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From the following Scriptures, establish in your mind a Biblical foundation for the believer and for the church.
Be aware, these Biblical truths may be in conflict with what we know as church today and a choice may have to be made. (The bold is mine.)
2 Corinthians 5:17-20a Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors... (NIV) “Us” in verses 18 and 19 is related to “anyone” in verse 17.
Acts 8:1b All the believers, except the apostles, were scattered throughout the provinces of Judea and Samaria. (GNT) Acts 8:4 The believers who were scattered went everywhere, preaching the message. (GNT)
For additional study see Matthew 28:19-20 Ephesians 4:11-12.
I Peter 2:9 But you are the chosen race, the King’s priests, the holy nation, God’s own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light.
I Peter 1:1b To God’s chosen people who live as refugees scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. You were chosen according to the purpose of God the Father and were made a holy people by his Spirit...
Acts 1:8 But you will be filled with power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (KJV)
Where are we today? - We have a lot of very good people – but few whose vocation of life is witnessing.
- We have beautiful buildings in which everything is predictable week by week.
- We have tested the market and made adjustments to get people in. We have become so consumer oriented that often the style of worship/music is more important than the message.
- At a large Evangelical church, a lady said, “We do not need to go to the community with Bible studies. We have everything they need here: a gym, aerobics, etc.
- A pastor of a large Baptist church in Texas told me, “Our church machinery is so well oiled, the Holy Spirit could be gone for a month before we missed Him.”
- We have many church members whose lives are no different from unbelievers. (greed, vices, language, sex, jokes, etc.)
- Churches today are suffering an identity crisis. They don’t know who they are and why they are here. Vance Havner, a great preacher of another day, told the following story. He asked the preacher “How are you getting along?” The preacher replied, “We are living in idolatry - just sitting around admiring our new church and wonderful programs. We have arrived: we have it made – no more worlds to conquer.” Then he added, “What ought to be a milestone has become a millstone. We have run out of goals. We have lost our sense of mission.”A church that loses its sense of mission is in peril of death. The church exists by mission as a fire exists by burning. When the fire ceases to burn, it becomes ashes. If the church ceases to be missionary and evangelistic, it ceases to be a church – and the coldness of death sets in.
- The good news is that we have many people who are tired of the norm and desire to used by God.
One leader said, “The result is that many churches have more fashion than passion. More superficial than sacrificial. Pastors have become keepers of the aquarium instead of fishers of men.”
Lyle Schaller, a well known church consultant said, “The parish without a truly divine purpose, the church without a sense of direction, or the congregation without an understanding of mission can turn committed Christians into frustrated critics.”
How did we get where we are? What happened between the days of Paul and our day?
Paul’s day For a few hundred years the church spread like a prairie fire. There was a spontaneous expansion of God’s Kingdom. Believers who received the new life, eternal life, a joyous salvation, were so excited that they naturally shared their good news about Christ their Savior and Lord. There was not a need for a visitation program. A farmer never needed to take a seeker to the preacher to get professional advice. He was able to tell what God did in his life.
Later and Today
The traditional concept of ministry became popular when the Christian religion was spreading throughout the Roman Empire and caught the attention of Emperor Constantine. He realized the threat of this new religion of the people. So he declared the pagan Roman Empire to be Christian. This diluted the churches as paganism identified with Christianity. This was the beginning of a 1000 years of dark ages for the Church. The bible became the book for the educated clergy only. The common man was at the mercy of the clergy who told him what to believe. Church leaders were not to be questioned. Many of the religious leaders were not Christian in nature or character. The Roman church became more corrupt as it was led by corrupt leaders. A new concept of ministry was being molded. This concept has come all the way down to us today. Yes, into evangelical, fundamental, protestant churches.
The great reformation of the 16th century brought some change as Martin Luther declared that the bible should be open to the common person and that anyone could pray directly to God. But much of the dark age mentality is still present in our churches today.
Much has been said about an extension of the reformation period of Luther, Calvin, and Zwingly. We do need such an extension. An extension which would take us beyond the privilege of Bible study and prayer.
The privilege would have a corresponding responsibility. This responsibility would be what I call realized priesthood.
Based on 1 Peter 2:9, we accept in theory the priesthood of every believer, but few understand what it means in real life.
Today we need a radical renewal in some areas including the following: - Take salvation seriously – Savior and Lord – balanced
- New member orientation taken seriously.
- The Biblical concept of liberation of believers from laity to priesthood.
Let us spend some time on this third area – the area of ministry.
Recently a pastor said, “If you can do anything else and be truly happy, you shouldn’t be in Christian ministry.” This same pastor talked about when he “entered the ministry.” He was not talking about when he was saved. These statements tell us how warped and non-Biblical our positions are today (and we think we are “fundamental” in our beliefs). Then we wonder why the world is not being touched with the Gospel. Of course we know that the pastor was confusing the call to be a believer with a call to be a pastor. I was saved–called, set apart, ordained–to be a minister when I was 10 years of age. I was called, set apart, ordained to a specific kind of ministry (pastoral) when I was 18 year old.
When Jesus called men and women He called them to a service oriented salvation–not to be saved one day and begin ministering years later.
In our churches we have segregated ministry and diminished the spread of the Gospel in at least 3 ways:
- by sustaining the concept of the professional clergy.
- by replacing the responsibility of the whole church, every member responsibility for missions, with special mission groups and societies within the church. Thus freeing up the ordinary believer from being responsible for missions. These ordinary members may go on “mission trips” far away, yet go a year without winning anyone to Christ at home.
- We create a “board of deacons” never realizing beyond theory that every member is called to be a “deacon” (servant). All are called to servanthood with different roles of ministry. Yes, holy; yes, chosen; yes, set aside; – as any teacher, officer, or janitor of the church should be. (In the New Testament he word “diakanos” is used to refer to Jesus, Peter, Paul, Lydia and Satan, etc. – all referring to servant or service.) Note in Acts chapter 6. The word “deacon” -“diakonos” does not appear. The word used (diakoinia) referred to service or ministry. The Greek speaking Jews claimed that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution (diakoinia) of funds. Vs. 1…. We ourselves, will give our full time (service – diakonia) to prayer and the work of preaching. (vs. 4) Please do not misunderstand me. I am not against deacons in the church. I am for broadening the opportunity for ministry to every believer.
So we have a professional clergy that is being burned out and a laity that is supporting the preacher and paid staff as they are on the front line. In the eyes of the world, pastors are seen as paid salesmen .
There are ordinary believers who want to be set free. They are tired of a religion tied onto a secular life. They yearn for freedom in ministry, a purpose with power. They yearn for more than a support position, oiling the machinery and keeping it going. Some want to be on the front lines of changing the world.
How can change come? How can it happen?
By taking seriously the Scriptures we read at the beginning. 2 Cor. 5:17-20 - Ephesians 4:11-12, etc.
By having the mind of Christ – Philippians 2:5ff
Please note nine (9) steps to revival:
1. Calling on the pastors/leaders to go back to prayer and Bible study. Even pastors need to study the Bible.
A converted Muslim recently spoke in our area. He told of being surprised and dismayed at how little Christians know about the Bible.
The Bible says, Just be determined, be confident; and make sure that you obey the whole Law that my servant Moses gave you. Do not neglect any part of it and you will succeed wherever you go. 8 Be sure that the book of the Law is always read in your worship. Study it day and night, and make sure that you obey everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:7-8
Going back to prayer and Bible study would require pastors and leaders to challenge believers to be ministers in the work place — to be priests who go to God for His blessing so the blessings can be shared on the job, in the home, and in the community. Pastors must not be afraid of losing control, for as long as they control the life of another, both lose. People must be taught, trained, and turned loose to live under the control of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible says, But as for you, Christ has poured out his Spirit on you. As long as his Spirit remains in you, you do not need anyone to teach you. For his Spirit teaches you about everything, and what he teaches is true, not false. Obey the Spirit's teaching, then, and remain in union with Christ. I John 2:27
It would require pastors and teachers to become feeders of the sheep, which means they must prepare through Bible study and prayer.
2. We must understand that what the Bible says is and more powerful than anything we have to say about the Bible. The Bible says, And there is another reason why we always give thanks to God. When we brought you God's message, you heard it and accepted it, not as a message from human beings but as God's message, which indeed it is. 1 Thessalonians 2:13
3. We must have a higher standard for believers to be holy and righteousness, with new loyalties.
God’s standards and expectations have never changed. There must be a difference between the believer’s lifestyle and that of the secular world.
The Bible says, Instead, be holy in all that you do, just as God who called you is holy. The scripture says, "Be holy because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
Try to be at peace with everyone, and try to live a holy life, because no one will see the Lord without it. Hebrews 12:14
4. Believers must have a new vision of the majesty of God. God is not a fire marshal or the man upstairs. Jesus said, ”Our Father in heaven: May your holy name be honored; may your Kingdom come;...” - Matt 6:9-10
5. We must have a new understanding and appreciation of what God purposes to do through His Son Jesus. The Bible says, Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son's death on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven. 21 At one time you were far away from God and were his enemies because of the evil things you did and thought. 22 But now, by means of the physical death of his Son, God has made you his friends, in order to bring you, holy, pure, and faultless, into his presence. 23 You must, of course, continue faithful on a firm and sure foundation, and must not allow yourselves to be shaken from the hope you gained when you heard the gospel. It is of this gospel that I, Paul, became a servant—this gospel which has been preached to everybody in the world. 24 And now I am happy about my sufferings for you, for by means of my physical sufferings I am helping to complete what still remains of Christ's sufferings on behalf of his body, the church... 27 God's plan is to make known his secret to his people, this rich and glorious secret which he has for all peoples. And the secret is that Christ is in you, which means that you will share in the glory of God. 28 So we preach Christ to everyone. Col 1:20-24,27-28a
6 . We must understand that the great things of God are beyond our control. God was in charge at the beginning and will be at the end.
7. Believers must have a fresh insight of the fact that God has an exciting, personal plan for them, a place to fit into God’s plan of the universe. Come to the Lord, the living stone rejected by people as worthless but chosen by God as valuable. 5 Come as living stones, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-5
God has a personal, real, active plan for your life.
8. We must understand that the church is a family on fire to change lives and history.
It is more than a business organization, more than a group or society of friends. It is a part of God’s eternal plan of the universe and we can be a vital part of it. The church is more than a parenthesis in history—it is eternal. The church was genuine before denominations came into existence. The church of the New Testament did not organize for missions—it lived by missioning.
9. Believers need to understand they can be liberated so that a lost world can be liberated. Jesus said, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10 Also, Jesus said, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you.” John 20:21
Life is too short for leaders to be entangled with religious caste systems—Mr., Brother, Reverand, Doctor, and ecclesiastical ladder climbing, where leaders climb to the top (move to bigger churches and even convention positions) by having the three big B’s - bigger buildings, budgets, and baptismal reports. I was there for the first six years of my pastoral ministry. It was a drag and a rat-race. Someone helped me see the Biblical concept of ministry. I grabbed it and ran and would never go back.
Pastors and leaders need to understand that they are called to minister to ministers (church members) so that they can minister—on the job, in the home, at school.
Tom Escota, was a newly saved business man in Manila. We were at the annual convention meeting in the Philippines. Tom had been saved about six months and was now the pastor of a growing new church in Manila. As church delegates were registering, an old fellow from a traditional church asked, “Who is the minister at your church?” Tom had not been tarnished by tradition and had to think a bit about the question. He said, “We have about 60 members, but only about 45 full time ministers.” How far we have come from the truth that sets people free to be servants, ministers.
When we have the mind of Christ as seen in the Beatitudes, we will then realize that we have naturally become light and salt to those around us. Penetrating, changing, and liberating.
We understand every believer has the same vocation – witnessing through deed and word, and we do this through various avocations (our jobs) It is natural—spontaneous. A true believer enters the ministry when saved. (Not pastoral ministry)
A genuine faith is a spontaneous walk of faith. Every believer deserves to experience a faith that naturally flows to change the world. “We cannot stop speaking of what we ourselves have seen and heard” was a description of New Testament faith. (Acts 4:20) So be it today! Some have chosen to float through life with the least resistance and demands. God needs ordinary people to swim—even if it means against the popular currents of the day. So be it today! Will our church stand up and make a difference?
Church planters and pastors, will we dare to be different if it is right? Many traditionalists will not accept the ideas shared in this paper, so be prepared to stand for Biblical truth. Drop a Pebble in the Water
Drop a pebble in the water: just a splash, and it is gone; But there’s half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on, Spreading, spreading from the center, flowing on out to the sea, And there is no way of telling where the end is going to be.
Drop a pebble in the water: in a minute you forget, But there’s little waves a-flowing, and there’s ripples circling yet, And those little waves a-flowing to a great big wave have grown. You’ve disturbed a mighty river just by dropping in a stone. James W. Foley Submitted by: Charles Brock
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