Presence Produces Passion. Passion Produces Preparation.

Mike Simmons

How Mary and Martha relates to our Church Security Ministry

In Luke 10:38-42 we see the story of Martha, Mary, and Jesus...and presumably others, in the home of Martha. We read that Martha invited Jesus in.  And while her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what He taught, Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. Martha comes to Jesus, (Giving you a picture of the times-a WOMAN interrupting a TEACHING, by no other than THE Teacher himself), and essentially challenges Jesus' heart and character by saying "Don't you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me."  

Oh, how relatable Martha is to my human side, my flesh, my ego at times. Afterall, I believe in having a proactive stance on Church Security. I believe that we are to take the initiative to not only pray about God's protection, but TAKE the physical steps to get it done. Especially at the church. As someone who has been in Church Safety and Security for the last 8 Years, I know the Process. I know related Michigan Laws, I know the procedures. This is what needs to be done this Sunday for Securing the Church to happen. And I clearly see this mindset of fellow Church Security personnel around me, I see this mindset with Trainers teaching Church Security related topics in the Country. This focus on the preparations, the tactics, and the techniques. The reliance on training, state laws, church policy, and even the precedence of what has worked for us in the past when it comes to serving as Church Security. And we look at the other ministries of our church, the worship team, even the pastor...and we say "Don't they care about the security of the church?" "Why do I feel alone in this initiative, where every time I look, someone is propping open a rear exit?" "No one is willing to make the hard sacrifices of staying out in the lobby to miss out on service in order to keep an eye out on the front entrance". And week after week, you're missing out on being fully present with the church, in your preparations for the church. But what would your ministry look like if your team members were fully present with Jesus as the foundation of their service for Jesus?

Keeping doors secure is important. Establishing adequate coverage throughout the ministry property with Security-minded Team members, standing guard during services, is essential. Our physical actions, training, and tactics are needed for a successful security ministry. We must remember, though, that our "PREPARATIONS"-actions, choices, our decisions, are empty without the relationship with Jesus.

See, this is where Martha had it backwards in that passage.  She was putting her PREPARATIONS for Jesus above her PRESENCE with Jesus.

Kneeling to the King must take place before serving the Kingdom. This is where real passion comes from...the purpose, clarity, and direction to serve, the WHY behind the serving. Martha was exhausted and frustrated. She was focusing on her preparations, doing so out of her own strength, and lashing out at others-she had no PASSION for her WHY! I see this as as a reflection of: You can't give what you don't have. We cannot restore peace in our church, if we don't have the peace within. We cannot be the Peacemakers, if we are not in relationship with THE Peacemaker. We as the First Responders of our Church have to redirect our attention to Jesus first. Establishing this exchange with Him before taking on the difficult tasks and responsibilities that our ministry requires. This happens before we arrive at the post. This even happens before we arrive at the church. We need to be at the feet of Jesus-in relationship with Him throughout the week!

Transformation occurs in relationship with Jesus. We need to be encountering Jesus like Mary did. If we don't have this presence with Jesus when serving as the Front-Line, we are more likely to cause divisions on the Front-Line. If we are serving out of our flesh, then we are more likely to react from our flesh during our encounters with others. The Holy Spirit must be our Representative, not our ego.

Looking back at the passage of Luke 10:38-42, Jesus tells Martha that she is anxious and troubled about many things. He goes on to tell Martha how He sees Mary's choice of taking that particular time to be present with Him by telling her: "One thing is necessary, Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

"We don't rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training".-Archilochus

I compare this idea of spiritually training with Mary's choice of being at the feet of Jesus. We need to be training in order to Act righteously with the passion of Jesus when the time comes. This presence with Him produces the Passion to serve for Him. How are you spiritually training as a Church Security Team? 

Do you find yourself anxious in this ministry? Do you find yourself troubled within, with your interactions with others at the church? With leaders of the church? When was the last time you were at the feet of Jesus? Yes, your proactiveness with securing the church will increase your safety! Yes, your situational awareness and dedication to watching who comes into your church is essential for protection.  Those things are necessary for effective Church Security. However, just as Mary's choice to be in relationship with Jesus will not be taken from her, don't allow your time with Him to be taken away by your service "for" Him. 

Our PREPARATIONS without PRESENCE with Jesus, will cause PASSION to vanish. And those we encounter will feel and see that Conflict within us! I want our Front Line Ministries to have true Kingdom Impact in their church communities. I want us to passionately engage others, truly seeking how we can serve them.  Knowing that God created us with a unique, God-given Identity and purpose. Knowing that he knew us from the beginning, and He knows our NOW. He knew that we would be the one to engage that broken community that is walking through our doors at those moments, crying out in need of restoration and love through their unruly behavior...In need of the compassion of our hearts which was founded on the passion from our presence with Him.

Be present with Him.