I’m not suggesting that we unhealthily avoid conflict, for that would lead to dramatic dysfunction. I’m not suggesting that we water-down the message of Scripture, for that would be heresy.
I’m not suggesting that we make our ministries about pleasing people, for that would be idolatry. I’m not suggesting that our ministries should never offend people, for the gospel is offensive.
Sometimes, people will be offended by our work. Sometimes, they’ll storm away angry. Sometimes, they’ll make unfair criticisms or jump to silly conclusions. Those things we can’t help.
What we CAN avoid, though, is damaging people by our negligence, arrogance, ignorance, and selfishness.
Remembering the tragic numbers of bodies we’ve left behind requires internal strength, brutal self-honesty, and humility. If we’re the least bit in tune with God’s Spirit, this activity will sadden us. Yet it will simultaneously inspire us to prevent such casualties in the future.
So today, I encourage you to ask, “What’s my number? How many bodies have been left in my ministry trail?”
I doubt this number will ever make it into any church leader’s metric spreadsheet. After all, it’s a discouraging number and hard to track. Nevertheless, let’s all make it a habit to look in the rear-view mirror from time to time so we don’t needlessly hurt people in our efforts to reach them with the gospel.
Let us never become so enamored with the exciting numbers in front of us that we forget the tragic numbers behind us.
