Tim: Gentlemen, we are here to discuss my choices on my recent church
servitude. I have been asked by the pastor to serve as youth leader in
the coming retreat since their main leader cannot make it due to work. I
have accepted it based on the fact that they couldn't find any other.
However, I am contemplating on pulling out my services for 1. leading
Friday Bible Fellowship, 2. participation of Wednesday stay at home
prayer meeting. For all things in the universe, there is a balance.
Mr.
Q: Why can't you participate in all three?
Tim: To teach them a
lesson, if they ever learn.
Jello: Who do you think you are,
teaching them a lesson. What lesson?
Tim: I am just a concerned Christian looking at the failing
churches in America. Everyone just kept praying and praying for God to
help but they don't do what is right...
Jello: And you think
you're doing what is right? You lazy bum!
Tim: As far as I understand, so help me God. I'm not lazy or
rejecting any responsibility. All services I provided from teaching to
cleaning I do it to my fullest zeal and best ability. But, like you
said, who am I? I am nobody, comparing to most of them, I have no status
in the academics as well as society while many of them have both. Thus,
with much benefits, why are they giving less? Busy with families &
babies? So this is their equation? This is their principle? No wonder
America is falling and everyone thinks it's not their fault. There was a
very good pianist who was in a similar position as I in terms of social
status, this church didn't do anything for him and his wife other than
just asking him to serve as a pianist. I would admire him more if he
stayed strong and stayed longer. I wouldn't be angry if he didn't
request for any help as I, but when someone falling victim to a popular
controversial injustice in this country and asks for help for both
himself and his wife, you try your best to help him nonetheless. Instead
of just saying: Oh, we will pray for you. But serve the Lord as a
pianist here, while we enjoy our social security benefits and
citizenship priviledges and feel sorry for you.
Mr. Q: Maybe the
pastor just couldn't come up with a solution. What, do you think just
because there's no solution, he shouldn't be asked to serve?
Tim: I
do not think so. There is always a solution with the right heart and a
Christian should always be available to serve. However, based on what do
we ask people to serve? Lack people? Then again this church lacks no
people. But as Matthew 23 puts it, obey those on Moses' seat, just don't
do what
they do.
CalmBoy: Maybe those other people are just less willing
to serve like you. So it is better to get a more willing servant.
Tim:
Oh, as much as I'm willing to serve, I just cannot turn a blind eye to
what I've just said. The pastor had even once asked me not to tell
people of my status, but I thought to myself, if she's afraid for me or
herself. Most likely the former. But why the need for this secrecy and
yet pushing/promoting me to serve this and that? To help me gain some
kind of "publicity" since I've "helped" so much in order to perhaps
someday, have an easy route to American Citizenship or whatever
recognition that's going to make my life "better"? Whenever people ask,
which is unavoidable when serving this much, I just tell them the truth
instead of "not telling them" as she had told me. I believe I am
following "not doing what they do" in Matthew 23:3. Because how can you
ask someone not to tell the truth and assume him to be a willing
servant?
CalmBoy: I'm sure the pastor saw you a highly treasured
from God.
Tim: That is very possible in this case. But with those
principles, she'll never see my faults and adjust the situations
accordingly. This is a common problem with many this type of Chinese
churches, they love to admire admire admire, but don't push themselves
to match the people they admire as if that's not their business. This no
doubt produces jealousy in others which I blame it on them.
CalmBoy: This meeting is adjourned...
