Priorities
I heard a church recently ask this question to potential lead pastor candidates they were interviewing.
Rate the following in terms of priority: family, God, work, ministry.
I think this is a ridiculous question to ask in an interview. I could see it on the candidates face as they thought about their response. They thought this was a trick question. It was a trick question. But not on purpose. The individual asking the question didn't really know what she was asking.
When I was in youth ministry I would ask a question similar to this one. It seemed to make sense to me and the students.
This is a ridiculous question for a few reasons.
1. If you ask people this question enough they know how to answer it so that you will be happy with their answer.
2. The question is dumb because it creates false categories with well defined boundaries where there really aren't any. In other words, Ministry can somehow be separated from GOD (which it can't) You can't have God as a priority and not have ministry as a priority or family or work for that matter. These are not differenct catagories, they are different emphasis on the same issue.
3. Each of these words mean different things to different people, and if you assume what people mean when they say work or ministry you will very likely be wrong.
4. This kind of question may seem harmless (and maybe it is) but it re-enforces a compartmentalized faith and life in the average person or family. Which leads us to a theologically unhealthy way to live.
5. Everybody lies about their priorities. Mostly to themselves.
Perhaps instead of asking kids, or Lead Pastor candidates what order their priorities are in we should ask them what it means for them to have a relationship with God and how it impacts their life?
Rate the following in terms of priority: family, God, work, ministry.
I think this is a ridiculous question to ask in an interview. I could see it on the candidates face as they thought about their response. They thought this was a trick question. It was a trick question. But not on purpose. The individual asking the question didn't really know what she was asking.
When I was in youth ministry I would ask a question similar to this one. It seemed to make sense to me and the students.
This is a ridiculous question for a few reasons.
1. If you ask people this question enough they know how to answer it so that you will be happy with their answer.
2. The question is dumb because it creates false categories with well defined boundaries where there really aren't any. In other words, Ministry can somehow be separated from GOD (which it can't) You can't have God as a priority and not have ministry as a priority or family or work for that matter. These are not differenct catagories, they are different emphasis on the same issue.
3. Each of these words mean different things to different people, and if you assume what people mean when they say work or ministry you will very likely be wrong.
4. This kind of question may seem harmless (and maybe it is) but it re-enforces a compartmentalized faith and life in the average person or family. Which leads us to a theologically unhealthy way to live.
5. Everybody lies about their priorities. Mostly to themselves.
Perhaps instead of asking kids, or Lead Pastor candidates what order their priorities are in we should ask them what it means for them to have a relationship with God and how it impacts their life?
Labels: Riddle Group, youth ministry
posted by mark at
11:36 AM
3 Comments:
Here, here!
"It was a trick question. But not on purpose. The individual asking the question didn't really know what she was asking." One should never assume he knows the questioner's motive by the content of the question.
anonymous,
fair enough.
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