December 22, 2010
Sent
In mega churches we have specialized job descriptions for ministers, but in smaller congregations we expect preachers to be well rounded and multitalented. They preach, make hospital rounds and lead singing. Even among ministry volunteers we see people serving in multiple areas. I find it interesting that Paul says, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel….” (1Cor 1:17 NIV) I think there is a lesson in here for those of us who get over extended in trying to do everything and be everywhere. We just need to figure out what it is that Christ sent us to do.
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2 comments:
Gail;
-----I believe it is a mistake to refine job descriptions to their last detail. Then we overlay that mistake with a paycheck which seems to solidify it into concrete. People with needs then get passed around in the church from department to department and employee to employee until the whole thing more resembles a business than life. Yet it is just as much a mistake to disregard the division of gifts amongst various folks and God’s giving of some to “...be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers.” (Eph 4:11) Even though Christ is the head of the church and yet needs everyone to simply step forward to use whatever gifts and abilities they have, He expects us to maintain sanity in doing everything decently and in order. Although there is a certain necessity in recognizing the gifts had, the gifts lacked, and the functions to which one has been given in the church, decency and order comes by paying the more attention to the purposes for which everyone has received gifts and functions.
-----Grasping the concept of building up the body and equipping the saints for their ministries and working towards it as a goal softens the boundaries of job descriptions and turns the employee’s paycheck into a ministerial support. Not everyone can teach well in a classroom across a broad range of knowledge. But most have a few points of knowledge they are capable of teaching. Some are highly skilled at preaching, yet have had profound enough experiences in certain aspects of life such that they are quite capable of counseling within those regards. We have enough sense to significantly function within the gifts God has given us, yet we should have enough compassion to do whatever else we might have a capability of doing. Paul proclaimed Christ did not send him to baptize, but he did baptize the household of Stephanas, and he admits to the possibility he may have baptized others.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
Mega churches don't seem sincere to me. This is not a criticism but just an observation. It just seems like the pull to them for people is how will the church entertain them? How can the preacher get to know his congregants? For me, for a church to be effective it must require sacrifice of it's members, tithes, offerings, service.
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