Taking responsibility

Many years ago, when I was in college, I led several ministry teams for our Baptist Student Union.

In addition to our creative ministry teams (which featured drama, music, interpretative movement, etc.), we also routinely sent out teams of students to lead lock-ins, revivals and disciple now weekends.  As the outreach coordinator, I was ultimately responsible for the quality of the teams, the people serving on them and the job that was done.

In one particular instance, we failed miserably.  Our team was set to lead a lock-in.  We started off with poor directions to the church.  We got lost, which made us late for our appointment.  When we arrived, we were ill prepared for the event and it took us time to get organized.  We also had an incident with one of our team members and a girl in the youth group.

It was not our finest hour.

On Monday, following the event, I got called into my campus minister's office.  He was upset, but he never yelled.  We both had to write letters of apologies, call the youth minister and fore go the fee we were being paid.  I had to take responsibility for the event, including not allowing one of the team members to participate in any more events.

As the leader, I had to take responsibility for my failures.

As human beings, we have to take responsibility for our sins.

At some point, a person recognizes their sinfulness.  They know right from wrong and simply chose to do wrong.  It doesn't make them evil.  It does make them a sinner.

When we fall short, we have to take the responsibility of confession, repentance and restoration.  We have to own up to our mistakes and give Jesus control of our lives. 

Similarly, we have a responsibility to share the Gospel.  We are called to tell others about Jesus.  As disciples of Christ, we are expected to minister to others and tell them about Jesus.  That is our responsibility.

Take responsibility.  Share Jesus.  Save others.  It's what we're called to do. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Devotion to a false god

Image
Last week, at Disney World, I went to retrieve our stroller from the stroller parking section.  As I searched among the hundred or so strollers, I finally found mine and started to move it.  As I pulled, it snagged on a woman's garment.  Panicked, I looked up and saw it was a Muslim women in full Muslin dress.  Her body was completely covered.  Only a slit for her eyes was visible.  I was careful not to yank, and I tried to apologize as the hook of the handle caught part of her garment.  She didn't say a word and we both quietly went on our ways. As I walked away, I felt pity on her.  For one, it's Disney World in June in Florida.  I strode along in shorts and a very thin T-shirt.  Both were soaked in sweat.  I had already consumed two bottles of water and still felt weary.  She was dressed head to toe in heavy garments.  I can't imagine how hot she was pushing a stroller with two kids through a mass of people in hum...
Read more

Bearing Responsbility

Image
I remember when my daughter was first born. Amid the excitement and joy came an overwhelming feeling.  This baby, which I held in my hands, was now my responsibility.  When she got sick, needed feeding, required a diaper change, or had to be corrected and taught, those responsibilities fell to me as her father.  In a matter of a few minutes, I had been entrusted with a new life on planet earth. Looking back on that day six years ago, I was excited but scared.  Yet, that is nothing compared to the responsibility Joesph must have felt.  Joseph was a righteous man, according to scripture, and he knew one thing for certain - Jesus was not his biological son.  Thus, he planned to divorce Mary quietly and be rid of the whole matter. And before we vilify Joseph, know that he could have done much worse.  By law, Mary could have been stoned to death.  His divorce was a form of mercy.  She would live and he would be rid of the stigma of an unfait...
Read more

Following Jesus' Example

Jesus was not a convential man. Often, when Jesus taught, he challenged the status quo.  He also liked to use object lessons and parables to illustrate his points about faith and a relationship with God. One night after dinner, during the last week of his life before the resurrection, he finished eating, took off his outer garment, grabbed a towel and started to wash the disciples' feet. Stunned, Peter protested, but Jesus said it had to be done.  He had to allow Jesus, his rabbi, his teacher, his Lord, to become a servant and wash Peter's dirty, worn feet.  So he did.  Jesus washed all their feet that night.  Then he said:  You need to do this too. Too often in Christianity today, there is an attitude of moral superiority.  We love to build beautiful church buildings, boast of our attendance, brag about our programs and talk about the money we give.  At the same time, we turn our nose up to the alcoholics and drug addicts and homeless and...
Read more