Martha or Mary?

Lately, I've been reading a book by Tommy Tenney (titled Chasing God, serving man) and I am so getting where he's coming from. Definitely it's what we need today. Not only in our churches and congregations but also to each of us, as individual bodies of Christ.

In church, it's true that we have to make accomodations for both man and God. Mary was always on her knees before the Lord while Martha was busy serving in the kitchen. Now some would probably say Mary loved Jesus best. However, while it's true that Mary set a supreme example of loving worship when she broke her costly alabaster box to anoint Jesus, is it not possible that Martha's staying up all night in the kitchen to prepare the last supper be considered as worship as well? Can "burning heart" service be "broken-willed" worship?

"Words from Tommy Tenney"
If we ever want our churches to have a visitation from God, we have to learn how to host the Holy Ghost. Meaning, we have to make accomodations for both man and God. Not only must Mary worship His divinity, but Martha must host His humanity. Every church house should have both Marys and Marthas. No segregation here! Both must be allowed to thrive. There must be a mutual appreciation. The dual nature of Jesus presents the perfect model for us. He was entertained and hosted in both realms. Christ our head is at the right hand of the Father, but His body, the Church present and the Church future, lives on earth in physical bodies. For centuries, church leaders have searched for ways to make people fall in love with the church. The ultimate quest is for God and man to get together.

But although the Lord honors and appreciates our "Martha ministry" to humanity, our eternal destiny culminates in an everlasting "Mary ministry" to Divinity. As any pastor will quickly confirm, the Marthas in the typical local church are usually wondering, "Why in the world doesn't that Mary get over here and help me in this kitchen? If she wants to be so spiritual, then she needs to drag herself over here and help me feed these hungry folk and clothe the naked. If she was really all that spiritual, she would get up off the floor and stop all that boo-hooing and crying long enough to do something that really helps hurting people."

The Marys in the church are saying to themselves, "I wish 'that Martha' would just forget about all that cooking. She should know that when you're spiritual, you don't have to eat. What she needs is some old-fashioned 'praying through' time in God's presence. That would take care of her unspiritual devotion to the works of her hands."

But the truth is that it takes both ministries to build a Bethany, a house of balanced passion and compassion. Mary and Martha, it is time to come together and create a place of hospitality where Divinity and humanity can meet.

So let us keep chasing God while serving man.