In, Or Out of Church, Genuine Believers Serve God Full-time
The IBRU Centre, in the Guardian Newspapers edition of Sunday June 7 2009, featured articles on the views of prominent Clerics on the lingering issue of Part-time versus Full time service in Church.
After reading carefully the views of the clerics interviewed I wish to summarize here below some of the wrong assumptions both parties have made:
· It is possible to serve God part-time;
· People who have other forms of employment outside the church are not ‘working for God’ or doing ‘God’s work’ on that employment;
· God’s work is only done in the Church and such places where the Bible is being expressly preached;
· Professionals in other fields apart from Theology cannot effectively lead the flock of God in church and they are lay men/women
It is not surprising that there is no single line of scripture that supports these lines of thought since the Professional/Lay segregation is the doctrine of men (Mk7:7)
God is interested in all legitimate works since His Spirit enables all. He is happy when a Pastor teaches Biblical truth; when a Reporter tells the news with sound integrity; when a Judge gives justice; when a Policeman ensures the security and safety of lives and properties; when a Governor governs his people well; and when a housewife imbibes the virtues of the virtuous woman (Prov 31:10-31) in running her house.
For true believers, everyplace is a holy ground since we carry the Spirit of God in us. That also implies that whatever we do in speech and action, must be done in the name of Christ (Col 3:17). Every lawful work is holy work. When Christ gave the marching orders in Mt 28:19-20, he did not exclude the work places, but he said ‘Go ye into the world’. I believe that where believers earn their daily bread are mission grounds where they are expected to be light of the world, telling and acting out the gospel message, and salt of the earth, giving meaning to this worldly confusion. Did Jesus the Carpenter do a secular work?
The reality is that we all have different callings and different ministries. Some have been called to serve 24-7 in the churches while some have additional assignments in the fields of work. All are called and gifted by the same Spirit and are all going to give account of their stewardship. No work is secular per se. In the construction of the tent of meeting in the wilderness, God chose Bezaleel and Oholiab and taught them how to do the work as well as teach others (Ex 31:2-6). Their work was no less spiritual than that of Aaron who burnt incense at the altar. Again, in the parable of the vineyard workers, it was the privilege to serve in the vineyard of the Master that became the effective reward of the laborers and not the number of hours. The vineyard of the Master covers the whole Earth since the ‘Earth is the Lord’s’ (Ps 24:1) Daniel, Nehemiah, and Mordecai were civil servants who worked effectively for the advancement of the kingdom of God even on the Pagan soil of Babylon.
Paul the Apostle and tent-maker is well known. Yet, the Bible shows that Paul’s, by the grace of God, was the most outstanding ministry. These points should lay to rest the argument that ‘Part-time’ ministers are less effective, though in actual sense, I posit that there is no ‘part-time’ servant of God. We all are called to serve God 24-7. Rom 12:1 says in effect to: ‘Offer your whole life as a living sacrifice to God’ (Emphasis mine)
No matter who signs the salary cheque or gives the instructions, the Boss is Jesus, the giver of all good and perfect gifts and in whom all things are held together. Where and how you fulfill the call of God on your life is determined largely on the circumstances surrounding your call. Read Paul’s instructions to the Corinthian believers: “Each of you should go on living according to the Lord’s gift to you, and as you were when God called you. This is the rule I teach in all churches. 1Cor 7:17
The Clergy/Laity segregation is a hindrance and not Biblical. We cannot witness to the ‘fringes of the earth’ as instructed in Acts 1:8 if we all shy away from the workplaces where an average person spends more than half his lifetime, some of whom may never attend a church.
We speak of what we have seen and heard (1Jn1:3a). By the grace of God, ECWA Good News Church, Bassa, the local assembly of ECWA where I worship is six years now, waxing stronger everyday in number and in grace but without the ‘so called full-timers’ since inception. All Ministers and Elders, like Paul, have other vocations outside the church building and we lack nothing because the Lord is our Shepherd. (Ps 23:1)
For more about the empowerment of the Laity, visit www.thehighcalling.org

