YGT: Administration Idol

Critiquing administration in a church is a lot like judging American Idol - anyone can do it.  You don't have to be a great singer to hear another person sing and immediately know "They CAN'T sing".  Likewise, we don't have to be good at administration to know when others aren't good at it.  When we attend church, we know immediately whether the administration is good or not.  We observe the orderliness of the ushers, the organization of the service, and even the parking situation!  We cast our vote immediately for whether a church can "sing" or not.  


It's helpful to observe Acts 2 to see what administration for the first church must have looked like.  They had lots of administrative headaches and yet they completed them with gladness, sincerity, grace, wisdom, and the Spirit.

• There was the exchanging of money between the rich and poor (someone had to be counting the money and distributing it) - v. 45 and Acts 4:33-37
• Lots of people were being fed everyday (someone was cooking and others were serving) - v. 46 and Acts 6:2-3
• There were people being added to the church daily (perhaps through baptism and/or teaching) - v. 47 and Acts 6:1

To be completely honest, I've often overlooked administration.  I would rather idealize, create, and do.  But over time, I've come to realize that effective administration is crucial to ministry.  It was critical for the first church to succeed and it's even more critical today.  Some of the worst testimonies of the church are from poor administration.  Almost everybody knows of a church that has experienced financial mismanagement, grumpy servants, or unorganized teaching.  


This is not an indictment on any particular church, but a calling to see administration as a spiritual gift.  If we are indeed a body, administration can be compared to the muscles.  They're usually never seen (and when they are, that means there's a serious problem).  However, the better the muscle is, the more that can be accomplished by the leg, arm, waist ... or voice.  When that happens, we can all readily agree, "That church can sing!"

Lord, please forgive me for overlooking administrative tasks.  Please help me to be better at responding to emails, meeting deadlines, and organizing my life.  Thank you for the people you have given to the church to help disciple your people.  For every trustee, usher, and secretary, thank You.  Please grant them each the grace, wisdom, and love that they may administer in Your Spirit.  Let all things be done decently and in order.  In Christ's name, Amen.  

Repenting,

j.a.g.

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Acts 2:42-47
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.
45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. 

Acts 4:33-37
33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all
34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales
35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”),
37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.


Acts 6:1-3
1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews[a] among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.
3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them