Seeking Irrelevancy

I have started reading a book by Henri Nouwen called In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership, and I came across a phrase that really struck me.  This is what Nouwen wrote:

"I am deeply convinced that the Christian leader of the future is called to be completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her own vulnerable self." (pg. 30).

Completely irrelevant?

Why would this make any sense at all?  Wouldn't we want to say that it is more important for followers of Jesus, and leaders in His church, to work hard to try and communicate something of God to the world in a way that is relevant to their lives?

But maybe in our frenetic attempts to be relevant we are missing the whole point--the heart of God himself?

Nouwen describes Jesus' ministry as focussed solely on revealing God's love to the world.  And a major point that Jesus wanted his hearers to really hear was that this love of God for them was not based on their accomplishments whatsoever but was pure grace.

That's what Nouwen means when he says that we should be completely irrelevant. . . .He is saying that we desperately need to understand that we have deep-seated desires to try and earn our way, to strive for and accomplish things, and not for the primary purpose of doing well, or contributing to society, but because of pride!  We want to accomplish things because we want the world to know that we have accomplished them.  Or, we want to accomplish things because it makes our hearts more comfortable knowing that we did not need to depend on anyone else but ourselves.  In the words of Blue Eyes himself---"I did it my way. . . "

Does this make sense?

Maybe this will help:  Nouwen says that Jesus' first temptation was to be relevant and that was the temptation to turn stones into bread.  Satan was asking Jesus to "prove his power as the Son of God by the relevant behaviour of changing stones into bread" but instead Jesus did nothing.  He was completely irrelevant, that is, he chose not to perform and simply declared:  "One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matt. 4:4)

I'll conclude today by once again using Nouwen's words as he describes the spiritual state of our current world:  "The secular world around us is saying in a loud voice, 'We can take care of ourselves.  We do not need God, the church, or a priest.  We are in control.  And if we are not, then we have to work harder to get in control.  The problem is not lack of faith, but lack of competence.  If you are sick, you need a competent doctor; if you are poor, you need competent politicians; if there are technical problems, you need competent engineers; if there are wars, you need competent negotiators.  God, the church, and the minister have been used for centuries to fill the gaps of incompetence, but today the gaps are being filled in other ways, and we no longer need spiritual answers to practical questions.'" (pg 33)

This helps me to ask the question:  just how much do I live this same way?  Just how much am I dependent on my abilities to navigate my way through life?  And just how much do I value my own initiative and drive to accomplish things?

And who do I think I am in doing this, when even Jesus himself didn't?

Father, please help us to become irrelevant, so that we can trust You in ways that are real. May You help us to unlearn dependency on self so we can become truly vulnerable and depend on You and You alone.. . . . .even for the practical things in life.  And thank you that you have showered Your love on us in such abundant ways---may that love transform our hearts and minds so we can live like Jesus.

BT