Messy and Dirty Churches

Agriculture is not my specialty, so I imagine harvesttime to be a romantic time when the fields of grain stretch out to the horizon and when their golden yellow strands meet the autumn sky. With wheat swaying in the wind, harvesters sing aloud in male and female harmonies, coordinating their scything movements with the rhythm of the song. Bales of hay bounce around amid heaps of fruits and vegetables. Adults and children work together abuzz with excitement. The animals rejoice that the harvest will help them endure through winter.

Scripture is not so romantic. Proverbs 14:4 states, “Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; but much increase comes by the strength of an ox.” Oxen are powerful agricultural animals, rightfully symbolizing strength and productivity. They can carry large loads and provide the muscle power needed for various tasks. But with this majestic beast comes also the dirtier parts of animal husbandry. There is the work of feeding it the calories that it needs, as well as the latter part of cleaning up after its digestive process. Cleaning troughs and stalls is just as much a part of the work as the harvest is. Nonetheless, an abundant harvest comes from the strength of an ox. In other words, great results come from messy means.

When it comes to evangelism, the harvest of souls, God involves human beings. And in human beings there is a lot of mess. As troughs must be continually filled, we need continual care, input, and maintenance. As stalls and mangers must be cleansed of their soil, we need cleansing, washing, and upkeep. There’s the foul stench, stink, and stigma. This isn’t from the work of the devil—it’s just natural from sinful human beings: dysfunction, frustrations, misunderstandings, jealousy, pettiness, stubbornness, character flaws, psychological triggers, discouragement, impatience, and dismay. But in God’s amazing wisdom, just as He sees great promise and strength in the ox, He also endures through our troughs and stalls.

Many have similar romantic views of the church and spirituality, assuming all things religious are perfect and loving, without frustration, failure, or foil. We expect perfect harmony among God’s workers, with perfect results. But we see tens of pastors leave the ministry every month, hundreds of members leave their congregations every year, and thousands of believers leave the faith in every generation. Proverbs is correct not to be so romantic. The focus is on neither the oxen nor the manger. It is on the harvest. If you envision the harvest, the messiness is worth it. If you see the power of the harvest, it can overcome any discouraged pastor, disgruntled member, or disaffected believer. For we work not for the immediate but for the hope of the harvest. Despite what messiness we experience, may we keep our eyes on the harvest’s “increase” for the Lord.