Christianity is Not a Spectator Sport by Bill Wimp
November 15, 2011
Practically the worst thing any churchgoer can do is be a hearer, but not a doer (James 1:22-25). Christ himself pronounced doom on religious people who want to be mere bystanders (Matthew 7:26-27).
One of the main duties of clergy is to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:12). Every believer is called to be a minister of some sort, with each of us using the unique gifts given us by God for the edification of the whole church (Rom. 12:6-8).
That’s why Scripture portrays the church as a body—an organism with many organs (1 Corinthians 12:14), where each member has a unique role (vv. 15-25) and all contribute something important to the life of the body. “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it” (v. 26).
Everyone is expected to be involved in worship, prayer, the study of the Word of God, and discipleship so each of us can be equipped for ministry. That ministry is the sharing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The New Testament pattern is clear and inescapable: Every Christian is gifted and called to ministry. The spiritual gifts we are given are not for our own sake, but for the benefit of the whole body (1 Corinthians 12:4-7). “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them” (Romans 12:6).
We are blessed at All Saints to have clergy that have embraced their duty to equip people for ministry. It is, after all, one of their main duties—if not the single most important task for leaders in today’s church.
If you’re a lay person, my prayer is that you’ll find a place where you can use your gift in the work of the ministry.
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