WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF GOD'S MINISTRY?
by Jamie McNab
Most of us with a
Those of us who came from any sort
of religious background would no doubt be familiar with ministers or priests
from our earlier church affiliations.
Even those with little prior religious contact would take it for granted
that "churches have ministers".
In these latter days at the end of
the end-time, however, the place and
purpose of "the ministry" is under fire. Some are asking, "WHY DO WE NEED
ministers?” Some say we have now grown
past the point where ministers are necessary -- that we are now spiritually
mature "and have need of nothing".
Ministers, some tell us, are part of an evil hierarchy, foisted by Satan on the church, and from which we
have now been set free.
What is the TRUTH?
The Recent History of the
Probably a large number of us can
remember our days in the Worldwide Church of God when Mr Armstrong was
alive.
The Church was a comparatively
large organisation (at least by comparison to what we see today in the Churches
of God!). Church attendance was well
over 100,000, and the Church was represented in scores of countries
worldwide. The World Tomorrow broadcast
aired on 400 TV stations a week. Over
8,000,000 Plain Truth magazines were
sent out a month. Tithes and offerings
were in excess of $200 million a year.
It is no surprise that such a
large broadcasting and publishing operation developed an administrative
structure similar at times to a business corporation. On a purely
physical level, the Work was operated as a corporation -- with premises,
accounting, payroll, pensions, auditing, staffing, cash-flow, budgeting,
computer departments, and scores of other "business departments".
We always understood, however,
that although the Church operated at one level as a physical organisation or
corporation, it was in reality a spiritual
organism -- the very Body of Jesus Christ.
We accepted Mr Armstrong as God's
end-time apostle, who could make "binding and loosing" decisions,
albeit only in line with Scripture. "Under" Mr Armstrong, we acknowledged
a number of evangelists, then pastor-rank ministers, and so on "down"
to our local ministers.
We were used to a formal, and very
structured, church administration.
Probably few of us had any
particular objections at the time to "the ministry", as such.
Where specific problems existed, we probably accepted that it was just
the carnal nature of the individuals concerned which was at fault -- or perhaps
some personality clash -- or some misunderstanding, that hopefully time and
patience would heal.
Since Mr Armstrong died, however,
there have been major changes -- as
we are all too painfully aware.
Over several years, Mr Armstrong's
successors gradually did away with God's revealed
truth -- and old-lies, masquerading as "new truth", were
presented to God's people. We now
understand the WCG to be the "synagogue of Satan".
The
Ministers Tested
Many members have come to realise
that, too often, deception was preached to them from the pulpit. Many of our former ministers remain in the
WCG, teaching the Trinity, Sunday-worship, and other Protestant doctrines. Cynically, we might wonder to what extent
these men may have compromised with God's Word to protect their salaries. Perhaps we have concluded that there was a
degree of hypocrisy at times from those who were "over us".
Among the organisations that have
come out of the WCG, there have been some very unseemly episodes -- and those
"in high office" have on occasions given every appearance of bringing
the name of God's Church into disrepute.
We have seen some very public battles between fellow ministers and
evangelists as, for example, United and Global and Living have fought and, at
times, almost slandered each other over the past couple of years. Divisions in these organisations have split
up brethren who have previously fellowshipped together for decades. Some have been so affected by the carnal
bickering and arguing among their leaders that they have simply given up on
religion, and quietly slipped back into the world.
To many people, much of the blame
rests with the ministry. The shepherds have not fed or protected the
flock.
God's Word warns of problems in
the ministry. Prophecies such as Ezek
34:2 come to mind, "Son of man, prophesy AGAINST THE SHEPHERDS of
Or we read in Jer 23:1-2, "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and
SCATTER the sheep of My pasture! says the Lord ... You have scattered My flock, DRIVEN them away,
and have not attended to them. Behold I
will attend to you for the evil of
your doings...”
In looking at the situation we are
now in, some have concluded that the ministry, as a whole, is not necessary. Their view
is that we can all be teachers -- we
can "go it on our own" -- we do not need anyone over us. Some, who have
suffered abuse from a minister somewhere in the past, feel that "no
so-called minister is going to tell ME what to do again". They see any minister as representing a
purely carnal form of hierarchy, and as such, to be rejected.
But before we decide to
"throw the baby out with the bathwater", let us review what the Bible
has to say about the ministry -- and its real purpose. Let's make sure we know WHY God gave us a
ministry, and what the ministers' responsibilities are -- as well as what their responsibilities are not!
Take Care of the Church
In 1 Tim 3:1-5 we read, "This
is a faithful saying: if a man desires the position of a bishop (or overseer), he desires a good work. A bishop then MUST BE blameless, the husband
of one wife, temperate, sober-minded ... one who rules his own house well ...
for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he TAKE CARE of
the Church of God".
The term "bishop" has a
very religious connotation to us today, perhaps making us think of some
purple-robed senior priest in the Roman Catholic church. The Greek term, however, simply means an overseer -- that is, one who "sees
over" or "watches over".
But note that this individual
clearly does have a RESPONSIBILITY. God
requires him to be an individual of character and integrity, because he is responsible for taking care
of the local Church. And there clearly
are specific individuals who have
this responsibility
-- and who must be QUALIFIED.
He is not there to RULE over, or dictate to, the brethren. It does mention that he is to rule his family well, but
"rule" here is from the Greek proistemi
which means: be set over, preside, superintend, care for. The RSV translates as "he must manage his own household
well". A good husband and father
does not domineer and dictate to his family -- but he is responsible to look
after them, and TAKE CARE OF THEIR NEEDS.
Likewise with a bishop, overseer, elder or minister! He must take care of the needs of the flock
of God. Note the condemnation we read
earlier in Jer 23:2 of the shepherds who have "driven them away, and NOT
ATTENDED to them" -- not attended to the needs of God's people -- not taken care of them.
Shepherd and Protect the Church
In Acts
We see here again that there are
certain, specific individuals who are appointed as overseers -- who are to take heed to the flock. Paul warns that some will rise up speaking
"perverse things to draw away disciples" -- the clear implication is
that these elders should take heed to speak
only true things, keeping the flock on the true path.
We are told that their God-given
Holy Spirit-ordained purpose is to "shepherd
the
Note how Paul says that the
overseers -- elders -- should feed and nourish the flock AND take heed of the
danger from savage wolves who would seek to destroy the flock by introducing
perverse -- deceptive and corrupt -- teachings.
The elders were to protect the flock by ensuring that THE TRUTH
was preserved and taught.
Be Examples
These points are re-emphasised in
1 Pet 5:1-4, "The ELDERS who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow
elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the
glory that will be revealed: SHEPHERD THE FLOCK OF GOD which is among you,
serving as overseers, not by
constraint but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted
to you, but BEING EXAMPLES to the flock ..."
Again we see the elders described
as overseers -- those who "see
over" or "watch over" the flock which has been entrusted to them. They are to
shepherd the flock of God -- not to dominate and "LORD IT" over the brethren -- but to tend and
care for them. Not to give orders and
demand unquestioning obedience -- but to set a right example, that others can imitate. And to do it voluntarily, happily, as a service -- not for any financial
rewards or carnal gain (filthy lucre
in KJV!)
The Amplified translates this
verse as, "I warn and counsel the elders among you (the pastors and
spiritual guides of the church) ... tend (nurture,
guard, guide and fold) the flock of God that is [your responsibility], not by
coercion or constraint, but willingly; not dishonourably motivated by the
advantages and profits [belonging to the office], but eagerly and cheerfully; not domineering [as arrogant,
dictatorial, and overbearing persons] over those in your charge, but being
examples (patterns and models of Christian living) to the flock ...".
Labouring in the Word
The scriptures continue to show
precisely HOW the elders are to tend
and care for the flock that has been
entrusted to them.
1 Tim 5:17, “Let the elders who
rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in THE WORD and
DOCTRINE".
As shown previously, the word
"rule" here is proistemi which
means "set over, superintend, preside, care for". This is not describing someone who
dogmatically orders people around to carry out his bidding!
But note the reference here to labouring -- working at -- the
preaching of God's word.
The Amplified version gives,
"Let the elders who perform the duties of their office well be considered
doubly worthy of honour [and adequate financial support], especially those who
labour faithfully in PREACHING AND
TEACHING".
In 2 Tim
A major part of the service
rendered to God's people is the work of preaching
and teaching THE WORD -- helping us be better prepared to fulfil God's
purpose for us. Paul instructed Timothy
to "Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all
longsuffering and teaching. For the time
will come when they will not endure sound doctrine ...” 2 Tim 4:2.
In these days when there is great
confusion and deception in our midst, we need elders who are faithful men, and who can teach and
preach sound doctrine.
Titus 1:5-7,9 states, "For
this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that
are lacking, and appoint elders in
every city as I commanded you -- if a man is blameless, the husband of one
wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or
insubordination. For a bishop (overseer) must be blameless, as a
steward of God ... holding fast the
faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by SOUND
DOCTRINE, both to exhort and convict those who contradict".
The NIV translates the latter part
of this passage as, "Since an overseer
is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless ...he must hold firmly to the trustworthy message
as it has been taught, so that he can encourage
others by SOUND DOCTRINE and refute those who oppose it".
Ministry to be Appreciated
The scriptures say nothing about resisting and rejecting the true
ministers of God -- instead we are to acknowledge and appreciate the service
they render to us. 1 Thess
These men are said to be
"over us" in the Lord. This
once again is the Greek word proistemi,
meaning "to be set over, preside, superintend, care for".
To "admonish" is: to put into the mind, to INSTRUCT, to
warn. The Amplified has "...who
warn and kindly reprove and exhort you".
And note, that while the elders
have a responsibility to labour and instruct, the BRETHREN have a responsibility to "hold them in
very high and most affectionate esteem in appreciation of their work",
verse 13, Amplified.
One of the key scriptures regarding our relationship to the ministry is Heb
13:17 which reads, "Obey those who rule over you, and BE SUBMISSIVE, for
they watch out for your souls, as
those who must give account. Let
them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for
you".
Some ministers have sought to use
this scripture as a club over the head of the brethren -- "Look, I am a
minister over you, and you must OBEY
and submit to me -- now, do as you're told"! Any resistance is likely to be shouted down
as "rebellion against God's government"!
Mr Don Roth has explained this
scripture in a number of sermons. The
translations we see in the KJV and NKJV -- about obey and rule over -- owe
much to the prejudices of the translators of 1611. These were men who had grown up with the most
powerful of all hierarchical systems, the Roman Catholic church. They had a vested interest in translating the
Bible in a manner pleasing to King James, who very much wanted divine authority
to rule over and be obeyed!
The instruction is not so much to
"obey", as to be persuaded by
(see Zodhiates). And what would it take
to persuade us? Words and actions!
"Those who rule over
you" is better translated as "those who show you the way".
The instruction to us here is to examine
those who go before us -- who show us the way -- checking them out in terms of
their words AND their behaviour and conduct.
And IF they demonstrate that they are truly honouring their God-given
role, we are told to BE SUBMISSIVE -- not to fuss and argue and fight, but to
co-operate voluntarily -- to yield -- to assist, for the sake of unity, and so that we can actually achieve and accomplish. This is not just blindly "following the
leader"!
And note that these men who
"go before" are said to watch over the flock -- that is they
are overseers -- who will one day be
responsible to give an account to Jesus
Christ for how they have served HIS flock.
And note further that there are
certain, specific individuals who have been given this responsibility by Jesus
Christ Himself, and are answerable directly
to Him.
Building Up the Church
One more Scripture we could look
at is Eph 4:11-13, "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some
prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” -- only some are called to fulfil these
functions -- and WHY? -- "for the equipping
of the saints for the work of ministry, for the EDIFYING (building up) of
the body of Christ" -- and has this time now past? -- are we now mature
enough to do without these Christ-appointed functions? -- "TILL we all come to the unity of the faith and
the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the
stature of the fullness of Christ" -- and looking around the Churches of
God we clearly haven't got to this level yet!
What will be the result of the
service of these men of God among the brethren? "That we should no longer
be children, tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men ... but, speaking
the truth in love, may GROW UP in all things into Him who is the Head --
Christ", vs 14-15.
These faithful men, by their
labour among us, teaching us to hold fast
and instructing us in SOUND DOCTRINE, help us to develop the very character
of Jesus Christ -- growing up, and maturing spiritually -- till we reach the
"measure of the stature and fullness" of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Hopefully, we can see the
following points brought out in the Scriptures:
·
God has placed overseers or elders in the church
·
such men must be qualified
·
the elders are to take care of the church
·
the elders are to shepherd and protect the flock
·
the elders are to be examples of Christian living
·
the elders are to labour in the word and sound doctrine
·
the elders are to hold fast to the truths they have
received
·
the elders are to be
respected and appreciated for the work they do
·
the elders are to build up the Body of Christ
·
the elders are to one day give an account of their service to
Jesus Christ
If there is one word that should
describe the ministry of God it is the word SERVICE -- the elders are appointed
in the church to serve -- to give of
their time, resources, energy, wisdom, whatever gifts they have -- to help the men and women of God to
fully develop the holy, righteous perfect character of Jesus Christ. They cannot do it for us -- we all have
individual free moral agency, and
must make our OWN DECISIONS -- but the ministers are there to assist, to help,
to encourage, to be an example, in whatever way they can.
As Mr Mortensen said in a sermon
earlier this year on God's Ministry,
the true ministers of God are appointed to a "level of servitude and slavery to the people of God. You can't resign ... you can't retire ...
even if you want to!”
In Eph 4:8,11 we read that it was
Jesus Christ Himself who "gave
GIFTS to men ... and He Himself gave some
to be apostles ... prophets ... evangelists ... pastors and teachers, for the
equipping of the saints". The true
ministers of God are a gift from
Christ to the church. Let's deeply
respect and appreciate Christ's special gift!