The Ministry of TP...

This week one of our gracious members brought a case of toilet paper to the church building and said to offer it to any of our folks who needed some. If you had told me when I was training to preach I'd ever send out an email to the church that said, come by the building between 10-12 or 4-6 and pick up your individual communion supplies and if you need any toilet paper we have had some donated and you are welcomed to it, I would have laughed in your face! 

Brother Earl didn’t go over this in Preacher and His Work, Brother Billy didn’t address it in Prep & Del, it wasn’t a subject even in any of my Master’s studies. 

Paul didn’t talk about it to Timothy and Jesus didn’t address it to the disciples. OR did THEY? 

It is rare to find someone who does not understand Jesus words in John 11 about washing feet to be an illustration or example of serving every true need. Most people today who you’d encounter in our cuture do not need the literal feet washing that Jesus spoke of, they have not traverse in sandals or bare feet dusty, dirty roads. And if the need is to supply toilet paper, that is the foot washing of that moment. When Paul wrote Timothy he instructed him about preaching (2 Timothy 4:2) and about ministry and of ministry his imperative was that he “fulfill your ministry” (v. 5) or as Jeff ofter reminds us “fill your ministry to the top.” And if that means those to whom you are ministering need toilet paper, that is the calling. 

Our job as ministers, our goal as Christians is to serve. And if that means to fulfill the ministry of providing toilet paper - go in joy and peace and serve God’s People! To this you were created (Ephesians 2:10).