Church Mouse
The Church is filled with mice! (Thank goodness not literally) As the colder months settle in, there are bound to be a few of our rodent friends scurrying inside to keep warm. I rest easy believing that we’re a place that welcomes all parts of God’s creation, yes, even the pests. When there’s an over abundance of mice, then we can worry.
Traditionally, the idea of a “church mouse” describes dedicated members that fly under the radar. The mice that aren’t looking for recognition or praise. These folks keep the church operating smoothly. Make no mistake, the church is grateful for and indebted to these mice. However, the problem with too many mice is that their roles become irreplaceable. Initially, one might think it’s a positive quality to be irreplaceable, but not if the church is trying to be sustainable. No task in the church should be yours alone, everyone should know that you’re doing that task, and you should always be equipping someone else to fulfill that task. The “church mouse” mentality leads to an under-appreciative culture, which creates burnout.
Most church mice are well-intended and hardworking. In the name of humility, they desire to go unnoticed. This can be counterproductive in the long run because if we never communicate why we do what we do, then we cannot expect people to want to do what we do. When we ask the question “why,” the answer almost always describes our love for God and the church. It’s not about promoting ourselves, but pointing to the glory of God for all that we do.
This is not only true for Messiah, but the larger church as well. Christianity is not a given. No one is born knowing the value of Christ, it must be taught. In order for the church to grow, we must intentionally take ourselves out of the position of superiority. We must become listeners, teachers, and equippers. The thing about growth is that it cannot come without change. Making yourself replaceable involves allowing room for people to do things differently. If we become overly attached to seeing things done a certain way, then it sucks the life right out of the task at hand for the next person. In my experience, people don’t want to do things someone else’s way, they want to do it their way. For the sake of viability, we must allow them room to evolve.
The church is a community filled with people asking questions, not providing answers. Spiritual growth and a faith that evolves is a necessity. The Bible is a reference point for meaningful discussion, not an answer key. Society is becoming too sophisticated to be indoctrinated. People must be persuaded, convinced, and allowed room to grow. Ultimately, it is God that works through the hearts of people, but we can do our part by demonstrating that Christ has real world implications for how we live, love, and serve.
Avoiding the mouse trap,
Pr. Lucas McSurley,
Image by Doina Gavrilov