Being a minister

As one who has grown up attending church, I have often identified a specific church with the senior pastor who leads it. Adrian Rogers was the face of Belleview in Memphis and Thomas Road was synonymous with Jerry Fallwell. The same can be said of churches today, with often the first question being asked of attendees being, "Isn't that Pastor so-and-so's church?"

While these associations may not be evidence of any kind of pastor worship (usually), to limit the identity of any church with just it's pastor is shortsighted at best. This type of qualifying leads to the assignment of the pastor as the primary minister while the congregation fills the pews simply to be given their weekly dose of spiritual spoon feeding. "But isn't that what we pay the pastor to do? It's his job to lead in evangelism and do all of the work of the church, isn't it?"

No, it isn't.

You will be hard pressed to find anywhere in Scripture where the job description for the lead pastor is described as a one man show. What does that say about us, the body of Christ? What is our role?

Simply stated, every member is a minister. The Great Commission and the work of the kingdom applies to every believer. For those that assume that these responsibilities belong to the pastor and not to them would suggest that they read their Bibles a little more carefully and regularly.

Let's go a step further. Ministry itself is not confined to just what goes on in the church. From the moment your eyes open in the morning, you are "in ministry." Whether you sell cars, go to school, stay at home, drive a truck, or work in an office, that is your ministry. No longer should you invite lost friends or co-workers to church just so that they can hear the gospel. You share it with them first.

Being a minister is not a job title that only hired church staff wear. It is the role that every man, woman, and child shares in the body of Christ.