By David Faust
Do you know why we refer to capital letters and smaller letters as uppercase and lowercase? When Johannes Gutenberg and other publishers began using the printing press in the 1400s, typesetters stored individual letters in wooden cases or cabinets. The smaller, more common letters were kept in the lower chambers.
Large letters grab attention in posters and ads promoting movies and concerts, but in daily communication, lowercase letters do most of the work. Uppercase letters can be annoying. A text message written in all caps makes it look like YOU ARE SHOUTING.
Don’t Try to Look Big
Jesus warned about the danger of pursuing impressive religious labels like rabbi and father (Matthew 23:8-10). Highfalutin titles may massage a leader’s ego, but the goal is to serve, not to elevate ourselves above others.
Uppercase leaders demand attention; lowercase leaders quietly do God’s work. Online worship services do a lot of good, but if we’re not careful, they turn Christians into viewers rather than participants and preachers into uppercase personalities instead of lowercase servants.
In the church, a title isn’t a badge of honor; it’s a job description—a call to action. If you are called pastor, you had better be shepherding God’s sheep. A business card containing the word minister reminds its holder to serve the Lord and love his people. Professors should profess Christ, evangelists should proclaim good news, and those called sister or brother should treat other believers like family.
The Unglamorous Side of Ministry
For most of us, serving God doesn’t mean a lot of time onstage in front of TV cameras. The majority of ministry consists of unglamorous but necessary tasks.
Meet with others to plan and solve problems. Pray for and counsel the discouraged. Visit the sick and comfort the dying. Raise funds and manage budgets. Respond to e-mails and phone calls. Answer the questions of seekers and doubters. Recruit and equip volunteers. Care for widows and orphans. Build relationships with neighbors. Practice hospitality. Study God’s Word so you can connect eternal truth with distracted souls who live in a constantly shifting culture. Most of this work is not glamorous—although it could be described as glorious.
Lowercase leaders are in good company, for the King of kings “made himself nothing” (Philippians 2:7) to fulfill his mission. In his kingdom, lowercase doesn’t mean lower class. Yes, Jesus addressed big crowds. But out of public view he cared for the sick, trained leaders, and washed his disciples’ feet.
The apostle Paul saw himself as a caretaker entrusted with the job of planting and watering gospel seeds in God’s field (1 Corinthians 3:5-6). In addition to preaching, teaching, and writing letters, Paul did unglamorous things. He mentored next-generation leaders like Timothy and Titus and helped discordant believers like Euodia and Syntyche untangle their interpersonal conflicts (Philippians 4:2). He made sure the church’s offerings were properly administered (2 Corinthians 8:19-21). He weathered the attacks of critics who questioned his leadership qualifications and disparaged his speaking ability (2 Corinthians 10:7-11). And he did all this while bearing “concern for all the churches” and enduring his own thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 11:28; 12:7-10).
Lowercase leaders don’t aspire to make headlines. They are willing to be footnotes. They realize the titles that matter most are ones like follower, foot washer, cup of water giver, and servant of Christ.
Personal Challenge: What lowercase leaders do you know who serve the Lord humbly without much recognition and fanfare? Pray for them and thank God for them. Write them a note or tell them in person how much you appreciate their leadership and service for the Lord.
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