The Rev Scott McRoberts explains why his job is to ‘help God’s people play’.

A FRIEND once told me that he thought of me as the conductor of the orchestra.

I’ve often reflected on that picture of what it is to be the minister of Inverness: St Columba church, and thought how apt it is. Often, it’s the conductor who has all eyes on them, front and centre. Yet they are not creating any music. They are interpreting the work of the Great Composer; holding together all the skilful playing of gifted musicians. Drawing out an emphasis at once from this group of players, and now the next. They set the pace – taking up the tempo, or slowing things down. I’m not in the ministry for people to hear my song. I’m here to help God’s people play.

Swapping the baton for boots, I like to think of myself as the fly half in the church (I wasn’t good enough for this on the rugby pitch, so this will have to do). There’s a pack of people in this church who do a lot of lifting and shifting, grinding out Kingdom gains a yard at a time. Then I get the ball, and I fling it out to someone that I see is ready to make a darting run and draw the gasps of the crowd. I’m not in the ministry for people to watch me run the ball. I’m here to help God’s people play.

“I’m not in the ministry for people to watch me run the ball. I’m here to help God’s people play.”

The view from the pulpit (if that’s what you call a music stand in a school hall) is a tremendously privileged one. On a Sunday, I can look out at the orchestra/team before me and see real things etched on peoples’ faces that others don’t get to see. Over the years, I’ve seen furrowed brows, a few red angry shakes of the head, and just the right amount of falling asleep to be amusing rather than career-shaking. But I have also seen raw tears, joyful smiles and dawning realisations as God’s Word meets human hearts.

I see in these real people experiencing the Spirit of God all that God is doing, and all the potential for what He might do in and through them. I see people working in a crumbling NHS, holding a light in the dark, praying and playing their best stuff. I see people struggling with mental health issues refusing to let that define them, and defiantly proclaiming their hope in Jesus as who they are. I see children and youth with real zeal for Jesus, rebuking my assumptions that they just come because they’re told to. I see older people sticking in at this newfashioned church because they believe that God is up to something through us.

I see gifted players. Prophets, preachers and pastors. Social transformers and shepherds of people. Heroes of steadiness and others of invention. Entrepreneurs, educators and evangelists. Parents, children, and the ‘village it takes to raise them.’ Ambassadors of Jesus spread throughout our community.

I learned at the start of all this that my job – my wonderful, privileged job – is to ‘equip God’s people for works of service, so that the Body of Christ may be built up’ (Ephesians 4:12). Throw them the ball, and watch them run. Point the baton at them, and hear them sing. Whether gathered on a Sunday seeing all their faces, or seeing one for coffee as we’re scattered through the week – the view I get is fantastic. I get to see and hear God’s people play, and to be trusted with pointing the way. So to them, and to God, I’ll always be grateful. Even if every now and then, one of them nods off. ¤

The Rev Scott McRoberts is minister at Inverness: St Columba.