He asked a pretty simple question, which had a far harder answer than I thought it should:
"Why is it that you do the things you do for church involvement? However it is that you volunteer: nursery, worship team, setup, serving communion, teaching, giving... why do you do it?"
I, um...
well, it's...
hang on now, I gotta think about this.
So I thought about it and came up with four main reasons:
- Because I should
- Because it's good for others
- Because it's good for me
- Because it's virtuous
The numbering is deliberate; that's the order of motivation for me. And there are different ethical motives that sit behind these (at least according to the Ethics textbooks from which I teach occasionally at Upper Iowa University).
- Deontological Ethics (a'la Immanuel Kant). I'm driven by a sense of duty. I serve and give because I should do. Why? Because God says so in the Scriptures. In that sense it's a subset of Deontological Ethics: Divine Command Ethics.
- Altruistic Consequentialism. The benefit to others of my service outweighs the inconvenience of it for me. It's derivative of Utilitarianism, which focuses on the greatest good for the greatest number, and is reminiscent of Mr. Spock on Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan - "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one." I'm an introvert and the idea of mingling with others has very little appeal to me - it wouldn't ordinarily draw me out of the house on a Sunday morning. But while I might be put out by serving and giving, these things produce good for others, so that calculus rules the day.
- Individual Consequentialism. There is benefit to me from giving: it teaches me to not depend on my own ability to get wealth, but to trust in God for what I need. There is benefit to me from serving among others. It stretches me and keeps me from both getting in a selfish rut, and from being a recluse.
- Virtue Ethics (a'la Aristotle). Giving of yourself, self-sacrifice, being generous... these are virtues common to mankind. They are inherently good and morally right, so in doing them you align yourself with moral goodness.
After compiling this list, I first thought: Well, that's not too bad. There's many different motivations to my service and giving, not just "because I have to". Then the more I thought about it, the more I realized that there was one motivation missing. I actually did remember something else that our pastor said today; he identified another motive that didn't make my list:
5. Because I'm full of gratitude and joy, and want to let it out.
When I realized that, I wondered aloud: But, but, but... I'm a grateful person with a generally happy disposition! Why didn't that motive make my list?
It's true, I am normally a person of gratitude, and most of the time, even under stress, have an upbeat outlook on life. Those are both things I think of as hallmarks of my nature, along with a quick mind, a musical ear, big picture thinking, and introversion.
I'm still not sure I have a good answer, but it might be this: I don't tend to express my gratitude to God & others, and my general happiness about life, in the church setting. It tends to come out and be more visible at work. And at play. And being out and about, interacting with strangers like wait staff and retail clerks. Maybe it's because at church everybody is grateful and happy (well, not really, but they SHOULD BE!) ;) You expect joy and a grateful spirit there, so I don't think I really contribute anything extra in those departments, but out in the world, I do. Outside the confines of church, folks are beaten down, grumpy, frustrated, uncivil, worried, etc. There some optimism and generosity can shine briefly into their lives and maybe bring a glimmer of hope.
I don't know... that sounds good. It may not be the whole reason, but... it's what I've got to offer today.
No comments:
Post a Comment