many pastors and leaders carry each day. Few are rowing and many are just along for the ride, waiting for the vessel to reach its intended destination. Many leaders actually see this as a necessary burden that they must bear and they spend a majority of their time trying to ensure that their passengers are comfortable and enjoying the ride, rather than challenging them to drop an oar and row. As a result of going it alone, the vessel rarely moves forward and unfortunately results in the eventual burnout of the few, and the leader eventually jumping overboard. This is a real problem in many churches today.

In John 15:1-2, Jesus teaches, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit…” The truth is that as leaders, we waste a great deal of time trying to please the passengers and as a result never see the full potential of the vessel. Therefore, it stands to reason that if we are to see such potential come to fruition, leaders need to be willing to toss a few overboard. Okay that may be a little rough…but we can bless them and send them away in a dinghy or something. ☺ Nevertheless, we have got to let some go. Jesus was constantly challenging people and if they did not want to join him on the journey to which he was calling them, he simply let them go. Once, Jesus challenged a rich young ruler to give all he had to the poor and join him on the journey and yet the guy, “went away sad, because he had great wealth” (Matt. 19:22). Jesus let him go. In John 6, Jesus was challenging those who were following him and many could not accept what he was saying. As a result, many “turned back and no longer followed him” (v.66). Jesus let them go.

For the sake of forward movement, we have got to challenge people to drop their oars and row or lovingly send them on their way. We have many waters to navigate and the mission of the vessel is too important to wear ourselves out catering to those who are simply waiting to reach the final destination. It’s time to move…we have been sitting still for too long.

Matthew 11:12
“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.”