No Place to Serve

Service clubs such as the Elks, Masons, Lions and Rotary are on the decline. Their mission statements have not changed, but it appears that changes in leadership may be part of the problem. Unqualified people are maneuvering their way into leadership positions and the membership, rather that following inept leaders, simply stop participating. I see something similar happening in the church as members of the body of Christ are not allowed to function. Today’s church leadership has done away with Sunday school, youth programs, choirs, Bible study and potluck dinners. For example, my church no longer uses qualified teachers to teach from the Bible, but rather relies on videos and televised lectures. The mission of the Lord’s church has not changed, but there simply is no place in today’s church for believers to serve, or be trained for service. Paul said, “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully” (Ro 12:4-8 NIV).