"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations..." Mt. 28:19
Last time I suggested if we are going to fulfill the Great Commission from Matthew 28 in America we need to do everything we can to keep people out of full-time ministry and keep as many people as possible away from making the church calendar the center of their universe.
Why would I make such a statement?
Because I think believers in America are too church program and ministry centered. There are a number of reasons for this. One is our basic longing for acceptance and effectiveness - we want our lives to matter. In the Evangelical/Charismatic tradition I grew up in, we believed the surest path to acceptance and effectiveness was hanging around the church as often as possible or, even better, going into full-time ministry for the Lord.
I may not be giving a fair representation of what actually happened, but as I sat in church week after week, I got the distinct impression that everyday life didn't mean much to God.
Since Jesus was going to come back soon, things like getting an education, or getting married, or having and parenting babies, or having a successful career - though not prohibited - were certainly not celebrated.
To matter, you needed to be doing ministry stuff: intercessory prayer, participating in a small group, witnessing, doing devotions, church volunteerismÖthings God really cared about.
Though unspoken, you knew that the daily warp and woof of life (i.e. family, friendships, work, etc.) should be approached like you would approach changing the oil on your car - a necessary responsibility. But ministry is getting on the road - it's what really matters!
Most ministers I knew fostered the sense that the apostles, prophets, evangelists, and teachers were at the center of God's plan to touch the world. If you want to be at the center of God's plan, get into full-time ministry. If you want to make a difference, get into full-time ministry. Admittedly, not everyone was called, but if you were one of the un-called, you certainly felt left out. And by default, as an un-called one, you became one of those "stupid sheep" the preachers always teased about. You were one of the dense ones that needed to be "led."
Honesty (and sadly), the only time I heard ministers speaking highly of the laity was when they were making a pitch for more church attendance, volunteerism, or during offering time.
I beg to differ. I think the greatest thing a lay person has to offer in advancing the kingdom of God is his or her every day life soaked with God's grace - not just his/her church attendance, participation in church programs, volunteerism, or money.
I think if people of the pew become people who fight for great marriages and great homes; who refuse to just have a "job" because we make our work vocational (sacramental); who work to cultivate the fruit of the Holy Spirit described in Gal. 5 (where traits like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, and self-control flood our interactions with others); who practice the Golden Rule; and who are committed to living ethically and morally (repenting openly and accepting the consequences if we are not), we will convince those around us of the reality of Jesus Christ more than if 10,000 additional preachers went on TV or entered pulpit ministry.
I think the greatest thing we can do to change the world is for the laity to live out authentically changed lives in the context of their everyday lives. Encouraging thousands to run off to Bible schools in order to get pulpit jobs is NOT the answer. I am not suggesting there is anything wrong with going into full-time ministry. Since I am in full-time ministry, I am obviously not against it! That being said, I DO believe there are many following that path because the path of laity has been domesticated instead of commemorated.
So, I'm saying if you really want to fulfill the Great Commission, celebrate the life and path God gave you; become a person full of the Holy Spirit; don't go to church too much; and stay out of full-time ministry.
Ed Gungor
Last time I suggested if we are going to fulfill the Great Commission from Matthew 28 in America we need to do everything we can to keep people out of full-time ministry and keep as many people as possible away from making the church calendar the center of their universe.
Why would I make such a statement?
Because I think believers in America are too church program and ministry centered. There are a number of reasons for this. One is our basic longing for acceptance and effectiveness - we want our lives to matter. In the Evangelical/Charismatic tradition I grew up in, we believed the surest path to acceptance and effectiveness was hanging around the church as often as possible or, even better, going into full-time ministry for the Lord.
I may not be giving a fair representation of what actually happened, but as I sat in church week after week, I got the distinct impression that everyday life didn't mean much to God.
Since Jesus was going to come back soon, things like getting an education, or getting married, or having and parenting babies, or having a successful career - though not prohibited - were certainly not celebrated.
To matter, you needed to be doing ministry stuff: intercessory prayer, participating in a small group, witnessing, doing devotions, church volunteerismÖthings God really cared about.
Though unspoken, you knew that the daily warp and woof of life (i.e. family, friendships, work, etc.) should be approached like you would approach changing the oil on your car - a necessary responsibility. But ministry is getting on the road - it's what really matters!
Most ministers I knew fostered the sense that the apostles, prophets, evangelists, and teachers were at the center of God's plan to touch the world. If you want to be at the center of God's plan, get into full-time ministry. If you want to make a difference, get into full-time ministry. Admittedly, not everyone was called, but if you were one of the un-called, you certainly felt left out. And by default, as an un-called one, you became one of those "stupid sheep" the preachers always teased about. You were one of the dense ones that needed to be "led."
Honesty (and sadly), the only time I heard ministers speaking highly of the laity was when they were making a pitch for more church attendance, volunteerism, or during offering time.
I beg to differ. I think the greatest thing a lay person has to offer in advancing the kingdom of God is his or her every day life soaked with God's grace - not just his/her church attendance, participation in church programs, volunteerism, or money.
I think if people of the pew become people who fight for great marriages and great homes; who refuse to just have a "job" because we make our work vocational (sacramental); who work to cultivate the fruit of the Holy Spirit described in Gal. 5 (where traits like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, and self-control flood our interactions with others); who practice the Golden Rule; and who are committed to living ethically and morally (repenting openly and accepting the consequences if we are not), we will convince those around us of the reality of Jesus Christ more than if 10,000 additional preachers went on TV or entered pulpit ministry.
I think the greatest thing we can do to change the world is for the laity to live out authentically changed lives in the context of their everyday lives. Encouraging thousands to run off to Bible schools in order to get pulpit jobs is NOT the answer. I am not suggesting there is anything wrong with going into full-time ministry. Since I am in full-time ministry, I am obviously not against it! That being said, I DO believe there are many following that path because the path of laity has been domesticated instead of commemorated.
So, I'm saying if you really want to fulfill the Great Commission, celebrate the life and path God gave you; become a person full of the Holy Spirit; don't go to church too much; and stay out of full-time ministry.
Ed Gungor
Any thoughts on this from the peanut gallery?
