Meaning and Purpose of Ministry

 

Somehow the Christian community in general has lost the meaning of ministry and the purpose of having spiritual gifts.

1 Cor. 12: 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.

We have spiritual gifts so that we may share them for others benefits.  Christians who believe in mutuality have always understood this and this is why we believe that ministry is not about worldly authority with its system of privileges and limitations.  Rather ministry is about serving others using the spiritual gifts that God has given to you.

 

Matt. 20: 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

 

Ministry does not mean that one cannot help needs if it doesn’t mean using a spiritual gift.  We are all called to help one another with our personal means.  We are all to teach others (share) what we do know, evangelize and witness (share about Christ and the good news), share our personal means (finances, time, possessions) when we see others with needs.  One doesn’t need a spiritual gift to help clean up at church, or bake some cookies, or help decorate for special functions, pull weeds and mow the lawn, hold a yard sale for raising money, etc.  There is tons both men and women and families can join together in doing for the furthering of the kingdom.

 

But it does mean that we don’t seek to have ministries where we preach, teach, shepherd, organize, evangelize groups of people if God has not specifically anointed us with those spiritual gifts.  These gifts are not distributed according to race, nationality, social status, gender, age, or physical prowess.  They are distributed at God’s unction, God’s will.  It does mean that if we seek to allow only certain people of our own choosing to participate in ministries, then we might be going against what God wants done.  And frankly every church in every denomination I’m positive has done this from time to time, some more than others.  In our efforts to over organize we constantly run the Holy Spirit right into the corner where He cannot function as He desires.  We are constantly quenching the HS.  And we are getting better at it. 

 

This is the reason why churches become boring and some decide that going to church is often just an empty duty. It has become too much of human efforts and design and too little of God’s work and desires.

 

What think ye . . . .