Employment Or Empowerment?

Awhile back my pastor made a statement in one of his sermons: “I may be called to be a pastor, but you are all called to be ministers of Jesus Christ.”  It’s a call to reach outside the doors of the church, and present the Gospel in word and deed to those in need.  It’s a call to motivate the church, and I don’t mean just my home church, but the whole body of Christ to do more.

But it’s not an easy task.  Few are willing to serve in their church, and those who already serve feel like they’re already doing too much (it’s true in most cases).  They certainly couldn’t add anything outside of church too.  Those who refuse to serve in the church usually don’t have the heart to serve outside it either.  

Honestly though, I think we’re looking at the problem all wrong.  We’re looking for workers when we ought to be looking for family.

Workers can work hard or be lazy dependent on personality.  The family of God is invested in His kingdom.  They don’t work for accolades, they don’t work in locations, and they don’t even work for others; they work for their Father and His good pleasure.

The Bible says, “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Romans 8:14) and “to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)

Children of God are led by the Spirit to do the will of God.  I think our goal in churches ought not to be creating new programs or projects that require workers rather it ought to be always pushing, pulling, dragging others to God so that they might be empowered by Him to be a child of God.  When God is their focus, the Spirit will lead them in the work they ought to do and empower them to do it.  Then we ought to encourage them, support them, and pray for them in that work, just as they should do the same for their brothers and sisters.

Let’s empower believers rather than employ them.