I Don't Do . . .

by Leonard Sweet
United Theological Seminary
Dayton, Ohio
in Leadership, Spring, 94, p.32
Used with permission

If you and I are going to be faithful to the ministry God is calling us to, then we had better understand that [God may call us somewhere out of our comfort zone]. I reflected on the attitudes of key people throughout the Scriptures and the history of the church.

The world's a better place because a German monk named Martin Luther did not say, “I don't do doors.”

The world's a better place because an Oxford don named John Wesley didn't say, “I don't do preaching in fields.”

        . . . because Moses didn't say, “I don't do Pharaohs or mass migrations.”

        . . . because Noah didn't say, “I don't do arks and animals.”

        . . . because Rahab didn't say, “I don't do enemy spies.”

        . . . because Ruth didn't say, “I don't do mothers-in-law.”

        . . . because David didn't say, “I don't do giants.”

        . . . because Peter didn't say, “I don't do Gentiles.”

        . . . because Mary didn't say, “I don't do virgin births.”

        . . . because Paul didn't say, “I don't do correspondence.”

        . . . because Mary Magdalene didn't say, “I don't do feet.”

The world's a better place because Jesus didn't say, “I don't do crosses.”

And the world will be a better place only if you and I don't say, “I don't do . . .”