“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”
–Matthew 6:1

Let me ask you a question: When you choose to support a missionary—whether in prayer or finances—what do you want to see in his or her update letters? Do you expect some kind of progress or movement in that person’s chosen ministry? What does that look like? And how would you feel if your friend the missionary didn’t regularly give updates that satisfy your expectations?

I’m beginning to think that missionaries live an interesting dilemma, with varying degrees of seriousness depending on the person. Every person in ministry—which means every Christian alive on the planet—needs accountability. Part of the purpose of community is to provide that support. We need questions to be asked and mirrors to be held up to our faces.

But pastors, missionaries, and other people in full-time ministry are held to a higher standard…and rightfully so. And in what one might call “alternative work,” many people in ministry often have a less overt work structure than the average employed person in the United States (i.e. a 9am–5pm job). Sending regular updates is one way a missionary can maintain accountability with both his supporters and colleagues for his time as well as activities.

So what’s the dilemma? Earlier this week I read Matthew 6:1 and realized that there might be a dangerous line between accountability and being asked to practice “righteousness before other people.”  Christians in ministry—and, specifically, Christians who rely on financial support—often feel a substantial pressure to produce results. How many folks have you shared the Gospel with this week? How successful is your ministry? Where exactly is my money going?

Those aren’t inherently bad questions, but they’re usually not the right ones. People in ministry often feel pressure to draw attention to their own righteousness and, maybe even worse, force results that might do more harm than good. So are there better questions to ask? What about:

How’s your heart?

What is God doing in your life and the lives of those around you?

Do you feel effective in your ministry, and, if not, how can you be more effective?

How can I pray for you?

Personally, I’ve rarely had an unpleasant response to the updates I send out. I have friends, however, who have had “supporters” question whether or not they should be in ministry because of something in their letters. It’s sad that when missionaries try to be vulnerable, there are those who point fingers. Another verse comes to mind where I hear things like that: “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3)

I don’t think there’s an easy or glib answer to the question of how to keep a person in ministry accountable or to love him well. And there are times when a person in ministry should be asked to step out of their position or take a sabbatical. But I do think it’s just as much our responsibility to truly support them without asking them to be more than what they are: flawed but absolutely beautiful children of God who serve Him and His people.

So let’s beware of asking others to practice their righteousness in front of the rest of us. Let’s love them, ask them questions, and hold up a few mirrors when necessary. Let’s give them the freedom to serve God the way He wants them to!