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I just spent a delightful two days at the National Gathering of ECO, the Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians, a 7-year-old branch of the Reformed faith that is eager to “…be a movement…to saturate our broken and hurting world with the transforming power of Jesus Christ.” I was encouraged that they talked a lot about making disciples and helping their folks understand that they are all on mission.

I teamed with Chris Lake of Vere Institute to present a 2-hour workshop: Equipping Disciples for “frontline” Ministry–Empowering the Scattered Church for Fruitfulness in Everyday Life.

We captured the highlights of the Imagine Church workshop that I arranged for in Colorado Springs two years ago. You can read about that here.

I want to share something today that I tried out for the first time during our workshop–a metaphor that seemed to resonate with the pastors and church leaders this week. See what you think.

I’ve quoted before what the Apostle Paul said about the purpose of the church:

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up… (Ephesians 4.11, 12, NIV)

I asked, “If we were building houses instead of making disciples, would the church be more like a general contractor or a trade school?” The answer, I believe, is a trade school. Trade schools don’t build houses; trade schools train carpenters, plumbers, and electricians, and they build houses.

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9.35 – 38, NIV)

What just caught my attention in this familiar passage was “send out workers.” That’s what trade schools do.

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I love the story of the four men carrying the paralyzed man to Jesus:

Mark 2:2-5 (Passion Translation NT)…While Jesus was preaching the word of God, four men arrived, carrying a paralyzed man. But when they realized that they couldn’t even get near him because of the crowd, they went up on top of the house and tore away the roof above Jesus’ head. And when they had broken through, they lowered the paralyzed man on a stretcher right down in front of him! When Jesus saw the extent of their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “My son, your sins are now forgiven.”

“When Jesus saw the extent of their faith…”

• The four men decided they would take their friend to Jesus
• When they couldn’t get in, they brainstormed a solution
• They did the unorthodox: climbing onto the roof, tearing away the roof (without falling in!), and lowering him down
• I still like what I heard a pastor say years go. “When it says that Jesus saw their faith, what did Jesus see? I think they they dropped the ropes!”

The men were persistent, and they were “all in.” 

Faith = persistence! Jesus even taught that explicitly in Luke 18:

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

James said, “I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2.18)

Recently, June and I paid our house off. We decided a number of years ago to make that a goal, and we really hit it hard. We put nearly all of our discretionary income against the house. Persistently! God came through with extra money a few times that we hadn’t counted on, and protected us from significant unexpected expenses.

What paid off the house? A combination of persistence over time (faith) and the power of God. Just like the man’s healing was a combination of Jesus’ power and his four friends’ faith shown by their persistence.

What could God do in our midst if we exercised active faith?

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I think this will be the last post about indifference for a while, but you can tell the impact its discovery has made on my life. Please see January 23 for the first in the series and a definition. 

My friend Bill (not his real name), retired after 28 years in the Air Force, and now teaching at the Air Force Academy epitomizes contentment that we’re both realizing comes from holy indifference.

Bill is a smart guy, he has the same earned doctorate in education that I have, and has strong opinions about, for example, the way a course he’s teaching should be run. But at the moment, he’s not in a position to do anything except do as he’s told. For sure, he appropriately makes his concerns known, and often, changes get made eventually.

But in the meantime, Bill practices the following philosophy which he’s shared with me in the context of many stories spanning his career: “If the commander wants something done a certain way, and it’s not illegal, immoral, or unsafe, then I’ll do it.” That’s indifference!

Bill is a very successful guy by any measure, but by his own admission, he is not overly ambitious, he doesn’t need to make more money than he does (and he’s been up and down a bit since his retirement from the Air Force). His priority is his wife and adult children. His work is excellent; for example, when he teaches, he cares about the students as individuals. (I met an Air Force Academy senior who told me that Bill was the first teacher that treated her like a human being.) So he definitely doesn’t have an “I don’t care” attitude. But he is indifferent…to success, to methods, to practically everything that doesn’t directly affect his loving God and loving people. 

Bill lives out the indifference that Paul wrote about, the text we opened these short essays on indifference with:

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4.11 – 13)

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I’ve been writing about indifference, a concept developed by Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. He defined indifference as being detached enough from things, people, or experiences to be able either to take them up or to leave them aside, depending on whether they help us to “to praise, reverence, and serve God” (Spiritual Exercises 23). (See January 23 – 26)

I wish I had learned this concept of indifference (my wife likes to call it holy indifference to distinguish from an I don’t care attitude) way earlier in life. 

For example, I like to watch sports. Several blogs about my alma mater Clemson’s winning the national championship confirms that, doesn’t it? And in the past watching this week’s “game of the year” often caused conflict. “I have decided to watch this game! Don’t bother me.” The fact that a baby might need tending to or that June and I might be better served doing something else didn’t occur to me.

I could have used some indifference. Yes, I would like to watch the game; however, the game will go on whether I watch it or not. For that matter, my life will go on whether I watch the game or not. I knew a man who didn’t miss an Auburn football game, home or away, for more than 20 years. I wonder what the cost to his family was. Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer is a book about rabid college football fans. It opens with the story of a couple who didn’t attend their daughter’s wedding because it conflicted with the Alabama-Tennessee game. Seriously? 

Sometimes it’s a matter of getting our priorities straight. Other times it’s about preference versus principle (and most of the time it’s preference). I know a couple whose teenage daughter doesn’t like the church the family attends because to her it’s “too big and too loud.” The father is learning some valuable principles in child-rearing, which emphasize listening and not being over-controlling as the kids get older. So he has chosen not to make an issue out of this situation. The church is their preference, but they understand that forcing their daughter to go will do nothing but damage the relationship. I think he’s wise to practice indifference to their choice of church and look around for an alternative. 

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. (Ephesians 5.25, NIV)

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6.4, NIV)

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The Gospel of Mark is an action gospel, and Mark wastes no time describing in Mark 1.21 – 39 what any of us would say was a busy day in the life of Jesus:

• He enters Capernaum on the Sabbath and teaches in the synagogue (verses 21, 22)
• He casts out a demon in the synagogue (verses 23 – 26)
• He went to Simon’s house and healed his mother-in-law (verses 29 – 31)
• Then at sundown(!) “…they brought him all who were sick or oppressed by demons…He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons.” (verses 32 – 34)

I wonder what time he got to bed?

Yet, “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” (Mark 1.35)

We’ve had a busy week, early show times every day, and what’s the first thing to go? Yep. Morning prayer. 

I’m challenged every time I read Mark 1.35. Or Luke 5.16, “Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.”

And the immediate result of the prayer time was direction, as we read in Mark 1.36 – 38:

And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.”

People were clamoring for attention right where he was. He hadn’t healed all of them since verse 34 says, “He healed many who were sick…” But his Father said it was time to move on. So he moved. I’m waiting for God’s specific guidance regarding a conference in London I’ve been invited to attend, and I’m sure that if I set aside time to listen, he’ll make it clear.

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I’ve been writing about indifference, a concept developed by Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. He defined indifference as being detached enough from things, people, or experiences to be able either to take them up or to leave them aside, depending on whether they help us to “to praise, reverence, and serve God” (Spiritual Exercises 23).

A friend of mine works for a Christian organization and finds himself at odds with some of their theological perspectives. That would be OK except he insists on challenging them on their beliefs that are different from his. 

I would argue that he would do well to practice indifference. John Wesley apparently did not originate this quote, but he certainly advocated it:

“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity.”

Indifference would help us practice this, would it not? I don’t have to be right! And I certainly don’t have to convince my brother that I’m right and he’s wrong. I don’t have to escalate every difference to the point that it’s life or death if I don’t correct the other person.

I’m enjoying meeting with a young pastor who is in a small denomination that in their Sunday services sings only from the Psalter a cappella. I’m a church pianist! And I love many styles of Christian music. But why would I ruin our relationship by trying to argue him into a broader view of church music? I am indifferent to how his church does music. And I think he is indifferent to my church’s musical preferences. It makes the rest of our interactions possible.  

Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with…So tend to your knitting. You’ve got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God. Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. (Romans 14.1, 12, 13, MSG)

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I’ve been writing about indifference, a concept developed by Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. He defined indifference as being detached enough from things, people, or experiences to be able either to take them up or to leave them aside, depending on whether they help us to “to praise, reverence, and serve God” (Spiritual Exercises 23).

How does it help confrontations with kids?

We keep our 13-year-old granddaughter one night a week, and as we were leaving for school the next morning a few months ago, I noticed her phone lying off by itself, not with her things. So I picked it up and put it with the stuff she was packing up. She said, rather snippily, “GrandBob, I’ve got it.” So I picked it up and put it down back where it was without saying anything. But my wife could tell I was miffed, and she asked our granddaughter to apologize. 

As I reflected on the incident (which seems really minor as I write it here!), my anger was unnecessary. I could have applied indifference to the situation. Why should I care if she doesn’t want my help? Why should I react negatively if she chooses not to say, “Thanks, GrandBob, for watching out for me.” 

Indifference could help deflect anger in a lot of situations, couldn’t it? It’s OK if that driver cuts me off, even if he makes the light and I don’t. If it takes a minute longer to get somewhere, so what? Could indifference have helped the father who got angry the first time his 14-year-old son beat him at tennis? What about the guy who berates himself after every golf shot? 

Indifference might help us implement James 1.19, 20:

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

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Yesterday, I introduced the idea of indifference, a concept developed by Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. He defined indifference as being detached enough from things, people, or experiences to be able either to take them up or to leave them aside, depending on whether they help us to “to praise, reverence, and serve God” (Spiritual Exercises 23).

I said that I’ve found the concept immensely helpful and applicable to a number of situations. Today I want to talk about how it might apply when people disrespect us.

I was talking with a friend who was upset because some folks in his extended family didn’t respect him. My first response was, “So what? Why would you worry about something over which you have no control?” By the way, I know I have terrible counseling skills! I’m supposed to empathize or something for a while and then, when the time is right, offer some help.

My second response was, “We need to teach you how to build your relationship with God primarily through the discipline of daily time with him in the word and prayer so that you draw your self worth from God’s love. Then you won’t be as upset when others don’t seem to respect you.”

Finally, after he had been faithful in meeting with God every day and growing in his love for God, I learned the language of indifference. I was able to say, “How are you doing at developing indifference to what these folks think about you?” Using a related concept, Ignatius would have called my friend’s earlier need for respect a “disordered attachment.” And the cure for that is indifference. And by this time, instead of needing respect, my friend had become appropriately unattached, indifferent, to what folks thought about him. 

Indifference works for this issue! 

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5.11, 12, ESV)

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I’m learning about the Ignatian concept of “Indifference.”

Ignatius, founder of the Jesuits, defined indifference as being detached enough from things, people, or experiences to be able either to take them up or to leave them aside, depending on whether they help us to “to praise, reverence, and serve God” (Spiritual Exercises 23). 

I’ve found the concept immensely helpful and applicable to a number of situations which I’ll write about over the next few days. I have found that nearly every time I share indifference with someone as a suggestion to deal with a particular issue, they ask, “Is there a verse for that?” Answer: yes, of course. Check out Philippians 4.11 – 13:  

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

This is Paul practicing indifference.

I will explore in the next several blogs how we can use indifference to help with a variety of issues including perceived lack of respect, anger, and frustration with others’ beliefs and practices. These blogs explore indifference as applied to priorities and relationships and contentment.

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“Drip by drip isn’t a crowd pleaser, but that’s what makes real change happen.” -Another prize-winning quote from Seth Godin.

Seth Godin writes a blog every day, ostensibly about marketing, but I find something profoundly useful for ministry at least half the time. “Drip by drip…” comes from today’s blog, January 22, 2019, in a post about gradual change.

Jesus, in his three years of public ministry, had a few big events. The feeding of the 5,000 comes to mind and maybe the Sermon on the Mount. The confrontations with the religious leaders described in John chapters 5 – 10 often were associated with large crowds.

But I would argue that Jesus’ main work was with the twelve. Assume they are always there no matter what else is going on, and he chose them “…so that that they might be with him and that he might send them out…” (Mark 3.14). He told Peter and Andrew, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4.19) 

He invested in these men, drip by drip, over three years so that, he could send them out to replicate the process. “Make disciples of all nations… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28.19) 

It’s a simple system, but over the years, we have tried to improve on it. Churches seem to love and rely on big events. Once the senior pastor of a large church asked the youth pastor to organize a Christian concert. I love it that the youth pastor responded, “Why?” Answer: “So we can get more kids into the building.” The youth pastor replied: “If I put on a concert, the only kids that will come are kids who are already involved in ours or another church’s youth group. After the concert, they will all return to their own churches. The net impact will be zero.” This youth pastor wasn’t doing nothing; he was investing his time in kids one-on-one and encouraging his staff to do the same. Not as flashy as putting on concerts, or in Seth’s words, not as much of a “crowd pleaser,” but way more effective.

By the way, have you considered that the 600,000 men who left Egypt in Exodus 14 experienced in quick succession, Passover (where the Egyptian first-born were killed), the dividing of the Red Sea, and the giving of the law on Mount Sinai? Three of the biggest events I can imagine. Yet of the 600,000, the total number who persevered through the wilderness and entered the promised land was exactly two: Joshua and Caleb. (See Hebrews 3.16 – 19.) Real change takes more than big events!

You and I need to value the “drip by drip” opportunities we have…to encourage someone, to help a neighbor, to pray for someone, to tell someone we’re praying for them, to share what God is teaching us through our daily prayer times with someone else, to teach them how to have time with God…. Don’t expect someone else’s big event to get it done when God wants you to be making a small difference where you are.

A little one shall become a thousand, And a small one a strong nation. I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time.” (Isaiah 60.22, NKJV)

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5.16, ESV)