from the archives
One of the biggest lies told, and re-told by the Church is that in order to serve, individuals must be special in some way. We are told we need a seminary degree, or a counseling degree, or 18 years of experience, or a spouse, or any other number of prerequisites.
We are made to feel inadequate or inferior. We are often told that unless we are preaching from the pulpit, leading worship, or heading up a ministry, we have very little to offer.
Many churches are super-star factories, where people file in just to catch a glimpse of the rock star pastor or worship leader on stage. They then get back in their cars, drive home, and call it a day. This is not church.
More than that, this is not who or what God had in mind for each individual believer. Every one of us has a purpose, a plan, a gift, and role in and for the body.
But, do you know how special (sorry for using the word ‘special,’ it just seems to fit) you really are in the Church? Do you understand the need the Church has for YOU? Here is a list of questions to consider in determining whether or not you are being made to feel needed and necessary in your own church body…
- Would church happen any differently if you didn’t show up? If you were absent for a day, a week, months, would church run the same with or without you?
- Are you currently fulfilling your purpose (a.k.a. role, part, etc.) in the body of Christ? Do you even know your role in the body? Do you want to know?
- Do you feel part of an authentic spiritual family…not just a church congregation?
- Do you know and believe in the vision of your church body? Would you be able to communicate that vision to a stranger or inquirer at the drop of a hat?
- Are you making disciples, who make disciples, who make disciples…?
This list of questions was actually comprised by my husband, who wrote them for our organic church material. The idea is to challenge individuals to consider whether or not their current church experience is fulfilling, they are being edified and edifying those around them, and whether or not they feel like an integral part of the body.
Do you feel like a necessary and vital part of the Church? How would you answer any or all of the questions above? Has the church ever made you feel inferior or less-than?
Great post! As a pastor who wants to get people involved, I struggle against people who want to sit on the sidelines. It’s not healthy for people or for pastors.
Matt,
Is a man a “pastor” because he is able to draw folks to himself, or because The Lord surrounds him with people? Can a man be a “pastor” without an organized or formalized flock? Is “pastor” a position, title, or verb?
Looking forward to your responses! Blessings, in Jesus’ Name! :)
I wouldn’t call Shepherd (or Pastor) a “title” per se (according to the Word’s standards, at least), but I would say it is *both* a noun and verb. In the same way Prophet is a noun and a verb. In the same way Teacher is a noun and a verb. In the same way Apostle is a noun and a verb. Etc.
All that to say: if you’re not doing the verb (shepherding, teaching, etc.), does that make you the noun? I think not. Good question, Donald!
Jonathan,
Cheater.
I was waiting for Matt to answer.
Jokes, jokes!…you know you can speak to me whenever you choose!
Noun, verb, calling, gifting…I reckon it comes down to us simply being faithful and attentive to our Master’s voice, and doing as our Father would have us do, without seeking to label it. (Like I have tried to do int he past! Yikes!)
Well, I wouldn’t say the nouns are without merit. When people *know* their part (“If an eye is not a foot, it is no less a part of the body”), I have experientially seen them rise up to be faithful in fulfilling it.
Paul wrote: “There are a variety of gifts, a variety of ministries, and a variety of effects.” That’s an important passage to remember regarding spiritual gifting. It’s not to say someone with teacher (noun) gifting can’t fulfill the ministry of shepherd (verb), but that makes them no less a teacher (noun) by gifting. As such, a teacher would fulfill the ministry of shepherd differently than a shepherd would, as would an apostle; that’s the “effect” part.
I’m not saying “label” everything or box God and His Spirit, but I do believe He gives us unique parts to fulfill in the body of Christ. Which is where that faithfulness thing comes in handy. :)
Great questions too Donald. Looking forward to other’s answers. Not surprised either than Jonathan answered. He is a pastor after all.
Matt,
Since I know you are in a house church, I can guess what you might say, but how as a pastor do you encourage people to get off of the sidelines? What have you found to be most effective and encouraging in terms of people understanding their role in the church?
Nicole,
Excellent questions! I am hoping your readers, like me, will pause and consider these inquiries and reflect on them. The answers will be telling.
No, no, no, no…..well then. I’m really struggling with this as you can see. ;) I have talked to my pastor and been welcomed and encouraged to make those yeses…but when all there is is a sunday morning service, and I’m sort of introverted…not sure exactly how that will happen. It also frustrated me that that model of church is so allowing of so many people to just sit on the sidelines. Plus my pastor told me that my desire to get involved is not the average person’s desire, which I’m sure is true…but what does that say about the church? Do you try to inspire people who don’t want to get involved? Or do you find people who do?
I’m reading Pagan Christianity and Kathy Escobar’s Down We Go right now and it is making me long for something different, something more. I guess I’ll have to trust that if those longings are there God is going to show me where to go from here!
Jenn,
I think you are right, in that if God is placing these stirrings and dissatisfaction in your heart, He will lead you to something. Although, in my personal experience, the result may be a place that really is uncomfortable because it is so new and foreign.
I will be praying that this desire in you does not want, but rather grows stronger leading you to exactly where God would have you.
It’s already decidedly uncomfortable, especially with the admitting I don’t what to do, but just living out the questions has taught me so much. It’s hard but I have hope that I’ll look back on this and see how clear it really was!
I am so fed up with people thinking that numbers are a reflection of success when it comes to the Kingdom. To me, nothing feels more churchy than family. When I look at Jesus, his family were those 12 knuckleheads who were always with them (even knowing that one of them would betray Him). That’s how I see Church. Church is a family. Different roles, different perspectives, different ideas, but everyone gets to eat at the table.
Church. Capital “C”. Not “church….small “c”. BIG difference, and one we all need to focus on.
If a person attends church on Sundays as a regular habit, I hope they see it as a Family Reunion and not an obligation. I hope they see it as a time of blessing and not a time of burden. I hope they see it for what it should be and not what it has become.
Church is Family. His Church. His Bride. I mean, seriously, how else is it possible to be able to sit down at His table and eat next to people we wouldn’t otherwise ever know? Exactly.
We ruin the meal when we sit at our Father’s table in church cliques based on denominational tendencies and the poor spiritual investments of legalism and knee-jerk theology. Blech.
His Church. Capital “C”. Period. He is building it. He is bringing people into it. He leads worship, does all the sermons, and has an awesome Children’s Ministry. His Church lacks for nothing. OUR churches, on the other hand…welllll…
Yes and yes! Great distinction.
Moe,
I so agree. I’d love curious to know though Moe, how would you suggest the church go about creating a spiritual family versus a Sunday gathering? I’m practical and I am always interested in hearing about the “how.”
I think we begin by breaking the cultural perspective of what Church is. We divided it into pews and pulpits, etc. I always loved the way Jesus did it. He sat down in dirt with people. He went to people’s homes and chatted (and ate too). He was personal, intentional. He was NEVER (I can’t stress that enough) about the “motions” or to give a false indication of community. Christ was very intentional. But more than anything he desired “realness”.
I feel many people in our churches don’t go past the ‘warming the pews’ because they are afraid that the “powers that be” will judge them based on their sins.
I mentioned family above, because whether you are a small or large family, you are still family. Despite the differences, the likes or unlikes, we do it together. We all get to sit at the table and eat Mom’s chicken and Grandma’s mashed potatoes and brother’s ham and XYZ’s corn on the cob, etc… We all have something to contribute.
Now all this talk got me hungry.
I’m a total “no” on all of your questions, as it stands right now. I used to be a “yes” to all of them when I was with my church in the States, but over here in the UAE…things aren’t as easy. My journey towards Orthodoxy has led me into more fulfillment and wonder than I’ve had in a long time, but it’s also a big learning curve. Doesn’t help that the only Orthodox service here is in a language I don’t understand.
Anyway, the church my gf and I attend now is a good one, but we’re just spectators. However, we don’t fully agree with everything about the church, but it’s a good place to still get fed at the same time. It feels like we’re in a holding pattern until we move from here into a country with more options. Part of that inclusion is on our own initiative, I know, and we just haven’t felt very motivated to make it happen yet.
Sigh.
Excellent post and awesome questions. Since I am between churches right now I can confidently answer no to all those questions. The last church I was a member at was also a no, and the church before that I’d say there were a few yeses-which could or could not be because the church was so small that if one or two people were missing it made a big difference.
Those questions, in a slightly different tense, are probably good for those of us who are searching for a church that is an extension of the big C Church. I am definitely weary of joining any church these days because they seem so disjointed from Christ’s Church.
Great thoughts Nicole. One of the things that I struggle with from time to time is feeling like I am professional Christian because I am in full time ministry. There are days where I really have to fight the urge to try and do slick things to get more people in the seats.
I definitely don’t think there is anything wrong with using contemporary methods for engaging people in worship or trying to have a service that flows nicely but if that stuff gets in the way of truly focusing on Christ it’s all for not.
I missed this the first time around, so I’m glad you re-posted it! My answers are no for the most part, only because I just changed churches, so I haven’t had a chance to really get involved yet. I do think that this body of believers is open to people getting involved, and so I do believe that there will be a willingness for me to use my giftings and feel like I’m contributing to the part of the Body that I gather with on a regular basis.
I do think, as the whole Body of Christ, that there is going to be a shift happening, and is beginning to happen, where the “Rock Star” leadership become less important and the “layman” churchgoers become more important to the function of the body as a whole. We need to see each other as valuable to the Kingdom, and not pin our faith and hopes and desires on some person (other than Jesus) who we think has it all together, because they don’t have anything more than we have anyway.
“One of the biggest lies told, and re-told by the Church is that in order to serve, individuals must be special in some way. We are told we need a seminary degree, or a counseling degree, or 18 years of experience, or a spouse, or any other number of prerequisites.
We are made to feel inadequate or inferior. We are often told that unless we are preaching from the pulpit, leading worship, or heading up a ministry, we have very little to offer.
Many churches are super-star factories, where people file in just to catch a glimpse of the rock star pastor or worship leader on stage. They then get back in their cars, drive home, and call it a day. This is not church.
More than that, this is not who or what God had in mind for each individual believer. Every one of us has a purpose, a plan, a gift, and role in and for the body.”
———-
Even re-reading these words, months later, they still make my spirit smile and scream YES!!
I think the misguided pre-requisite that has hurt me the most over the years is that you must be musical to be important in the church. Especially if you are the spouse of the minister. Nice person, willing to help in the background, love the people and the Lord? Any of these is unimportant if only you will sing or play an instrument. And if you can’t, well you’re not really relevant. At all. I’ve been told that to my face. It took me a long time to work through it. It still hurts a bit. I have learned that we must center on the Lord. It’s about Him. And I do love and enjoy the music of the church. And am so grateful for those who are gifted in that area. Of course not all churches are like this. Not at all. Just sharing since you asked . . .
Btw, I’m still waiting for Matt @Church of No People to answer my original questions. I reckon I will be forced to wait a long time.
This is a topic that always generates intense and varied emotions as well as “fixes”. My answers to the previous questions are all No. Previous to the current regime, my answers were Yes.
Consider:
The Pastor can’t find enough people to work.
The People don’t have slots to fill in the Church building.
Now Consider:
Although churches are run like companies, they are not. They do not have HRs, or any of the departments to draw, quailfy, and hire or fire people. The Leader may be the Pastor, Shepherd, CEO, etc., but he or she does not employ. If you are part of a Church, find out how they want to draw and keep people and create your own “opening” and begin discipling. You will have a family inside the family, participate in the Main services, where possible and enjoy God’s Word.
Thank you.