BUILDING UP THE BODY

A little girl overheard a discussion in church about the difference between the clergy and the laity. She said, “I know the difference! The clergy get paid for doing good and the laity are good for nothing!” I suspect that’s true in a lot of churches—and the problem isn’t necessarily lazy laity—though it might be—but much of the problem could be confused clergy. They don’t know what they are supposed to be doing and they are doing that very efficiently! It shouldn’t surprise us that a lot of local bodies of believers are very sick, for the pastors are guilty of spiritual malpractice.

The Bible is to govern the way we do church—are we agreed?

Here’s a dramatic illustration of how the church is to be organized to do the ministry:

1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,
6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:1-7)

The leadership base was expanded and exponential growth ensued. With this, there would be even more need for more ministries and God’s directive to that end was given through the pen of the Apostle Paul, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…” (Ephesians 4:11-12).

The “clergy” are not the professionals hired to do the work of the ministry, but are called and gifted of God to equip the members to do their ministry. Here is how Paul puts it in Romans 12:3-8:

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;
8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

The New Testament teaches throughout that the body of Christ is built as believers discover, develop and deploy their spiritual gifts. Do you know your gift? Are your using it?