I read this portion in a book titled. “Deepening your conversation with God”
HE WAS A SEASONED VETERAN of the Christian ministry, my first boss in the church, a respected mentor, and a dear friend. I had asked him what he had to say to younger pastors like me as he approached his retirement. It was one of those what-would-you-do-if-you-had-it-to-do-over-again questions. His answer came quickly: “Don’t take it personally.”
“Don’t take what personally?” was my next question. He told me not to take it personally when things get tough in the church, when I am attacked or tired or depressed. Things like that go with the territory. We’re in a spiritual battle. When a soldier is shot at, he isn’t shocked. His feelings aren’t hurt. He doesn’t peer over his foxhole at his adversary and shout, “Was it something I said?” He expects it, he plans on it.
That’s spiritual realism. That’s what impelled Paul to write the Ephesians that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12). Note that the apostle assumes his readers already know that the work of the kingdom is a struggle. He doesn’t need to argue the point. The question is not whether we’re in a battle, but what kind. The battle is spiritual. So we don’t take it personally, we don’t get hurt feelings when things get hard. We are spiritual realists.
Patterson, B., & Goetz, D. L. (1999). Vol. 7: Deepening your conversation with God. The pastor’s soul series; Library of leadership development (19). Minneapolis, Minn.: Bethany House Publishers.
WOW…….if more of us leaders, volunteers, ministers or whatever your title in the church may be could get a grasp of this…..our churches would be so much healthier. I have to admit……..I struggle with this……I will be the first to put up my hand and say that I take a lot of things personally but then again – who does not…….it is just human to take it personally especially when you have invested time, resources and a lot of emotional energy.
As I read this article I asked myself what are THREE ways that I can apply the “Don’t Take It Personal” rule in my life. Here are mine and I would love to have yours…..
- The project, person, ministry, relationship, title or whatever is NOT MINE to begin with….it is God’s
- Ed Young and Pace Hartfield always say…… YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW….. I love that as it is so true.
- When I worked for Youth For Christ in South Africa we were taught ….. “what is the need behind the deed” ….. that helped a lot too!
Ok….. so those are mine and I would love to hear about yours….. what helps you from taking things personally in ministry or event the work place…..let us know.
