“Are you a minister?”
The first time someone asked me that question, I was shocked, appalled even. I shook my head and laughed, “Heck, no.”
This confused my inquirer. “Humph, I thought you were.”
Later someone else asked me the same thing, then another, and eventually a fourth. Now I’m no longer disturbed when someone wonders aloud if I’m a minister. Even so, the query still perplexes me.
I’ve pondered this with trusted friends; they’re not surprised. They offer possible explanations, which I don’t fully agree with:
- You have a godly confidence.
- You’re a man of peace.
- When you pray, they feel God’s presence.
- You’re kind and compassionate.
- You possess a calm assurance about spiritual matters.
My friends think too highly of me.
What I do hope, though, is that when people see me, they see a bit of Jesus.
I’m not a minister, at least not in the traditional gone-to-seminary, lead-a-church, preach-a-sermon manner. I’m simply a follower of Jesus, the Christ.
May my actions always point people to Jesus.
Nothing would please me more.
What about you, are you a “minister?”
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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