New Testament Interpretation

 

Wannabe:

NOUN

wannabes (plural noun) · wanna-be (noun) · wanna-bes (plural noun) · wannabee (noun) · wannabees (plural noun)

1. a person who tries to be like someone else or to fit in with a particular group of people.

ADJECTIVE

1. aspiring or wanting to be a specified type of person.

ORIGIN

1970s: representing a pronunciation of want to be.

 

While the British pop group, The Spice Girls, did not coin the phrase “wannabe” their 1996 song entitled “Wannabe” definitely helped to popularize the term and embed it into today’s modern vernacular.  The term utilized as a noun is reminiscent of a person who is trying but not quite meeting the mark and carries a negative connotation.  However, as an adjective it refers to aspiring or wanting to be a specified type of person.  In this context we are under the assumption seminary students desire to do the work of the ministry.  To be successful at their form of it and particularly those aspiring to pastor.  They want to be like Jesus.  They are ministry wannabes.  

 

What is the chasm between failed and successful wannabes?  The Spice Girls propose that there is an if / then relationship which may reveal the key.  The premise of their song is riddled with conditional statements such as, “if you wannabe my lover you’ve gotta get with my friends.”  They are explicitly stating the necessary criteria need to achieve a successful relationship with them.  Jesus, likewise, in the book of Mark, is modeling necessary criteria for success in ministry. 

 

While many see the work of Jesus’ ministry, the results and the bright lights, many don’t give enough credence to the rhythm that Jesus models which foresters the public success.  The ingredient necessary for balance, success, insight, focus, health, authority and longevity are his practices.  While the book of Mark is known for its focus on the Passion Story it does not neglect to inform us about the rhythms Jesus practiced. 

 

·         In chapter 1:16,19 we get a reflection of Jesus’ charisma as he calls to Simon and Andrew / James and John and they drop everything including family and immediately follow him

·         In v:21-22 he enters the synagogue and teaches with authority

·         V:23-4 The divine world acknowledges him

·         V:25 Jesus commands the unclean spirit to hold its peace and come out

·         V:28 Jesus goes viral on social media

·         V:31 Jesus heals Simons mother

·         V:32-34 The City gathers at the door and Jesus heals many and cast out many devils commanding them not to speak.

 

Then the most significant highlight in Jesus reel of success is listed in verse 35…

 

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into ta solitary place, and there prayed.  ~Mark 1:35

 

In these verses we see Jesus’ ability to gather followers and his ability to minister the Word with authority and to people with compassion.  He was anointed, some traditions would say.  However, he had to be exhausted for the news outlets, desperate people in need of help, critics, paparazzi and general on lookers had converged upon his location and swarmed him.  Everyone wanting something.  Jesus, who had people around him prepared to do his bidding, slipped away early before the sun arose to be alone in a quiet place to pray. 

 

Jesus placed high priority on communing with Abba before the day’s events unfolded.  A practice we first see him model in v:13 when he withdrew to the wilderness for prayer and fasting for forty days before he was tempted of the devil.  Actually, it is out of this tabernacling with God that Jesus’ ministry starts.  It is known that invariably time spent with God enriches, empowers, restores and bonds in and through relationship. Bill Gaultiere in his blog Soul Shepherding states of Mark 11:25-26:

 

Jesus went out to lonely places to pray.  And people came to him for ministry. (Later, in Luke 11:1-4 when the disciples saw the priority of Jesus’ private prayer times, his affectionate intimacy with the God he called “Abba,” and the power and glory that came from him as a result of his connection to the Father, they cried out, “Lord, teach us to pray!”  And so he taught them how he prayed in what we call the Lord’s Prayer.)

 

It would appear that this spiritual tabernacle between Jesus and Abba was a source of nourishment beyond physical need that Jesus was not prepared to forfeit.  Even when the disciples follow after him, find him and attempt to appeal to his ego by announcing the enormity of the work by stating, “All men seek for thee (v:37)” as if to say, “What are you doing out here Jesus?  Everyone is looking for you / wants you”.  Jesus is able to simply answer, “I’m prepared”.  And we continue to see where Jesus took breaks, went on vacation, sabbatical and made his communion with God a priority.  Even up until his death on the cross where he talks to God on behalf of the thieves, inquires about begin forsaken and tells God that into his hands he commits his spirit. 

 

What a powerful posture that Jesus has developed which speaks volumes to our “wannabe” and current ministers.

Rev. Dr. Howard John Wesley of Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, a historically black church, shocked his congregation and the black church community at large when he announced last December that he was embarking on a sabbatical which he termed “Selah”, a pause.  He stated that in his 30 years of ministry, 11 of which as pastor of the Alfred Street conducting four services a weekend with 4,500 in attendance and 50,000 online views and an estimate of over 5,000 sermons, he had never taken a time out from ministry.  He went on to say that his need to “Selah” has now prioritized beyond his “soul was tired”.  With tears in his eyes he said, “I feel so distant from God”.  He said, “One of the greatest mistakes of pastoring is to think that because you work for God, you are close to God”.

 

Pastor Wesley echoes the sentiments of many other pastors about the demanding tension that exist when pastoring a church.  In many faith traditions not taking time off happens for a plethora of reasons.  Sometimes it is because the pastor is inept to do so financially, there are cultural expectations and because there are no provisions to do so in the church polity.   Additionally, there are churches which are personality centered and should the favorite pastor not be preaching that week the congregation does not come to church which cause a ripple affect finically.   

In conclusion, a 2007 Duke University found that 85% of seminary graduates leave the ministry within 5 years, and only 1 in 10 retire as pastors.  These are stiff odds that present an almost impossible perspective for one entering the ministry to scale.  Ultimately, a “ministry wannabe’s” best route to success would to be to follow Jesus as exemplified in Mark 1:35. To painstakingly develop practices and attitudes in making them a priority recognizing that without them failure looms in the distance.  Yet with them they are able to be informed, encouraged, directed and equipped by Abba to do the never-ending work of the ministry in the strength of God.