“You are the pot-stirrer,” he declared after meeting me the first time in person.
Recently, at a conference, I was introduced to a Pastor who reads my Facebook posts and that was his description of me, pot-stirrer.
Not exactly the “vibe”, I was going for. He went on to explain, “We need pot-stirrers in the Body of Christ. It takes a special anointing to to challenge others in love.”
Pot-stirrer? As you know, I’m all about identity. All about being careful what I agree with about myself. I refuse to call myself anything less than what God calls me.
So I’m carefully considering if I will wear the title, Pot-Stirrer.
Yes, there is a negative connotation to the word, but it means someone who causes unrest. In reflection, I kinda cause unrest. I teach math for goodness sake. I challenge peoole’s status quo. I say what is unpopular often. I fight for justice. I encourage people to walk in their gifts. I confront untruth. Perhaps, I am a pot-stirrer.
But do you know who else were pot-stirrers?
John the Baptist. Jesus. The Apostles.
At the onset of the conference, I asked God to speak to me about my calling. He answered my prayer through each speaker. I was encouraged by each speaker not to lose my voice. Perhaps this pastor, I met in the hall briefly, was sent to answer my prayers, to give words to what I was struggling to embrace as my calling.
Peter caused unrest with the Jewish community by preaching Jesus and healing. He caused unrest with his fellow believers by eating with and including Gentiles in the salvation plan. He was beaten, jailed, threaten yet he continue to stir the pot.
Am I pot-stirrer? All I know is I want to be more like Jesus and experience miracles like the early church. I want to be a voice for justice and inclusion. I want to stir the body of Christ to walk in love and power. I want to encourage others to read their Bible and question traditions, politics, denominationalism, and embrace the heart of the Father. And if stirring a pot is what it takes, bring it on!
“As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.””
Acts 4:20 NIV