Ready, Set, Fail!

I was watching an episode of Survivor recently. It’s the reality show that “strands” people on an island and observes them as they survive both physically and socially. At the end of the episode, a young contestant was in tears because she failed during one of the challenges.

Jeff Probst, the host, asked her, “Haven’t you ever failed before?”

She responded, “I never allowed myself to be in a position to fail.”

That statement hit me like a cultural smack upside the head. This is a day and age in which we value the appearance of success. Everyone gets a trophy in pee-wee football. Hardly anyone gets a “C” in school and many students earn over 100% on tests and quizzes. Loads of students are in talented and gifted programs. Failure is not really an option.

With our hyper-consciousness of feeling successful and good, we can become risk-averse. We’re supposed to be good at everything immediately, earn A’s all the time, and show ourselves to be prodigies from the get-go. If something threatens that--like real-world challenges and questions, we may back off from the challenge rather than risk failure.

This anemic, risk-nothing spirit may even infiltrate our service for Christ and His Church. What’s the last ministry failure you’ve had? When is the last time you tried something for Kingdom expansion, but it just didn’t work?

I’m not talking about thoughtlessly lapsing into moral failure or carelessly setting aside sound planning and wasting God’s resources of people, time, and money. I’m talking about taking chances for the Kingdom personally and as a church. Will you risk having someone you care about say “no” over and over again as you invite them to experience Christ? Will you risk trying something new to engage an unreached group in your community? Will you risk changing something to ratchet up your mission impact? Will you put yourself in the position to fail?

The Bible is filled with failure. Even Jesus’ handpicked disciples failed. But with every risk, God was glorified and He worked good in all things for those who loved Him and were called according to His purpose. Let’s not bury the talent God entrusts to us. Let’s put it all on the line and risk failure for the One Who risked it all for us.

How to Get Into a Relationship

During a recent visit to a seminary, a student raised his hand with a question as we discussed the relational focus of ethnic culture and ministry. He asked, “How do you get into a relationship?”

I suspect that many people of our generation are asking the same question. Somehow, as life has become overloaded, techno-laden, material-focused, and self-centered, we’ve become relationally challenged. We know about things and we know about knowledge, but we have no clue about people--and what it is to be one.

How do you get into a relationship?

1. Be present. Instead of always doing, be aware and available where you’re at.

2. Watch and listen. You’ll be surprised how many people need to be heard and need someone to value them.

3. Learn how you can bless others. Instead of being all about you, find out how you can bless the people you encounter.

4. Take time. A relationship means you’re committing to the long haul. Don’t give up on the people God places in your life. Time is grace--it is always on God’s side.

What if Christians and churches focused on lasting relationships instead of the latest fad programs? What if Christians and churches were patient in the Word, in prayer, and with people to see how God might effect Kingdom growth?