BUILDING WHAT LASTS: THE STRUCTURE INSIDE OF THE SCAFFOLDING (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

Anyone who has been to London in the last 20 years will be familiar with the disappointment of arriving at historical buildings, hoping to see them and take your own pictures, only to find them covered in scaffolding and tarps or to find all the stained glass out for cleaning and repair. Big Ben, at the Houses of Parliament (Palace of Westminster), was a case in point for us one year, and Westminster Abby, I believe. I didn’t take pictures of those places. I can see scaffolding in America! Winsor Castle was like that one year, and then some idiot gave planning permission to build a hideous structure in front of one of the most iconic views of the castle from the river Thames! We know the building is far more important than the scaffolding, and that one day the scaffolding will come down. Many years ago, Noel Brooks (British pastor and IPHC theologian) warned the IPHC in a General Conference or other meeting, that with all of the programs and scaffolding of our denomination, one day it is all bound to come down, and that ultimately only what we have built authentically for the kingdom of God will remain and last. Those things will be the results and fruit of saved and changed lives for God. This is the true fruit of our labor. That is why we cannot afford to lose our personal intimacy with God as servants and leaders, and become obsessed and swallowed up by techniques, procedures, structures, programs, and events.

Paul warn us that long after the scaffolding of our ministry, churches, systems, and strategies are gone, only what is genuine fruit of changed lives and salvation of lost people who have been discipled for Christ will last (1 Cor. 3:10-15)? Our own personal walk with God is the key to producing this kind of fruit in our ministry engagement, and leaving behind something that will last when we stand finally before God.[1] Intimacy with God connects us to the purpose and power of God for ministry, and for the work of the kingdom of God, and keeps our focus on him, and on the dynamic leadership of the Spirit for day to day service and obedience to God. Intimacy with God will protect is from the heady wine of apparent “ministry success” as it is measured in conference reports, and metrics alone.

Our forms, procedures, programs, systems, techniques, events, and planning are important, but not ALL important. They are helpful, but not supreme. They may be effective, but they alone do not produce the fruit God, or we, are looking in and of themselves. Let’s not confound the goal of the gospel with the goal of successful appearances, with the scaffolding we have erected so that we can build what matters. They may be well thought out, but they do not always represent the ways of God, or even the will or God, or necessarily the direction of the Holy Spirit for us, our ministry, or for our churches.

Footnotes:

[1] Note, we have all built with hay, wood, and stubble, been preoccupied with what is not essential, and missing the critical nature of ministry, seeking to produce change in peoples lives through edification, encouragement, and service. It is, however, essential, that we are open to the challenge of the Holy Spirit from time to time to return to our first love (Rev. 2:4-5a).