3. A Cupbearer is a Spiritual Director

One of the roles filled by a ministry Cupbearer is that of being a spiritual director. This term is used with considerable reservation for two reasons. 

First, there is a reservation because the word “director” can easily be misunderstood. In this context, it is not a director in terms of telling others where to go, stand, speak, enter, and exit, but more in the sense of providing directions, upon request, to help someone get where they are trying to go. The former meaning implies control and power over the participant, and the latter implies being a helper, a fully human resource walking in a relationship with another. Jesus’ own ministry with his followers involved time spent together, walking, eating, teaching, questioning, and praying, as well as challenging false ideas and sinful attitudes, such as their constant quarrel over who was the greatest. 

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Secondly, “spiritual director” is used with reservation in that it is a term once only known to Catholic Monastics and New Age practitioners and often has been a departure from Biblical orthodoxy into an uncentered mysticism. However, in recent years, Protestants and Evangelicals are once again seeking to connect with the larger stream of the Christian tradition in ways to deepen their relationship with Christ and with the church at large.

As a spiritual director, a Cupbearer seeks to encourage pastors to continue their spiritual journey (in step with the Holy Spirit -- Gal. 5:16, 25) instead of settling for some high-water mark they experienced in the past. Without forgetting what Jesus has done in the past, pastors should be challenged to stop depending on the way they have always done it and be open to experiencing the transforming love of Christ today. 

Synthesizing theological reading, with case studies from church history, affective spiritual practices, and Bible journaling, the Cupbearer as a spiritual director encourages a deepening of devotional life that is separate from their sermon preparation and other church work (Acts 20:27-28). Yet, taking a page from a humble glory pedagogy, a cupbearer begins by asking them where they feel like they need to grow and what kind of help they would like to do so. Here are a few scriptures that speak to this subject...

• 1 Corinthians 11:2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.
• 2 Timothy 1:13-14 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
• 2 Timothy 2:1-2 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.
• Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

Do you have someone in your life who helps you in this way? Can you think of other verses that encourage us to be this for each other?

What is a Cupbearer?

In antiquity, a "cup-bearer" was the person who not only served the king, but they were the ones who determined if there was poison in the king’s cup by tasting it first. As a result of having considerable "skin in the game," and the fact that cup-bearers had no path to power themselves (they couldn't become king) they became trusted advisers to the leaders they served. Cupbearers support the ones who lead... rather than trying to take over. Perhaps it is helpful to think of their being part Secret Service protective detail, part prophet, and part friend.

There is a biblical example of a godly cupbearer —Nehemiah was an actual cupbearer to the king of Persia. Though in advocating for the city of his fathers, was sent on a mission to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.

Today, as ministry leaders, we still need cupbearers to make sure we are not drinking poison through our consumption of media, cultural messages, and popular ministry leadership trends. We also need cupbearers to help us stay true to who God has called us to be when we are constantly being enticed to become someone else.

Too often we go it alone and frankly, that is not a healthy option for people who serve a trinitarian God! 

The Cupbearer Serves As…

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• A Brother in Arms
• A Confidential sounding-board
• A Spiritual Director
• A Ministry Coach
• A Theological Investigator
• A Missional Incubator

The concept should also resonate with those in Christian ministry since in delivering the sacrament of the Lord's Supper we are literally cupbearers for the people we shepherd. 

Does a ministry like Cupbearers sound helpful to you? We hope so! 

In upcoming posts, we will address each of these listed functions of the Cupbearer in helping pastors to fulfill their purpose and calling. 

Let us know if you think something like this would be helpful to you in your context. 

In our next five posts, we will take a look at why we all need a Cupbearer in our ministry life.