Miners or

Underminers?

This topic hit me when I read Lorna Dobson's book.

Believe it or not, every church has their fair share of both categories of people - please don't start labelling people :)

Miners are people who work in Mines where it is believed and/or known that there is some form of treasure....

Underminers in my mind are the opposite of Miners.

"Undermine" means to weaken, impair and even sap.
So while Miners are those planted in the house of the Lord who produce sap,* Underminers, sap sap...sometimes we don't even "see" it happen until it's all gone.

The challenge we have as Pastor and Mrs. Pastor is not how to get underminers out of our church - far from it. Our task is to be discerning enough to identify them and then help them channel their "negative virus" into positive vibes and become miners. From observation, I've noticed a few underminers who think that they are, and even appear to others as, miners. When you take time to observe them you'll see that they actually sow tares rather than sow in tears so we can all reap and rejoice.**

Our role is to help everyone in our care be the best that they can be to the "glory of God" not to the glory of self. When we notice an underminer, let's take a step to help them understand the impact of their "ways" - for all you know, they do not know or understand the actual impact of what they do or say. Before you approach anyone, make sure that you are stepping out as a miner not an underminer yourself. Undoubtedly, the Word of God will always guide you - words and actions too.

We all have "treasure"*** within us...let us be careful not to destroy it as we mine...

References:
* Ps 92: 12-15 - The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish like the palm tree [be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful]; they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible]. Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God. [Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality] and [rich in the] verdure [of trust, love, and contentment]. [They are living memorials] to show that the Lord is upright and faithful to His promises; He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. (Amplified)
**Ps 126: 5 - They who sow in tears shall reap in joy and singing. (Amplified)
*** 2 Cor 4: 7 - However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves. (Amplified)