Code Word: Ministry or Service

Are we covering poor pay or reward with Spiritual Terms?

Every organization has code words, or inside words. These are their terms for how to do things. Sometimes these are used to unite the group together, like a team building unifying way of saying things.

In many churches a couple of the generally positive codewords are “Community” or “Family”. These two terms are used by most churches and Christian organizations to show that they are for the most part unified in mission and direction for the most part. This is a core of what churches are supposed to be, unified in Christ to promote Christian values in the world. Now, every church may have specific ideas of how this actually is actively carried out, but the general terms are foundational.

There are also codewords that we use to hide the real meaning. These are words that come across as positive in essence, but to anyone with true experience in working or volunteering in a church or Christian organization they hide a negativity.

Two code words Christian organizations and churches love to throw out flippantly are “Ministry” and “Servant”.

Have you been asked to help out with the nursery, or take over the teen class in the church, only to find yourself eight years later filling the position with no break in site? Have you ever been hired for a job, and told to remember how much of a “ministry” or “service” you are giving to the organization? Have you ever been working for an organization to have people encourage one another by saying, “We are ministering for the kingdom.”

The Problem with Terms “Ministry” and “Servant”

I’ve been in ministry over thirty years, and I’ve worked in Bi-vocational positions most of the time. I’ve taken jobs in retail, janitorial, and education over the years. I’ve worked for many secular businesses and some Christian organizations as well as four churches. There are some things I’ve learned about the terms “Ministry” and “Servant”. Most of the time these are code words for we expect full-commitment for less pay or for free.

There is a place for servanthood in the Christian life. We are all asked to sacrifice by Jesus for the Kingdom of God. However, when we spiritualize terms like “ministry” and “servanthood” to cover for lower pay, disrespect of position, or simply to miss expected reward we are manipulating the terminology. Sadly in churches and Christian business practice this happens way more often than it should. We think that by getting people to see their job as ministry it removes the responsibility to offer competitive wages or meet the needs of employees.

Over the years I can honestly say I’ve never waited on a check or not been paid by any Non-Christian business for work done and days promised for pay. Sadly, I can say I’ve had missed pay checks from churches, and delayed pay from churches and Christian organizations for a variety of reasons. These reasons could be that the date they decided to pay fell on a holiday or weekend, so they delayed. In a few cases they actually struggled to pay, but just didn’t notify me (in these cases the notification would be the key). I can say due to such late or missed pay from Churches and Christian Organizations and automated bill payments, I’ve probably lost over $10,000 in overdraft or late fees over the years.

Those not employed by a church or religious organization may not know this, but due to such actions as I’ve pointed out most credit companies struggle to or at least have a higher scrutiny for giving out loans to pastors and people employed by religious organizations. This should cause all Christians to pause and think for a minute. We claim to want to live in a higher standard, yet we often keep pastors and employees of churches at a place that they are considered unstable risk for creditors.

For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned?  Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. (1 Corinthians 9:9-10)

Paul Reminds us that a worker is worthy of the earning their wage.

I want to take this a step further, if you think I haven’t stepped a bit hard already. Most Christians have an attitude that our reward is simply in heaven, and any employment to the church or Christian organization is a ministry of service. Paul reminds that everyone should be paid to do their work.

Sadly for some Christians they carry this attitude into their business lives. I’ve met people over the years employed by Christian business owners, and been told by many people that they’d rather work for a non-Christian any day. It is a sad fact that too many Christian business people treat all employees like servants and not valued staff or employees. They skimp on pay or lack competitive wages. Some don’t offer regular reviews or wage increases. Some deal shrewdly offering less hours to avoid helping with full-time benefit costs. Don’t get me wrong, I realize that these things are expensive. I also realize how we do damage to ourselves, all Christians, and ultimately to Christ by our witness in such broken business ethic.

Where does all of this leave us with regard to work and pay?

• Learn to be honest with everyone.
• Have better business ethic.
• Stop spiritualizing your weakness to do your part honestly.
• Don’t spiritualize a position or expectation simply to be stingy.
• As Paul would say, Pay people well for the work expected.
• Both the worker and the Owner or Organization should remember the world is watching and how we treat people will always be our greatest witness.

I pray we can all work on our part to do better. If we are in a role of leadership in an organization, we should value those placed under our responsibility. Paul in his writings reminds workers to serve as unto God, and owners or managers to treat others as God shows us to treat one another with grace and blessing.

At the end of the day, spirituality should never become a tool to justify unhealthy work and ministry practices. Biblical servanthood is beautiful, but both paid staff and volunteers should be treated with the honor and blessing that reflects the value they bring.

Blessings on the Journey,

Dan Shipton