It is perhaps the most powerful tool the Church has ever had access to. However, we must be purposeful and intentional about how we use it; and be sure we focus on outcomes that have real value and not just numbers, followers, or being connected to the right people.

1. Our online outreach should be an outgrowth of our personal outreach.
2. Technology should always move us toward something of real value.
3. Everything we do should deliver something of value to others.
4. Technology is the TOOL—people are the purpose; NOT the other way around.
5. The internet is a legitimate connecting point; but it should not be the only connecting point if we want to build real relationships.

The ability to persevere is admirable; the inability to continue moving forward and embrace new seasons and new frontiers in life is not.  Sometimes we admire someone’s faithfulness, when in reality they are mostly fearful of letting go and taking a step toward something new. How can we tell if we are acting out of faithfulness or fear? This is really the question…

To begin with, true faithfulness should be grounded in faith. (Sounds reasonable, doesn’t it?)  Faithfulness believes that God is going to do something as a result of our efforts. If we have lost this expectation, it could be we are holding on to what God did in the past, not looking forward to what He wants to do today and in the future. If somehow we believe the best is behind us, we may need to ask ourselves, am I remaining faithful for the right reasons?

Also, I believe faithfulness should produce fruit. If we are persevering in faith we should see new crops and fresh growth in everything we do. Psalms 1 says we: “will bring forth its fruit in its season, [our] leaf also shall not wither; And whatever [we do] shall prosper.” There must be fruit throughout our season of faithfulness.  If we can’t identify the fruit of our efforts, or see any recent growth, this could be a sign that our season to remain faithful is drawing to a close.  Perhaps God is trying to get your attention to ask you to pursue something entirely different with Him.

Another trait of true faithfulness is action. Faithfulness should not be just a passive, enduring existence. There may be times when you feel God has put you on the shelf for a season, and He holds you back from doing the one thing you feel called to do. He may even ask you to remain faithful when nothing is happening in your circumstances. However, this does not mean He requires nothing from you during the wait!  He asks us to give thanks at all times, to love our neighbors, to work heartily for Him, and to look for opportunities to bless those around us. We cannot use the idea of being faithful to excuse not doing all we can when we can.

I don’t want to confuse faithfulness with seniority. Does God really look at years of service the way we do, I wonder. Is pure faithfulness or “steadfastness” always the basis for spiritual promotion? I’m not sure.  At least not as we often define faithfulness. Perhaps he looks at our hearts to see why we have persevered, and if we are remaining faithful in what He called us to, not just what is comfortable and familiar to us.

These are tough questions I think. As a person who has worked in a ministry setting for just 13 years, I can tell you I recognize the difference in my own life. I have stuck with a ministry longer than I should have because I loved what I was doing. I loved reaching people, hearing how I was helping their lives. I saw fruit at every turn. BUT when God was done with it, I had to move on regardless of what strokes it gave me and how much I would miss it. Working in a ministry position is no different. Just because you can stay in a position, or have for many years, doesn’t mean that’s all God has for you.  When He starts tugging at your heart, don’t ignore Him in the name of faithfulness.  We can’t let our fear or comfort hinder the work God wants to do in our lives.

“Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die?”
(II Kings 7:3)

This reminds me of a story in II Kings about three lepers.  They sat outside Jerusalem day after day with no where to go and nothing to do. They were as faithful as could be in what they were doing.  One day they asked themselves, why are we sitting here until we die??  In other words, we have nothing to lose, what are we going to do about it? You may know the rest of the story in that they went up against Israel’s enemies and God used them to defeat the enemy’s army. All because they were willing to believe that God might have something bigger and better for them. Their prior existence had ceased to produce fruit and they were basically waiting to die. They knew if they sat there any longer, any hope to see God move in their lifetimes was gone. They were not content to sit and remember Israel’s past victories. Instead they made a radical step and ultimately made history.

Like the lepers, we may have forgotten how to dream big dreams for God; we may have forgotten that His promises are never about the past, but always about the future.  Our place of comfort and commitment may come at a price if we miss out on what God has for us next.

“Some tribes are engaged in change. Many are not. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s a church or a corporation, the symptoms are the same. The religion gets in the way of faith. Static gets in the way of motion. Rules get in the way of principle. “

“Soon enough the new thing will be better than the old thing. But if you wait until then it will be too late. Feel free to wax nostalgic about the old thing, but don’t fool yourself into believing it’s going to be here forever. It won’t.”

These are a few of the gems I’m absorbing from Seth Godin’s book, Tribes. I got this book thinking it would be about one thing (growing an online following and developing better connections through social media); come to find out it’s about something entirely different (challenging the status quo from where I am and being a unicorn in a balloon factory).  It’s a surprising, challenging, and compelling read.