A classroom not a green room.
Throughout scripture we find that Jesus always looked at the crowd and had compassion for them. He healed the sick, cast out demons, taught them and they were amazed at his teaching. Even at night in a time and culture where most went to bed soon after dark, He was accessible and amenable to Nicodemus. When He was alone He spoke to the only person at the well, the woman drawing water during the heat of the day.
It could be argued by some that Jesus was only on earth for a very short period of time and so made people His mission. I think this misses the point that I am trying to make, Jesus had a task and that task was people. He handed this task over to His disciples and we in turn have taken on the mantle of the disciples, to minister and lead people. The problem arises when we forget this simple formula.
Matthew 5:1 “Now, when He saw the crowds, He went up onto the mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them…”
The mountainside was not Jesus’ green room, it was his classroom. What He was doing was saying to His disciples, “Now this is what I want you to do, this is how I want you to deal with people, this is what I want you to remember.” By His example He was showing His disciples that He was accessible to people at all times.
The Positive
It is unlikely that those famous speakers who travel around the Christian Conference circuit will read this blog, but for those leaders who do read this, this case study is not about the green room per se but rather the misuse of it. There are those who would argue that the green room at these events is to give speakers an opportunity to rest, reflect and recoup before they next speak. They use Jesus as an example, Jesus went up alone into the mountains to have a prayer time and a time of rest but he didn’t do it every time a crowd was around, he never deliberately tried to avoid the masses.
It must be remembered that the green room is a man made invention for television actors and music bands to rest between sets at their gigs. In the Christian context it has become a place where speakers can avoid the masses. It is felt that the more famous a speaker the more he needs to be protected and only the selected few can have access. The disciples tried and failed to protect Jesus as he often rebuked them to allow the little children and the crowds to come closer.
We must remember the large financial ministry gift that speakers receive comes from the proceeds of those who have paid to come to the conference to hear and receive from God, they come to hear the wisdom and life lessons of the speakers. We need to learn to be more accessible to the crowds to share with them. There is time enough both before and after our speaking engagements to rest, recoup and reflect.