Reflections of 25 Years: Not Everyone Cares About the Same Things You Care About

Dr. Randy White

Have you ever noticed that some of the things that you are passionate about cause others to roll their eyes in a great display of apathy? Let me be right up front with something you should understand: That’s OK.That’s right! They don’t have to be passionate about the things you are passionate about, even when those things are life-versus-death or truth-versus-lies issues. In fact, there are some life-and-death or truth-and-lies matters that you are not involved in nor passionate about yourself.For example, I am a passionate Zionist. I believe that Israel has the right to exist as a Jewish nation in the Promised Land of Judea and Samaria. I speak on Israel’s behalf, call my congressman when I think she is being threatened and keep abreast of items of significance in this arena. It is not surprising that I travel to Israel, often mention Israel in my teaching, preaching and writing, and almost always have an opinion on what is happening in the Middle East. I think I am fully Biblical in my Zionism (and I would love to convince you someday as well).But I have also found that some people do not want to go to Israel. Some people get tired of hearing me mention Israel again (and again, and again). Some of these people are anti-Israel, and this I do not understand (or condone). Others, however, hold my same values, they are just not as passionate.But these same people are passionate about other matters of importance. Some are involved in adoption ministries or crisis pregnancy centers, others are deeply committed to prayer ministries, still others have a passion for the spread of the gospel to certain spiritually-dark corners of the world and others may be zealous about teaching creationism and declaring the falsehoods of evolution. All of these are life-and-death, truth-and-lies kinds of issues.The point is (as I stated in the beginning), it is OK that we are not all passionate about the same things. This makes us need each other, and makes us a body with interdependent parts.As a pastor, I had to learn to say no. I am a people-pleaser at heart, and I was (and can be) easily persuaded by every issue known to mankind, so long as it has a Biblical foundation. But physically (let alone spiritually), I cannot be passionate about all things. I have to tell some passionate people, “Go get ‘em, tiger… but I won’t be there.” I hope they understand. I also have to understand when I start the next Zionist crusade and they are not alongside to fight the battle with me.It’s OK. We are a body. God designed it this way.Two areas in which I have seen this become problematic are in the ministries of prayer and missions. After all, how can you be against prayer or missions? I have seen the people with a passion for either ministry (may their tribes increase) who become so disgusted with others who may not have these passions that they become judgmental and condemnation starts to spill out of the prayer and missions ministries. Sometimes you can walk by a prayer meeting room or missions circle and feel the judgmentalism oozing out, making everyone who walks by feel like the priest and the Levite who “passed by on the other side” (Luke 10:31, 32). I think these ministries, and every ministry, would do much better to make sure they recruit with love, disciple with grace and serve with passion—but do not guilt others into service. God loves a cheerful servant.Next in this series: Reflection No. 11—What If a Long-Time Believer Can’t Pass a Bible Quiz?To see other articles in this series, click here.