Thinkaloud | on getting hands dirty

stop talking, start doing

Our society seems to have blossomed with self-appointed experts whose main task in life seems to be telling everyone else how to do the job, but never actually doing anything themselves. Such experts - often known as consultants - sell an image of omnicompetence and omniscience, along with boundless energy and more ideas than you could shake a stick at. Their favoured clients are inter-governmental agencies, corporations who follow the suggestion that trendiness is next to profitability, and religious organizations, churches in particular.

There is nothing wrong in giving advice, and rare is the person who has not, at one time or another, suggested to someone else the “better way” to accomplish a task. Such advice is accepted readily when it comes from a person who has practical experience, and who is willing to pitch in and help. Concern arises in people-oriented organizations such as The Salvation Army when there appear to be more advisors than workers. How much of the Army’s budget, particularly in these difficult times, is spent in hiring people to tell us how to do what is already tucked away in dusty manuals that we never read?

Theologian Jurgen Moltmann put his finger on the matter of credibility when he wrote in The Church in the power of the Spirit, “Top level discussions between privileged people usually do very little to relieve the suffering of ordinary people.” While it is true that today ordinary people often do not have the power to bring about needed change. It is also true that those who have the power usually choose to travel, eat, sleep and hold their meetings first class, insulated from the very problems that are under discussion. This is not to say that personal experience is the only way to knowledge and insight. It is my opinion that situations will never be fully understood without such personal experience.

It is of particular concern when this hands-off “expert from a distance” mindset becomes the dominant way of thinking about the foundations of a Christian lifestyle such as evangelism, witnessing, Bible study and prayer, stewardship of resources and much more. There are Salvationists who have not been personally involved in frontline Christian service for longer than they can remember. They have no right to accept the plaudits of a grateful society that is appreciative of the Army’s “sleeves-rolled-up” Christian approach to intractable problems. The unfortunate truth is that while they wear the uniform and “talk the talk” they do not “do the works.”

It is inconceivable that experts should be called in to tell Christians how to pray, evangelize and witness. The Bible is not a closed book on these subjects. Prayer is simply talking to God, as to a person; evangelism is trying to win people to Jesus Christ; witnessing s telling others what God has done in your life. It is not that we do not know how to do these things, it is simply that we prefer to gather in holy huddles at conferences and talk about doing them. But this removal from the battlefield cannot quite still the pangs of conscience that God has put there to jab His people awake. The Kingdom of God is extended by people who are not afraid to get their hands dirty in meeting human need, in the name of Jesus Christ and for His sake.

Let’s stop talking about how to do things and, in the strength that Jesus gives and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, start doing them.

Writer: Lieut.-Colonel Maxwell Ryan is a former Editor in Chief in Canada and the UK. In retirement he is a copy editor of theRubicon and the author of two series on theRubicon - Resurrected Writers and Thinkaloud.

4 Comments to Thinkaloud | on getting hands dirty

1. Max

   Once again you are right on the mark.

   The issue raised about so called experts or consultants being hired and used to instruct the saints in how to has been an issue with me for a long while. Christianity is not rocket science. The sharing of the Good News of Jesus does not require the sharer to have 15 consultants and experts advising how to do so. One need only heed the words of Jesus–Go and tell what I have done for you.

   There are indeed many within our fellowship (TSA) and other fellowships of believers who have forget that Creed must be followed by Deed. At least that is what I see from the early Army.

   Going back to the old ways ( and I do not mean the bands, the uniform but I do mean adapting what is there in secualr society to God’s use) is what we need to do.

   We do not need to study it to death.
   We do not need to give up our right to proclaim the Good News of Jesus when we serve the community.

   As I think back to my years of working in Manitoba’s jails one of the things that stands out in my mind’s eye is the fact that both the inmates and staff had more respect for The Sally then they did for other do gooders and ministers.
   Why–because the Army was down to earth and upfront about that they are.

   Thanks again Max.

   John Stephenson
John Stephenson on April 26th, 2009

2. John:
   As James says in 1: 22, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” And guess who is the father of spiritual deceptiion? Thanks for your word, John. Hallelujah!
Maxwell Ryan on April 26th, 2009

3. Hi,

   Once again, I don’t think it’s quite as simple as you portray. There are three main ‘criticisms’ (I mean that word in the proper accademic context) that jump out at me:

   1) We live in an age where specialisation is required. Without it, we will lose funding, and more often than not, cause destruction rather than healing. I’m thinking of specialised Drug & Alcohol counsellors in our Rehabs, of qualified social workers in our social centres, of specialist employment experts in our employment centres. The list goes on.

   2) Without such experts, or consultants to guide us, we are unable to navigate the mine field of government beauacracy - which whether we like it or not, we must in order to be allowed to continue the work we do. We need experts who are able to lobby for government contracts and funding, we need experts who are able to tap into a cynical society and explain we need support.

   Without such experts in the above two areas, I’m pretty sure that in many Westernised countries, our social work would be shut down, and those attempting to do it would be charged with things such as malpractice etc.

   It is also difficult to know what the problems are without having experts to analyse the situation. There are countless examples of people making assumptions as to what the need or problems are, only to find that they were entirely off the mark. A consultant would have identified very easily what the problem is. It’s called specialisation. One person does one part of the work, others do another part. Consultancy is just as much part of ‘doing the work’ as the Officer who visits gaols and works with street kids is ‘doing the work’.

   3) As I have often said ad-nauseum in many posts (it is a hobby horse of mine), many Christians (including Christian leaders) themselves do not understand what the Bible actually teaches. As a result, they often do more harm than good (with the best intentions). However, I don’t believe that when we stand before God on judgement day and He asks us why we caused so many to go to hell, or destroyed so many families and lives etc., that He will accept the excuse ‘but I had the best intentions - I thought I was doing your work’. We need experts to stop us and challenge us and say ‘Hang on - what you’re doing there is dangerous and going to destroy people and make the situation worse.’

   How many people actually understand the ‘industry manuals’ you refer to? We need consultants to explain what those manuals say, and what the legal guidelines are so that we don’t get into legal problems. Funding WILL be withdrawn and centres forcibly closed if we don’t continually comply to various standards and protocols.

   If we look at the early church in the Bible, and at the early ‘Army, we actually do find a culture of specialisation and consultation - it’s just that it was often behind the scenes - but just as vital to all the other work that goes on. Paul said ‘I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.’ (1 Corinthians 3:6). What about the various ‘Councils’ in the early church (e.g. the council at Jerusalem)?

   In the early ‘Army, as well as the stories of those on the ‘front line’ as it were, there were specialists involved behind the scenes advising them. They had lawyers, media experts, church leaders, politicians, you name it. There are two many examples to remind you of here.

   Just something to think about.

   Yours in Christ,
   Graeme.
Graeme Randall on April 26th, 2009

4. Greetings Graham:
   As usual you have given a thoughtful repose to my article, though I don’t think the issue I raise is quite as complex as you suggest. I think you have confused employees with consultants. In our rehabs counselors are not consultants.

   Through the years officers and/or employees with specialized skills have been and still are quite proficient in navigating a variety of government and/or other bureaucracy.

   The “dusty manuals” I refer to (not industry manuals) are the countless internal studies and reports on the various aspects of our work, as well as what are known as Orders and Regulations, which are a compendium of wise and practical advice that reminds us of our first principles.

   Of course, the difficulty in riding one’s hobby horse is that often such a journey misses the point of the original article, which is that the Army is quite capable in many areas where, for a variety of reasons, leadership chooses to use the services of consultants who do not understand who and what TSA is.

   Anyway, keep sweet in the love of Jesus.
Maxwell Ryan on April 27th, 2009

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