William “Gus” Pagonis had a long and distinguished career in the U.S. Army, capped off by being the three-star lieutenant general who coordinated all the Army’s logistics during the Persian Gulf War, which took place from Aug. 2, 1990, to Feb. 28, 1991.
After facilitating an overwhelming allied victory, Pagonis retired from the Army and was hired by Sears Roebuck and Co. to be their head of logistics, a far less martial, but no less complex enterprise.
When he gathered his managers at Sears for a staff meeting, he had a simple rule: “No one is allowed to sit.” That’s right, everyone had to stand for his meetings. There were no donuts, no fruit or vegetable trays, and no coffee pot. Each manager was expected to speak only if he or she had some significant information to share, and they were expected to keep that as brief as possible.
His 8 a.m. meetings generally recessed at 8:15 a.m. It was not a social club. There was a job to be done, and everyone was expected to be about the business of the company.
There is a case to be made for coffee, muffins, and fruit trays in our churches. Churches involve a lot of fellowship, friendship, and mutual support. However, if any church is just a social club, then it has missed the mark.
Without exception, Jesus trained his disciples not to just be followers, professional students, or just a great bunch of people to be around, but to be apostles and workers for his Kingdom. Everyone had a job to do. That is still true today.
The business of the Church is to build the Kingdom of God, seeking the lost and bringing people into a living relationship with God while helping them to mature in faith and grace.
Jesus denounced the scribes and Pharisees who “SIT” on Moses’ seat, saying they “love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best SEATS in the synagogue” (Matthew 23:6). He castigated them for tying heavy burdens of legalism on others while being unwilling to lift a finger to help those carrying the burdens. They loved the honor, the recognition, and the sitting, but had little compassion for the welfare of others.
Jesus’ disciples were taught not to sit, but to serve. He said, “But the one who is greatest among you will be your servant. All who lift themselves up will be brought low. But all who make themselves low will be lifted up (Matthew 23:11-12).
The best groceries in the Christian life are not those on the top shelf, but those on the bottom. We feed our souls not by being served and honored, but by caring, loving, and serving those around us. We are not called to sit, but to stand up and get about the business of serving as representatives of Jesus Christ. We look not to be affirmed, but to encourage others. We look not to be fed ourselves, but to feed the hungry with either literal groceries or the food of hope and the Word of God.
Let’s learn to take a stand for those who are divorced or estranged. Let’s care about them because they are hurting and they are in deep need of being loved by someone caring about them in the name of Jesus.
Let’s take a stand for the grieving who have experienced loss. We can’t make the hurt go away, but we can stand with them and advocate for them.
Let’s take a stand for those in jail or prison, along with those who have been released from custody. They have been judged and found guilty, but before God, we are guilty, too. They need to know that someone cares about them. They need to hear a message of hope, forgiveness, and new life.
Let’s take a stand for single parents who are often working at low-paying jobs to provide for their children. They need someone to play catch with their kids and invite their family over for a meal. They need to know that there are folks who don’t judge them but support them. They need to know they can be loved in the church and accepted as part of a larger family in the Body of Christ.
Take a stand for your neighbors, whoever God puts in your path. Care about them. Minister to their needs. Invite them to church. Speak words of hope and encouragement to them. Be the living presence of Jesus to them.
You are, after all, not called to sit on the couch of self-absorption, but to stand and do the work of the Master.
Dr. Dan Darby is a retired United Methodist pastor.
