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Begin by reading 1 Peter 4:1-11
A number of years ago, I served as Pastor of a small church. I didn’t have much experience or training, and I was unprepared to spar with the big personalities. My wife and I left the church bruised and jaded. We swore we would never return to a pastoral role. I remember saying, “In the future, my goal is to say to my pastor, ‘what can I do for you to help your ministry along?’” I thought that was pretty humble and generous of me, offering to give my pastor a boost in his ministry.
I’m not alone in my thinking. There was a study in the mid 1900s given to 12,000 members of the Methodist denomination, in which they were asked to choose among four options that represented their idea of a layperson.
1. Laypersons are members of the people of God called to a total ministry of witness and service in the world.
2. Laypersons are those who are ministered to by the clergy who are the true church.
3. Laypersons are people in part-time Christian service.
4. Laypersons are non-ordained Christians whose function is to help the clergy do the work of the church.
59.4% chose option 4. Needless to say, I would have been one of those.
Yesterday, we discussed how the Bible never makes a distinction between clergy and laity as classes of Christians. It’s important to note that this isn’t to say that there aren’t various leadership positions in the church with different functions. Ephesians 4 lays out a number of them: apostles, pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc. However, the way we use clergy generally is used in a professional sense. Thus, we distinguish between a professional minister and a volunteer minister.
What’s the difference? Generally, a professional minister is one who is paid by the church, serves on staff at the church, and thus is held to a higher standard because there is money involved. Often times that person earns that position based on a level of education and experience. It would be awfully difficult for a professional minister to wake up on Sunday morning and say, “I don’t feel like teaching today. I think I’m going to take a sick day.” But a volunteer may not have nearly as difficult of a time doing so. Consider a church that has a volunteer pastor. They might get off the hook for neglecting the body. Whereas, if a professional pastor were to do that, he might be out of a job. Thus if we were to call the professional minister clergy and the non-professional laity, what we are saying is that there are different standards or expectations, based on payment.
An illustration might serve to make this point. Imagine an elementary school where there are teachers for every grade. There are ways that a 5th grade teacher may go about teaching differently than a kindergarten teacher. They, in a sense, have different functions, but the standards of teaching are the same. Maybe it’s show up to work on time, dress professionally, have lesson plans ready, etc. We can see what might happen if we brought a volunteer into the mix. If a school was not upfront with a volunteer regarding expectations, maybe different standards would be applied. Or perhaps the volunteer might say, “I don’t get paid so why should I have to show up on time?”
This is what Paul is combating in Romans 12:6-8 when he says, if your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. He is applying a standard to each gift and function within the church. Thus, he is teaching us that there is no distinction or different level of expectation between a clergy and a layman, one who is paid and one who isn’t. We have a standard that we must follow. What’s that standard? Paul tells us in Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” This was also the point Peter was making in today’s reading.
My heart has really been moved in recent months to encourage the Body of Christ in this regard. I want each person not to see themselves as a warm body in the pew. I want them to see themselves as an integral part to the Body of Christ. Your role in ministry is not to help the pastor build his church. Your role in ministry is to help God build His church. Of the survey I mentioned earlier, I think the Biblical answer is to say, “Laypersons are members of the people of God called to a total ministry of witness and service in the world.” To this regard, you are no different than one who carries a title of clergy. You may not be called to be an apostle, elder, teacher, pastor, or deacon. You may be called to stand at the door and pass at bulletins as people enter. Your role, your standard of expectation, your importance in the ministry is no less than the one who gives the sermon.
Your call to the ministry is serious. It’s not something you do with your leftover time and energy. God has entrusted you with gifts, empowered you by His Spirit, and He is saying, “come build my church.” Let me challenge you that as you seek to become a living sacrifice to find out what God is telling you specifically. When you find out what role He is calling you to, take it seriously. God is watching. God is testing to see if you are faithful. And there is a reward for you in heaven.
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