As a young minister it can be difficult to imagine a time in which zeal wanes, passion fades, and the fire of God no longer consumes you. However, the wise Apostle wrote to young Timothy, “I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God” (2 Tim. 1:6). The current culture provides the ability for an individual to amass a following, effortlessly promote themselves, and build a brand. Ministry is not exempt from this mentality, in fact, it is rife.
In his new book, Authentic Ministry: Serving from the Heart, Michael Reeves sounds the warning against cold, mechanical, professionalism. With pastoral sensitivity, ministerial wisdom, and Christ centered warmness, Reeves builds a case for authentic ministry. Ministry, authentic ministry, is not performed with the knowledge which fills the head but the warmth of a heart brimming with adoration for the Christ they proclaim. Applying the gospel like a healing balm to weary and wounded souls, particularly the souls of those who proclaim the riches of Christ themselves—ministers, Reeves presents that the gospel is both the fountain and the fountainhead of authentic ministry.
Indeed, ministry begins and ends with Christ. Therefore, Reeves argues that what ministers need most fundamentally, is Christ. Because it is only as the minister’s soul is healthy that they can best minister to Christ’s flock. In Acts 20:28 Paul admonished, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” Reeves insightfully comments, “Only when we first do that can we have an authentic ministry that is able—from a position of health—to care rightly for all the flock of God” (9–10).
Authentic Ministry: Serving from the Heart
Michael Reeves
The predominant theme of the book, upon which Reeves builds throughout, is that the minister must first delight in God, glory in Christ, and look faithfully unto Jesus in order to serve authentically and beneficially. Reeves asks, “What is our chief end in all we do?” He answers, “To glorify God, and to enjoy him in our ministry” (11–12). This is the fundamental premise Reeves makes.
The predominant theme of the book, upon which Reeves builds throughout, is that the minister must first delight in God, glory in Christ, and look faithfully unto Jesus in order to serve authentically and beneficially. Reeves asks, “What is our chief end in all we do?” He answers, “To glorify God, and to enjoy him in our ministry” (11–12). This is the fundamental premise Reeves makes. Ministry is first and foremost a means by which the minister glorifies God and enjoys him. Other aspects of ministry notwithstanding, Christ is supreme.
There are many traps laid for the minister by the arch enemy of Christ, namely, Satan. Reeves asserts that pride, professionalism, and boredom are some of the chief enemies that a minister will face in combat. The answer, Reeves observes, is Christ and him crucified; “The seed of all sickness in the Christian life is the failure to boast in the cross. The seed of all health is boasting in the cross” (19). The cross of Christ is not a message of Christianity, rather, it is themessage of Christianity. Without the centrality of the cross, ministry with inevitably lead to ruin instead of redemption.
The secret to effective and fruitful ministry is not educated intellects, oratory ability, or large numerical expansion. The secret is simple; dependence upon God expressed through fervent prayer.
Reeves proceeds to provide several ways in which the minister may ensure that they are indeed, boasting in Christ alone, prevent themselves from becoming unbalanced, and from losing their focus upon Christ. The first means is prayer. Bold prayer. He writes, “We breathe in Scripture, and we breathe out prayer. Breathe in, breathe out: that’s the Christian life. Prayer is the breath of heavenly life: where that life is, there must be some prayer; where that life flourishes, there will be much prayer, and much pleasure in prayer. And friends, let us be clear: the life-breath of Christianity, of healthy churches, is not our talent, or even our hard work. It is prayer: active dependence upon God” (31).
The secret to effective and fruitful ministry is not educated intellects, oratory ability, or large numerical expansion. The secret is simple; dependence upon God expressed through fervent prayer.
Next, as a fruit of prayer, Reeves suggests we cherish humility. This, of course, is fruit of Christ’s Spirit which buds forth in the life planted in the soil of Christ’s word and prayer. With ministers toppling over at an alarming rate, the answer, Reeves suggests is Christ-like humility. In fact, he argues, “At the heart of true Christian integrity is humility” (41). He continues, “What effect should the gospel have on us, though? “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). For in the gospel is revealed the glory of the living, triune God, and in his light we creatures and sinners are exposed for the petty wretches we are” (42).
The minister must never forget that before anything else, they are a sinner in need of Christ and his lovely grace. The message of the cross and Spirit filled prayer will foster such a humility that grounds the minister in a way that equips them to fight the ugly monster of pride. For, after all, “The knowledge of Christ is given to us not simply to slosh around in our heads—and certainly not to puff us up—but to transform our heart and character. The ultimate end of all our knowing is that we might love him and become more like him” (45). Until the minster is in the perfect likeness of Christ, sanctification is not complete. This reality should drive you to your knees in confident prayer to your loving Father who sent his Son to save you from your sin (Heb. 4:16). Ministers must develop their character in the secret chambers of communion Christ, or they will be unable to handle the pressure of the platform.
Another area emphasized is the ministers need of friendship. Arguing against the mentality of isolationism, Reeves insightfully reminds the reader that they were never created to serve Christ by themselves. Left to themselves the minister will fail to see certain sins, particular weaknesses, and the ill effects that the toil of ministry can produce. He writes, “Warm and hearty friendship is the highest form of fellowship. It is an anticipation of what fellowship will be like in heaven. It is partnership, allying together in warm, rich, personal appreciation. This sort of fellowship testifies to a friendly, personal God and an eternal hope where all the fellowship involves true and holy delight” (58–59).
Friendship reminds the minister that they aren’t the hero in their message, Christ is the only one worthy of such a title. He alone went into battle and conquered the enemies of his people. Reeves argues that true friendship is a foretaste of heaven. However, he notes that it also reminds us of the gospel. Gathered together in affectionate and worshipful encouragement the minister is ministered to by fellow members of Christ’s body.
Finally, he reaches the pinnacle of his argument for ministry by calling upon the minister to refuse cynicism and grow through suffering, love Christ’s church, and look continually unto Jesus. Ministry is not for the faint of heart, but Reeves reminds us that it is only in Christ’s strength that we will not faint. Therefore, we must look to him. Why would a minister rejoice in suffering? More importantly, how could they? Reeves exults, “As Christians suffer patiently, like Christ; as we are content when all the world is so unsatisfied; as we walk away from the glittering rubbish of the world—we show that all the world does not satisfy; we show how Satan has been stripped of his power.
Every time we rejoice in Christ, resist sin, proclaim him, and show his love, we do something completely unnatural. We show our freedom from the serpent’s chains. We stomp on the old dragon’s head” (68). As the minister suffers, Reeves reminds them that their loving God is not sadistic. He only “unsettles his saints to expose the evil within—so that it might be removed” (72). In kind providence, God designed that the minister’s sanctification be accomplished, in part, through the very suffering brought on by and experienced in the ministry.
However, as a minister it is all too easy to fixate on the flaws of the church or to focus the attention on oneself. Reeves argues that the minister must, instead, love the church, warts, and all. He writes, “We who love the church but also see so keenly her faults need to hear this. Those of us who labor in the vineyards may look at the church and see a marginalized and messed-up community. We may think it insignificant (at least in others’ eyes) or weak. But this is the Lord Christ’s bride: he will come, and he will take her to himself. He will vindicate her, heal her, glorify her” (84).
While the minister may see the flaws, Christ views the church differently. “The church is the excellent wife, the crown of Jesus Christ.The church is his most precious treasure, the reward for his great victory; it is the sign of just who he is. He is the one who awakens the dead, saves the helpless, and draws mankind together in love” (86). This reality means that ministers must also grapple with the question of how they view the church. Is the church simply a steppingstone for you to build a bigger brand? Is the church your servant or are you hers? If the minister is taking the attention away from Christ, in any way, Reeves asserts that they are flirting with his bride. He writes, “if the church is Christ’s beloved bride, we must treat her with great respect. It’s so tempting to want the church to look at us, to admire us, to depend on us. But think what that is…Trying to get the bride to admire you is flirting with the bride of Christ. True friends do not behave that way. No, if we’re friends of Christ, we point the church to her husband” (88).
Authentic ministry is an invitation to join the minster in admiring the beauties and excellencies of Christ.
This, Reeves concludes is only accomplished by looking unto Jesus. As the minster studies the Scripture, they must ask themselves, “do we do theology to know Christ better, or do we use it to hide ourselves, like Adam, from his gaze?” (105). As the minister studies, preaches, counsels, makes pastoral visits, etc. they must do so with an eye upon Christ. As the Hebrew writer put it, the minister must “run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1–2).
One final time, he extols the loveliness of Christ by reminding the minister that the only way they will run their race effectively is by looking to Christ and the eternal joy that is enjoyed now and awaits in glory. He writes, “The joy set before him was the marriage: his union with his Bride. The joy set before us is the same: to be with him, face to face, all sin and pain removed” (114). Reeves helpfully reminds the reader that it is only as the minister’s heart is captivated by Christ that he can minister authentically, by serving from the heart. Authentic ministry then must be a ministry spent gazing upon Christ and consequently glows for his glory and the good of his church.
The brilliance of Reeves’ book is that it is insightfully pastoral, experientially wise, and practically devotional. Whether you have a lifetime of experience, are just starting out in ministry, or a layperson that desires to minister authentically you will be greatly encouraged, edified, and presented Christ afresh in this masterful work.
