Ministry: Whose Job is it Anyway? (The Grammatically-Correct Church)

By definition, ministry leaves an impact on others. Bill Hybels states, “Each volunteer we add means that one more Christ follower is discovering the thrill of serving, and one more spiritual need is being met.” (The Church Leader’s Answer Book, 364) When conducted God’s way, ministry is a real joy.

I wonder how many pastors believe their job is to be “the minister.” If there is a death in the church, someone should call “the minister.” Pastors are ordained into “the ministry.” I have a piece of paper on my wall that says I am an ordained “minister.” I am not downplaying the seriousness of the call God has placed on my life. Yet, I am wondering: Should every believer have a recognized document? Is there a believer who does not have a calling from God?

What if God intended for every believer to be a minister of the Gospel of Christ? Examine this evidence: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. Now everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-19, HCSB)

What if  God has in mind a much bigger plan for the Body of Christ than the activities of a small percentage of people we call “clergy?” Do Christians have to possess an official title to tell people about Christ, serve, make disciples, or assist people in need?

What if God never intended for there to be two classifications: clergy and laity? The greater the divide between paid staff and those in the pews, the potential for life-changing ministry decreases exponentially.

What if (some) pastors are robbing the members of the opportunity to serve by doing the ministry for the congregation? There would be grave consequences if a congregation expected the paid clergy to single-handedly “do the work of ministry.” Few people would share the Gospel, believers would busy their lives with other activities, and many would become disengaged from the assembly of believers. Then I look at the stats on the church in America. In the words of Scooby Doo, “Ruh Roh, Raggy.”

Next Post- How The Cross Changed “The Ministry”
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Question for Today’s Discussion: Do you believe the clergy-laity divide exists? Is dangerous? Is destructive?