Efficiency is one of those ‘obviously good things’. How could you possibly be against it? My study has books that positively ooze efficiency. ‘From Vision to Action’ and ‘Getting Things Done’ are just two of them. I don’t suppose I am unique in that. (And I don’t suppose I am the only pastor whose church has often wished I had paid a bit more attention to the content of those books!)
Efficiency makes sense. The early church understood that. When they saw that the apostles were being distracted from the ministry of the word and prayer, they appointed deacons to ensure greater efficiency in the daily distribution of food (Acts 6:1-7). There are times when efficiency is absolutely what is needed.
And yet the efficiency lens also has its problems. For when it dominates our gaze, things sometimes get distorted. And what is more, when you think carefully about the ministry and teaching of Jesus, efficiency isn’t quite the word that comes to mind.
The inefficient gospel
Consider Christ’s teaching about a shepherd and his sheep in Matthew 18. To Jesus it seems obvious that the shepherd should leave the 99 on the hills and go searching for the one that has wandered off. Yet it is not impossible to imagine how our efficiency mindset could somehow persuade us that investing time and energy in the 99 was the wiser strategic path.
Or how about the father in Luke 15? If he were going to invest in one son over the other, surely the one to choose would be the son with a proven track record of productive labour. Why spend yet more money on a son whose poor decision making has already led to the squandering of your wealth and his own financial ruin? It doesn’t seem the most efficient use of resources.
And what about the events of Acts chapter 5? Another example of inefficient financial strategy. Ananias and Sapphira had already invested generously in the ministry, and you know they have more financial reserves in the bank. Surely this is a time to foster your relationship with a high net worth individual rather than call out their sin.
You will appreciate that I write these things tongue-in-cheek. But my point is a serious one. Efficiency is not the language of the gospel of grace. Grace is extravagant. Grace is lavish. Ultimately, grace took its most treasured resource and gave it up in the sacrifice on which our faith is built.
The inefficient church
Grace, according to 1 Corinthians 1, does not reach out to those who are noble, influential and wise by human standards. It does not seek to get tasks done in the shortest amount of time. Or organise people to maximise productivity. Grace reaches out to those who are weak and lowly and unimpressive.
If running efficient churches and being efficient pastors causes us to depend on our own resources and to imagine that the Kingdom can be built on efficiency, then we have arrived in a dangerous place. The Kingdom is a kingdom of grace and (much to our amazement) it is being built on the foundation of contrite and humble sinners who know their many failings.
None of this, of course, is an excuse for laziness or ill-discipline. The Bible is clear on that. Warnings against the failings of the sluggard are a recurring theme in Proverbs (6:6, 9; 19:24, 20:4). The Pastoral Epistles commend self-discipline and the hard-working farmer (Titus 1:8, 2 Tim 2:6). The peril we need to be aware of comes at the point where our pursuit of efficiency leads us to favour human strength over divine grace.
When pastors invest lovingly in slow moving disciples, when they persist in giving counsel to those who are limping rather than leaping, they aren’t being efficient, but they are walking in imitation of Christ.
