| “He (God) has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant…” |
| —2 Corinthians 3:6 |
If you’re like most churchgoers, you do not consider yourself on the same spiritual level as your minister. That’s because we harbor within us a sense that ministers surely are more educated about spiritual things and because we believe they have devoted themselves to following Christ more closely.
But, the truth remains that everyone who belongs to God through Christ is, indeed, on the same spiritual track. In fact, the longer you attend church, the more you will come to realize that ministers are the same kind of “jerks” we are. They are subject to the same sin nature. They have the same temptations. They have the same ego problems dogging them that we do. And, because people generally expect much more from ministers, they live under a cloud of unmet expectations.
I’m not diminishing ministers at all. In fact, to borrow a time-worn phrase, some of my best friends are ministers. But, I also know that ministers should not hold the special place that they seem to hold in many people’s minds. Rather, the Scripture enjoins us to give double honor to those who teach us spiritual truths. But, it also holds them to a strict level of accountability. (See 1 Timothy 5:17-21.)
Now, here’s my point: we “Christ’s-ones” are all ministers! That’s right—we are all ministers of the gospel of God’s mercy, grace, and love. We are called by God to minister to the needs of a troubled and dying world. The Apostle Paul reminds the church gathered in Corinth of this reality, as recorded in 2 Corinthians 3:6:
He [God] has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Here Paul is speaking to the Corinthians about his own qualifications for ministry. But, he ties his own commendation to the calling of all believers. God empowers us, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, to minister on behalf of Christ.
So, the challenge for this new day consists of us casting off the idea that the professional clergy—whom we pay—will do ministry in our place. No! While we need well-educated and competent teachers of Scripture, and those with time to devote to caring for the flock God has given them, we cannot escape the reality that we, too, are called to minister. Just as God calls us to partner with the Holy Spirit in sharing the gifts of God’s love and grace, so we must partner with those whom God has set apart for full time Christian service.
We honor those who have devoted their entire lives to the calling of ministry. But, we join with them and use the gifts God has given us to multiply the effectiveness of our witness for Christ and His Kingdom. That’s what God has called us to do. And that, my dear ones, is exactly what we should do throughout this new day.
Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, February 17, 2017
