For Christ’s Sake, Stop Recruiting Volunteers!
There is a concept that seems to rule and reign in church leadership today, especially in worship departments, and that is the idea of volunteering. It is a constant discussion in the worship leadership circles of how we can recruit more volunteers for our worship teams, be more attractive to them, and how to keep the ones we currently have. And from the pew-perspective, there is often a “volunteering fatigue” that seems to set in because they feel they are being pulled in many different directions and always being asked to give.
However, here is something that I’ve come to realize that has really changed my thinking on the subject of volunteering and that is this; Jesus never recruited a volunteer. Did you know that? Never. Not once is the word “volunteer” even used in the New Testament. It is used 7 times in the Old Testament and almost always in a military, political, or national context (See Judges 5:2, Judges 5:9, 1 Chronicles 12:38, 2 Chronicles 17:16, Nehemiah 11:12, Psalm 110:3, and Ezra 7:13).
First, let me just say that I’m completely for the concept of volunteering in the right context. It is crucial for people in a strong nation (as shown in the scripture above) to give of themselves for good causes and help one another. I also know most people who “volunteer” are doing it out of the goodness and generosity of their heart, which I applaud wholeheartedly. This discussion is not meant to throw down volunteers, but merely to deepen our understanding as Christian thinkers and leaders, so that we might challenge our recruits in the church to a deeper place of discipleship, and not just “volunteership.”
So why didn’t they recruit volunteers? Well, let me give you three ideas:
1. Christianity is not about me.
In today’s secular vernacular, volunteering has become somewhat of a badge or “pat on my back” type of term. Even when we say, “I volunteer,” it seems to put the emphasis on ourselves. I love that you won’t find in scripture Jesus, or any of the apostles ever recruit volunteers for the early church because it wasn’t about them. It was about spreading the Kingdom of God. As for us, we must have the tone of John who said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)
2. “Volunteering” means you give something for nothing in return.
The definition of “volunteering” is essentially offering yourself for nothing in return. Contrast that with the Gospel, which in a nutshell says, “I have nothing good to offer, yet through Christ’s sacrifice, atonement, and free-gift, I received everything in return”. That doesn’t sound like volunteering to me. When have you ever given your time, energy, attention, or resources to the Lord and not received so much more than what you offered Him? We are called many things by our Father, but “volunteer” is not one of them.
3. Volunteering puts the power in the wrong hands.
When I volunteer for an organization or cause, at the end of the day, I hold the power whether I stay or decide to leave. Maybe something else comes my way that stirs my passion and if I’d like to go volunteer there and leave the first place, I can do that. My choice. My placement and position can be changed depending on my desires and timeline. However, when we choose to follow Christ, we lay down our right of preference, and willingly give Christ the authority to direct us for His will and His glory. We as Christ-followers take up the mantel of Galatians 2:20 which declares, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” So I don’t volunteer for Christ, I die and live for Christ and submit to His will in my life.
So, then the next logical question should be, “if Jesus and the apostles didn’t recruit volunteers, who did they recruit?” Here are some of the terms used in the New Testament to describe who they recruited:
- Fishers of Men (Matthew 4:19)
- Disciples (Matthew 5:1, Luke 6:12, 6:17 and many other places)
- The Salt of the Earth (Matthew 5:13)
- The Light of the World (Matthew 5:14)
- The Children of God (Matthew 5:9)
- Friends (John 15:15)
- Good stewards (1 Peter 4:10)
- Beloved of God (Romans 1:7)
- His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)
- Co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17)
- Beloved brethren (1 Corinthians 15:58, James 2)
- Servants of the Lord (Colossians 3:23–24)
- Laborers (Luke 10:1–2)
These titles are what we are named when we choose to follow Christ. They also show us how we are viewed by Christ himself. Our role and place in the Kingdom of God is much bigger than a volunteer. We have been bought with a price and therefore, we should give everything we have, knowing that we have and will receive so much more than we could ever give. When we freely give of ourselves, it is not the same as a volunteer. For us, it is a life-long calling with an eternal compensation that is forever rewarding. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
We as leaders need to see our teams with this Christ-like view as not mere volunteers to help us run our ministry, but rather disciples, coworkers, and family of which we partner and minister together.
