Ministry for All

One grave misconception which has remained largely unchecked in the modern church is that ministry is to be primarily accomplished through professionals.  Instead of ministering to the needs directly that we see, the temptation is to refer people to the professionals.  For instance, let's say someone is struggling with their marriage.  Mature believers filled with the Holy Spirit and the wisdom of God will without any thought encourage that person to call the church office so they can seek counsel from the pastor.  Here was an opportunity to minister lost by someone qualified and equipped by God to do so.  Is the pastor of the local church gifted and experienced?  Sure.  But we will no doubt answer to God for all the times we pawned off opportunities on others God intended for us to fulfill.

Here is an interesting passage from Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness by Cook and Baldwin from a pastoral perspective:

"Since it's not my church and I don't have to build it, I also don't have to assume a lordship role over the people in it.  I can release them to serve Christ.  Like me, they simply need to be available to the One who is Lord of the church.  That's all.  They don't have to perform.  They don't have to conform either...Releasing people to minister means setting them free to meet other people's needs whenever and however they can.  There doesn't have to be a hook in their ministry that will get the sinner inside the four walls of our meeting place.

Let's be clear about this.  Ministering is not inviting people to church services.  Inviting people to services is called inviting people to services.  Ministry is serving people.  No doubt you know people who hate church but need love.  Why would you ever invite such a person to church?  What possible sense does it make to invite people who hate church to come to church?  Give them what they need - love.  Love with no strings attached.  If someone is sick, he doesn't need an invitation to church.  He needs a believer to pray for his healing." (pages 75-76)

If only we could realize the power and purpose Christ has for us in Him!  We might not say it, but our actions often affirm we believe that without seminary training, titles, ordination by men, stiff white collars, robes, or years of training we are powerless to serve God like the men and women of the New Testament.  People in those early days were lions - because they were filled with the strength of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah!  Now our strength seems to flow from other people's opinions about us or how we feel at the moment.  We have the God-granted ability to bring Christ into any situation, yet we settle for trying to get people to attend a church function.  I know because I've done it, and it's likely you have too.

The job of the pastor is not to be a super-zealot without any semblance of family life whose life consists of running programs and being tied down to the building 12 hours a day.  Many pastors end up doing what everyone thinks he should do but could actually do themselves.  A pastor is a man with a calling upon his life by God to perform the duty of a pastor, which is to equip the saints for the work of the ministry.  All believers are saints, and they are all to serve together for the glory of God.  Jesus is not a professional:  He is a servant of all.  Jesus never "got paid" for laying down His life, nor did He confine Himself to a certain location to force people to find Him.  He went out into the world and brought His influence right along with Him.  He came to seek and save the lost.  That is how the church should operate today.  If Jesus hadn't come to me, I never would have found Him.

God has things for every part of the Body of Christ to accomplish for Him.  Are we willing to humble ourselves for His glory?  Are we willing to do what we know we cannot?  Can a man do anything for God?  No, but God can do anything through a man yielded and consecrated to Him.  Jesus is our example, and let's follow Him to His end!