Recently I read about the results of a study done by several prominent universities (unfortunately I don’t remember them as I write this, but they were east and west coast schools known for research I do remember) that determined businesses that have a Dwight Schrute type individuals on teams make better decisions.
For those that don’t know who Dwight Schrute is, Dwight is a fictional character from the NBC show the Office who seems completely unencumbered by social norms or convention. Dwight says and does things that most of society would find to be crazy, but he is devoted to his job, his company and his boss. He works hard, he is successful at what he does, but he does not reach these goals by use of conventional means or methods.
That led me to think about how such personalities, if properly constrained and guided as Dwight is by his boss and mentor Michael Scott who is equally offbeat but in his own ways, are also beneficial within ministries and churches. The Dwight’s, or Dwighteenia’s, are the ones that typically come up with bold and innovative ministries that go and do things that individuals and churches have been unwilling or unmotivated to do. Too many times “normal” Christians, and “normal” churches, will not try anything abnormal or different until they add a Dwight type individual (or individuals) to their circle of influencers or their local body. The mindset is – “This is how things are done because everyone else and every other church does it this way”, until someone challenges it.
The idea that only established means of ministry are the only valid ones, is not the model of a true evangelical ministry though. Look at Christ, Christ operated within the society he was in (i.e. He worked with what and in the place that His Father had provided for Him), but he was not constrained at all by the norms of that society. He hung out with prostitutes, tax collectors, fisherman and even women. His devotion was not to what society expected of Him, but to do what His father, His Lord, expected of Him. That was His only goal. Christ model for His followers was to devote themselves to the ways of the Father, to willingly serve in ways / places that others would / will not, thus leading to an abdication of the ways of man and “normal” society. That is the exact model that built the 1st century church and that has spread the gospel since that time.
Even in the old testament we see that the truly effective prophets, leaders and teachers were the ones that did not follow the ways and norms of society, but challenged those around them (their community / their nation), those that knew them personally (their sphere of direct influence), and their followers (their close friends / family) to seek not the ways of the world, but the ways of God. God has not changed how He works, nor has He changed the devotion that it takes for a man or woman to follow Him. The issue is the commitment of His people who find more comfort in their normal / established habits, ways and procedures then they do in their will to seek a new thing, a new path, or a new method when God calls them.
God calls each of us to a unique and special ministry. Sometimes those ministries may follow an established pattern with a well laid out plan. Understand, I am in no way saying that all established models / methods should be shunned. I am simply saying that we all must always remain open too and aware of that odd call, that abnormal call, that call to break out of the box of established ministry models and take a foray into the unknown. The key things to remember in those times is that God will not call you to anything that is #1) not in His will, #2) something that He has not already ordained and prepared for you, #3) anything that will take you away from Him, and #4) He will not abandon you once you undertake this route. God is ready and able to prosper the ministries He calls you too. He is ready and able to establish a new work with you. He is ready and able to take you and yours to a closer walk with Him. He is ready and able to build upon the established foundations a new and incredible thing that is only possible with Him.
So remember to allow God, and those He puts around you, to help guide and direct you to establish some great things in your life. Some of those may follow known / established paths, but some will be new things that bring new ministries into this world. Those will be things that the rest of society does not and will not understand. In the end though it is vital to remember that God will be glorified and you will used mightily if you trust Him to lead, even if people look at you like you are the Dwight (or Dwightennia) of ministries.
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