Tuesday, October 4, 2011

You are not Gandhi

Late Sunday night I was involved in a conversation about ordinary Christians.

Christians that don't have a book deal. Those who aren't on television. Those who don't have 150,000 Facebook fans. Those who don't have a face recognised globally.

Just regular believers who love God and are trying to obey Him as best they can in their homes, workplaces and churches.

The discussion had, in part, to do with the fact that everyone isn't meant to be their generation's Gandhi. There will be only one Driscoll or Piper. Martin Luther King has already lived you will never be an exact duplicate.

The vast, vast majority of Christians (and people for that matter) are ordinary.

And that's a good thing.

It's ordinary people who volunteer as telephone counsellors.
It's ordinary people who are country ministers and hospital chaplains.
It's ordinary people who provide meals for hurting neighbours.
It's ordinary people who run playgroups.
It's ordinary people who drive elderly parishioners to church.
It's ordinary people who man techie booths and provide flowers for church.
It's ordinary people who attend the funerals of their friend's parents.
It's the ordinary people who do thousands of untold good acts each day.

God, most often, works through the ordinary people.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ghandi and Martin Luther King were ordinary people too.
For you to nominate most people as 'ordinary' and a few as 'great' is just elitism; they can just do their ordinary little job, whilst the important people get on with the important stuff. My, the important people may well give them a pat on the head and friendly 'thanks'.

Graham said...

I have no doubt that the majority of the 'great' people I mentioned, or anyone who could be called a spiritual 'giant' wouldn't consider themselves one. In fact, their humility often enhances them in the sight of others. Perhaps the term I was after was noteworthy.

But my point was for those who are intimidated by others with a mega platform or a multi-book deal.

God, as is most plain through the disciples, often works through the 'ordinary.'

And it is through the 'ordinary' actions of regular people where God is most often seen.

You're right, those not in the spotlight, who are doing small things out of the spotlight should be praised and encouraged.

My hope was to show the value in EVERY believer's ministry, especially those working outside of the limelight.