Does it seem that often the perspective in American churches is driven by a “That’s what we pay the preacher / minister for” mentality? We expect someone to do what we want, how we want, when we want, say what we want, and for what we want to pay them. If they don’t, we can always cut their pay or find someone who will. Then we wonder why the church does not grow, why our young people are leaving, and why all the ministers are changing churches and eventually changing careers. Elders wonder why they can’t get anybody to participate in any of our “programs” or even change a lightbulb….then say, “Well I guess the ministers can do it…at least we can get our money’s worth out of them.
Ministers believe we are working for God, but then….are we? Who do we really work for? What really is our job? Do the members pay us to do what they don’t want to do? Should we call the plumber, change the lightbulb, mediate the disagreements, organize the calendar, prepare all the things that are needed for Sunday morning so the members can come, sit on their pews in the air conditioning, have every part of the service organized and just as they are accustomed to so they can “do” their worship, put their money in the plate and go home even more religious? Do they pay us to preach and teach what they want to hear so they can feel good about their RIGHT religion?
Some of us, like myself, have been guilty of doing all these things. While that in and of itself is not bad. If Jesus can wash feet, shouldn’t we change lighbulbs? We are (in some ways) more available to do some of these things. We should be willing to do what is needed and set the example of being willing to do our share. But, what happens when we do MORE than our share because others won’t do it? If we don’t do it it won’t get done so we just….keep doing. When we do that – does our more important work suffer? Didn’t Jesus say, “Let the dead bury the dead…you come follow Me?” Who really had their priorities in line: Mary or Martha? Didn’t the Apostles say they should not leave the ministry of the word to wait on tables? But, where do we draw the line? What really is our job as it relates to the “stuff” that needs to be done?
God says:
Ephesians 4:11-16 (NIV)
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
I think God has already answered the question. What do you think?
