"But when they opposed and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, "Your blood is upon your own heads – I am innocent. From now on, I will go and preach to the Gentiles." (Acts 18:6 NLT)
What do we do when we experience rejection in ministry?
We typically have about three reactions to rejection; we take it personally, permanently and purposefully. Let’s unpack these reactions:
Personally. It’s hard not to take rejection personally. This is tough because rejection feels personal. Very few rejectors will articulate between messenger and message, personality or method. No one wants to actively oppose God’s word, it’s much easier to oppose God’s people.
Permanently. If we aren’t careful, we can receive rejection personally and shut down permanently. I know many people who used to be in ministry. And in this season, I can see how it happens. Church rejection sends ministers into exile. It typically takes time for a couple to find another ministry opportunity, and meanwhile, folks need to eat. Secular employment is inevitable and perhaps the pay is good; they might even include benefits like vision and dental. (These are scarce commodities in vocational ministry!) Weary souls can settle in to safekeeping. Routine. Lack of rejection. There’s little spiritual opposition for ministers in secular work: the enemy is content to keep them there, sliding away from their calling a day, a day at a time.
Purposefully. Ministers can receive rejection as a judgement about their purpose. They can allow rejection to rewrite their believe about God’s calling and intention for the lives. They can let rejection chase them from purpose.
Paul is a wonderful example to us when it comes to rejection. He faced it repeatedly. Profusely. Profanely. And rather than giving into the steady calls for his resignation, he seemed to let rejection further refine his calling. A little like Anne of Green Gables, he figured out all the ways to do it wrong before he got it really, really right.
Imagine what the New Testament would have looked like if Paul had given up on His calling in Jerusalem, when the Jews were were commiserating to kill him (Acts 9:26), or in Antioch where they heaped abuse on him (Acts 13:44), or in Iconic were they attempted to stone him (Acts 14:5). Despite repeated rejection, Paul continued to hone his calling. He received every slammed door and closed-off heart as still another cue from the Holy Spirit on when and where to preach next.
What if we, as ministers of the word, responded to rejection in the same manner? Isn’t this, also, how our Savior functioned ministerially? Didn’t He preach as long as a community would receive Him and move on when they began plotting or picking up stones? Why would it be any different for His followers two thousand years later?
"He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him." (John 1:12 NLT)
Lord, we don’t like rejection. It’s hard to believe that rejection can actually serve Kingdom purposes, but we see the example in Your word and receive the principle in our own lives. Don’t let us stall out personally, permanently or purposefully. Instead, redirect us. Lead us to the places that will receive Your testimony through our frames. Help us stay the course and preach the gospel wherever we wind up. Amen.