If I could tell young leaders going into ministry in some capacity one thing to always remember it would be “Beware of Goldilocks” and here’s the story.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Goldilocks. Goldilocks had golden hair. She went for a walk in the forest. Pretty soon, she came upon a house. She knocked and, when no one answered, she walked right in.
At the table in the kitchen, there were three bowls of porridge. Goldilocks was hungry. She tasted the porridge from the first bowl.
"This porridge is too hot!" she exclaimed.
So, she tasted the porridge from the second bowl.
"This porridge is too cold," she said
So, she tasted the last bowl of porridge.
"Ahhh, this porridge is just right," she said happily and she ate it all up.
After she'd eaten the three bears' breakfasts she decided she was feeling a little tired. So, she walked into the living room where she saw three chairs. Goldilocks sat in the first chair to rest her feet.
"This chair is too big!" she exclaimed.
So she sat in the second chair.
"This chair is too big, too!" she whined.
So she tried the last and smallest chair.
"Ahhh, this chair is just right," she sighed. But just as she settled down into the chair to rest, it broke into pieces!
Goldilocks was very tired by this time, so she went upstairs to the bedroom. She lay down in the first bed, but it was too hard. Then she lay in the second bed, but it was too soft. Then she lay down in the third bed and it was just right. Goldilocks fell asleep.
As she was sleeping, the three bears came home.
"Someone's been eating my porridge," growled the Papa bear.
"Someone's been eating my porridge," said the Mama bear.
"Someone's been eating my porridge and they ate it all up!" cried the Baby bear.
"Someone's been sitting in my chair," growled the Papa bear.
"Someone's been sitting in my chair," said the Mama bear.
"Someone's been sitting in my chair and they've broken it all to pieces," cried the Baby bear.
They decided to look around some more and when they got upstairs to the bedroom, Papa bear growled, "Someone's been sleeping in my bed,"
"Someone's been sleeping in my bed, too" said the Mama bear
"Someone's been sleeping in my bed and she's still there!" exclaimed Baby bear.
Just then, Goldilocks woke up and saw the three bears. She screamed, "Help!" And she jumped up and ran out of the room. Goldilocks ran down the stairs, opened the door, and ran away into the forest. And she never returned to the home of the three bears.
THE END
So what is the moral of this old story? Think of Goldilocks as some person you could potentially meet in your ministry. There will be those who think the music is too loud, some will think it not “new” enough or “old” enough and some who think it is just right. How about the seats in the auditorium/sanctuary are they too hard/too soft, pews/stadium seats or just right? The temperature can be an issue, is it too hot/too cold or “rarely” just right? You will never please everyone.
How about when Goldilocks sat in Baby Bear’s chair and it broke to pieces… There will be some who try everything out, raise a ruckus over things they don’t like or that don’t fit into what they perceive as the “right” way. When all is said and done, they cause damage, they cry “help” and run away.
Well if that were the end of the story it would be really depressing wouldn’t it? But it is not the end, but an important thing to remember. Most of the people who join your tribe will be awesome individuals. They will be encouraging, excited, and very helpful in many ways. They will be there to hold up your arms as you lead your community of believers, they will pray with you and for you no matter what. They will be able to “go with the flow” because they know you are praying and listening to God and doing what He has called you to do. And that is the key.
Pray and more importantly listen for the leading of the Holy Spirit. Do what you are led to do. God will bring the right people to your side as He draws them. You answer to Him not every person with an opinion. Seek wise counsel, but do not waver from YOUR calling to serve in the area and way the Holy Spirit leads.
In my city there are about 40,000 people. There are about 100 different churches most of which are 75 members or less, a few are several hundred strong. That is maybe 7500 people who attend church. That leaves roughly 30,000 people not currently attending church. There are plenty of people who need Jesus out there, don’t worry about the “Goldilicks”, concern yourself with following the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit.
Ministry is hard, religion is complicated, serving the Lord of all creation is not.