Paraphrasing something I read elsewhere....
If you love one another, "membership" is completely unnecessary.
If you don't love one another, "membership" won't make a difference anyway.
We get so caught up in words. Being a "member" is thought to make you more a part of a local body but somehow the early church lived in community that is almost unimaginable to us today without having any sort of "membership". A man who is a servant and lives a life that is a witness to the world and an encouragement and example to the church is a leader regardless of whether or not he has a title or is "ordained". Someone who is "ordained" and carries a title but doesn't lead by example and witness by the manner of his life is not a leader in the church in any meaningful, Biblical sense. So why do we get so caught up in calling this guy "Pastor so-and-so" or referring to them as a "minister"? People who sign their emails "Pastor" or who put "Pastor" or "Reverend" in their Facebook profile seem awfully insecure. If you are a pastor in the church because you serve others, people will know that about you even if you don't have a title. If people don't know you, your title really doesn't mean a thing at all. Being a "pastor" or "ordained" doesn't give your words greater weight than anyone else in the church.
Our desire to be honored though ear tickling titles and words of deference is an affront to the upside-down nature of the church and the Kingdom of God.
There is no greater title in the church than "brother". That should be honor enough for any Christian man.
2 comments:
Arthur,
As always you have excellent aim, and hit the nail on the head, first blow.
The final paragraph, drove the nail completely home. Amen!
Bravo, sir!
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