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Lately I have been seeing a new buzz word in the news and various social media platforms: “Quiet Quitting,” which when presented positively it refers to the need among younger workers to having a better harmony between their work lives and personal lives.

Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech writes, “The term ‘quiet quitting’ means to stop going above and beyond in the workplace.” She acknowledges that the idea is certainly not new, but that “…attention around it has caused much-needed conversations about work-life balance.” James Paul writes, “It is not exactly quitting rather limiting your work within the purview of what your profile is and not doing a bit more or any bit less than what you are being paid for.” NPR joins the chorus in tweeting, “You may have heard of "quiet quitting." It's the choice to do only your assigned work — and nothing more. But some experts say it's a misnomer for simply setting healthy workplace boundaries and refusing to be exploited for free extra labor.”

Not everyone considers this to be a positive trend, with some calling it a serious threat to our way of life. Arianna Huffington writes, “With worker productivity slipping and a near-record number of unfilled jobs, the economy can ill afford a tsunami of snowflakes slacking.” Others simply view quiet quitting as a synonym for being lazy. It certainly has the appearance of moral high ground when you are concerned for and addressing burnout, rather than simply doing as little as possible to keep your job.

Brad Stulberg strikes the middle ground: “For some people work is just a job. You do it, you leave it, you live your life. For other people work is craft and mastery—it’s a large part of your identity and a big source of fulfillment. Both are totally fine.”

Perhaps an organization needs both. Those who simply do a specific job that is vital to the fulfillment of their goals and objectives. There is no expectation (or reward) for some positions to go over and above their assigned job because what they do is exactly what is needed. An organization also needs individuals who do more, see more, dream more, and push the boundaries of their job description. While some consider this exploitation, the truth is that there are always individuals who want to achieve more than those around them. Whether it is because of a competitive spirit, or the desire to grow both in accomplishment and influence, they are not content to simply play the game, they want to win!

Despite recent awareness from Millennials and Gen Z workers, this is not new. Whether it was at school, work, or play, there have always been the do the bare minimum “quiet quitters” and the over-achieving “loud winners,” or as Huffington calls them, the “Joyful Joiners.”

I was formerly employed by one of these United States (I’ll not mention where to protect the guilty) as an asphalt inspector. My title was, “Highway Engineering Assistant IV,” and I spent my days checking temperature and mix ratios of asphalt as it left the plant to ensure it met the state’s standards. While this was a necessary job, there was little, or no zeal or creativity involved—in fact the state was adamant that you performed the tasks in a specific and consistent manner. There was very little stress involved, even when the summer hours were long. There was even less stress when inclement weather shut down the process through the winter months. I and my fellow Engineering Assistants spent weeks sitting in the main lab with little or nothing to do. While most of my co-workers relished these days of ease spent honing their card-playing and coffee-break taking skills, they nearly drove me crazy! Had I known they were merely, “quiet quitters,” I might not have been so quick to refer to them as some of the laziest persons on the planet.

In the same way, I have known pastors and church staff who have been quietly quitting the church for years. They put in their required hours, perform their agreed upon responsibilities, but are seemingly unwilling to do any more. I was once in a staff meeting and we were planning an upcoming event and when the conversation turned toward ways we could work together to help make it a success, one of the staff stated, “That’s not my job!”

I was upset and confused because I had made the mistake of thinking the pastoral staff was a team. And if, according to Jesus, the greatest in the Kingdom is the one who is the servant of all, then shouldn’t those who lead the church also lead in serving?

I took some solace in remembering that Jesus had similar issues with his disciples. Remember the incident in the upper room described in chapter thirteen of John’s Gospel? Though the reason was not given, no one was willing to wash the disciple’s feet before they reclined for the Passover. This was a role normally undertaken by a servant of the host. Because no one in the group volunteered to do this menial task, they all reclined with dirty feet.

Can you imagine the embarrassment and shame they must have felt when Jesus got up, put on a towel, and preceded to wash their feet? Do you remember the response of Peter? “You will never wash my feet!” And the equally embarrassing rebuke of Jesus, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me” (v.8). As the shame settled in the room, Jesus provided an explanation for his actions: “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you” (v.15).

It’s not just leaders that are reluctant to serve. People have been quietly quitting—church members doing no more and no less than the bare minimum, for as long as I have been a pastor!

Since a very good principle for pastor-teachers everywhere is “no rebuke without a remedy,” here is a solution: First, recognize that for many, service in the church will come with spiritual growth and maturity. If the highest mark of maturity is sacrifice and service, it stands to reason that growth in the Lord will be required before a servant’s spirit is manifest.

Second, spiritual growth starts with instruction. Jesus stated to the disciples, “So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (v.14). The willingness to do the “ought-to’s” of the Bible often takes time and growth to become our normal practice. It is a measure of maturity when a believer fully embraces Jesus’ words, “Truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him” (v.16).

Third, it is only when a person learns who they are in Jesus Christ that they will be motivated to serve as he did! In my opinion, the most important part of this passage is verses 3-5, “Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God. So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him.” Because Jesus knew who he was, where he had come from, and where he was going, he had the ability to willingly serve.

One more thought from verse 17. Jesus said, “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” Faith is made sight by action. The place of blessing is not in learning or understanding, but in acting on what you know. Rather than embracing the quiet quitting of our culture, understand that you were made to be a servant of all and that whatever you must do, do with all your heart to the glory of God!

Sadly, the word disciple has become a cultural buzzword. As the Christian denomination "Disciples of Christ" moves further and further left in their ideology and more and more people want to be seen as "spiritual" rather than "religious," it has become far more acceptable to be a follower of Jesus rather than a disciple of Jesus. 

Here are my thoughts on this: 

1) Jesus had both followers and disciples. 

 -Some of Jesus' followers were likely just following along for the miracles and to see the cool stuff that Jesus would do. These followers fell away when Jesus' teaching got tough (John 6:60 - not all the translations make the distinction here between follower and disciple, but some of them do).

-Some of His followers became disciples: the 3,000 that listened to Peter at Pentecost who became the first Christians. 

-Some "followers" followed Jesus for nefarious purposes, i.e: the Pharisees who followed Jesus just to see if they could trip Him up, whom we're told Jesus could see their evil hearts. 

-The disciples were not perfect. How often did Jesus get upset with them for being knuckleheads? But they believed Jesus was who He said He was and they confessed it with their mouths. Even then, they are still not perfect; Peter still denies Jesus, Judas betrays Jesus, and they all are "sifted like wheat" by the enemy. But they stick with it; they surrender their lives to God's plans for their lives, even when it results in persecution and death for many of them. 

2) Jesus does not call us to make followers. He calls us to go and make disciples. (Matthew 28:19-20)

Are you a follower of Jesus? Or are you a disciple of Jesus? 

Disciples do more than just pray a prayer of salvation and come to church once in a while to check out what Jesus is doing. 

Disciples live a life of intense intimacy with Jesus, living each moment and each encounter in the same way Jesus would, the way Jesus taught us how to. 

Disciples surrender to God's plan and purpose for their lives. They strive to accomplish the things God wants to do through them and to be prepared to move in the directions that God wants to move them. 

Disciple is not a bad thing. We are called to be disciples and make disciples. 

More than anything, I want to be faithful to that call. And I want people to know that I am more than just a follower. 

I am intimately engaged in God's work within my surrendered life and I am striving each day to be a disciple of Jesus: to absolutely be a reflection of who Jesus is. And I want to actively make others into the same.

Before Jesus ascended into heaven He told His followers, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB95).

For this reason, the Elders of Spring Creek Fellowship have affirmed the purpose of Spring Creek Fellowship is to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

Or put another way, “The reason we exist as a church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ!”

Unfortunately, it is easy for the church to forget this most basic function. As folks come into the church in various conditions and with differing needs, and as the congregation begins ministering to them, the natural tendency is to become inward focused rather than outward. Before anyone realizes, the energy, resources, and various ministries are directed towards meeting the needs of the congregation, rather than fulfilling the mission Jesus gave to the church.

The challenge is to find the balance of ministering to people--helping them to grow in their faith in Jesus without making them the focus, or worse, turning them into the “customer.”

How do we maintain a Biblical approach to making disciples?

Perhaps the simplest model of discipleship is found in the gospel of Matthew:

Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him (Matthew 4:18-20).

From this simple passage we learn five things about Discipleship:

First, Discipleship Begins with an INVITATION/CALL – “…He said to them”

Later in the same chapter, Jesus is speaking to two other brothers, James and John, “…He called them” (v.21).

Jesus is the one who invites a person to follow Him. Certainly God is using people to issue the call, but ultimately this is a work of God! In John 6:44 Jesus declares, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.”

While God uses those who are following Jesus, the task of making disciples is God’s work!

Second Corinthians 6:1 says, “As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain" (NIV).

Second, Discipleship Requires a RESPONSE – “…follow Me.”

To “follow” implies submission, commitment, and change—you were going one direction, now Jesus asks you to move in a different direction!

Jesus is asking for us to follow Him!

In his book, Discipleship Essentials, Greg Ogden shares research showing people readily identify as "Christians," but are quite reluctant to call themselves, "disciples." He writes,

Why might this be? Being a Christian is easy. The only thing required is that we acknowledge our need of a savior and to receive a gift that I cannot earn nor deserve. But if I identify myself as a disciple, then I am making a statement about the quality of my followership. Being a Christian is a statement about what Christ has done for me; being a disciple is a statement about what I am doing for Christ (p.7).

In order to be a disciple of Jesus, you must follow Jesus. Which brings us to the next aspect of discipleship:

Third, Discipleship is focused on Jesus – “…follow Me.”

Discipleship is not about following a pastor, a church, or denomination. It is about following Jesus Christ and He must remain the focus!

It seems many are more concerned about who their pastor is, where they attend church, or what particular theological bent they have, rather than following Jesus Christ!

This is not to say that where a person attends or what the church believes is not important. It certainly is. The Bible has much to say about correct theology. However, it is possible to attend the finest church in your area--a church with rock solid theology, with accurate Biblical preaching, and a godly, Christ-honoring pastor, and yet still not be personally following Jesus!

Biblical discipleship keeps the focus on Jesus.

Fourth, Discipleship involves TRANSFORMATION – “…and I will make you.”

Jesus told Nicodemus, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). I need to be born again because, quite frankly, I am messed up. I am sinful and without the ability to fix the mess that is my life. I cannot repay all the wrongs I have done, nor can I ever be good enough to stand before a holy God.

The good news is Jesus further told Nicodemus, "For God so love the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

But God doesn't just "save us." He also changes us.

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:28).

Just as Jesus is the one who invites us to follow Him, He also is the one who makes us new!

Finally, Discipleship Results in a NEW OCCUPATION – “…I will make you fishers of men.”

In response to Jesus' call, Simon, Andrew, James, and John all “…left their nets/boats” (Matthew 4:20, 22).

A good question is, "Does Jesus require this kind of commitment to be a disciple today?"

Which is a great question. I will give two answers to in closing:

First, since Jesus is the one who calls, you must ask Him!

This may seem an avoidance, but it is not my place to call someone to be an evangelist, pastor or missionary (someone whose life work is to serve Christ).

Not everyone is called to leadership in the church. In fact, James states that “Let not many of you become teachers…” (3:1), so not everyone becomes a full time pastor or missionary, or even a leader in a local congregation. However, for some, Jesus literally changes their occupation!

For the vast majority, there is good news. The Great Commission (shared at the beginning of this article) is stated in such a way that allows everyone to be a part of making disciples no matter your occupation!

The words, “Go, therefore…” may be translated, “As you go…” or “As you are going, make disciples!”

The Apostle Paul would state it this way: "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Wherever life leads, as God’s ambassador, you are to extend the invitation to follow Jesus!

One final thought on discipleship (from the last part of the Great Commission): Jesus said, “…I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

When a church or a believer commits to the work of making disciples, Jesus Christ is with you!

I've been pondering this question today: with all the time that has been allotted for each of us during this Coronavirus quarantine, have we used it wisely?

Thankfully, my time has been spent mostly at the church, where we've been limited but still active in preparation for the season to come, but even still there has been many periods where I've been given the free time to make an active choice with what to do with my time. Have I used that time wisely?

This past Sunday I preached on Colossians 3:12-17, specifically on making time each day to put off your old self and put on the image of Christ in its place so that we can walk every day toward sanctification: becoming holier today than I was yesterday.

At the end of Paul's admonishment to the church at Colossae to put on the image of Christ comes three instructions on how we utilize our time each day:

3:17- "Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

3:23-24- "Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ."

4:17- "Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it."

As I think about these instructions, I come back to that question: am I using my time wisely?

If I put on the image of Christ, but neglect my time or use it foolishly, am I really walking in sanctification? Am I really becoming holier and being a reflection of the Spirit living within me?

I guess what I am asking myself today is this: when I stand before the Father at judgment and He and I look back on the downtime that I have had during the quarantine, will He be proud of what I've done with it?

Have the things that I've done and said been done in the name of the Lord Jesus? Have they been a good reflection of the faith and trust I have in Him?

Have the things I have done been accomplished enthusiastically for the Lord? Are they worthy of the reward of inheritance?

Have the things I have done and said during this time of quarantine helped me to accomplish the ministry that God has called me to do?

Every day, just as I actively choose to put aside my old flesh, put on the image of Christ and work toward sanctification, I must also choose to actively use my time in a productive manner, in a way that will put a smile on my Father's faith. At least, that's where I want to get to.

Are you there with me? Maybe there's some procrastination going on. Maybe some of you don't even know what the ministry that God has called you to is. Use this time to discover what that calling is!

Use this time to do those little things that make your heart come alive!

"The glory of God is in man fully alive." St. Irenaeus

God is glorified when we are obedient in doing the things that bring us mental, emotional and spiritual health! And we are much more likely to commit to actively glorifying Him when we are walking around with beating, healthy spiritual hearts.

Use your time wisely! Don't complain about being locked down; write that book that God put on your heart! Paint that amazing painting! Build healthy, life-changing relationship with your kids! Get active and healthy. Write music- sing out praises to the Father!

Things will return to normalcy before you know it- and we'll be right back into the swing of "being too busy" to accomplish .... whatever it is that your heart is secretly crying out for your to accomplish.

Use this time, this blessing of a slow down, wisely, my friends.