Ministry for Hire

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV)

I recently saw a job posting for a senior pastor position.  One of the main responsibilities was this: “Ensuring pastoral care needs within the church body are met and demonstrating a love and interest in people through actions and consistent follow-up with those in need.”   This sounds like the typical expectation for a pastor by a congregation.  We hire you to do the work.

In my years of ministry, I have spoken at many churches and often it has been when the pastor has been away.  It doesn’t take long to learn how dependent a church is on their pastor.  I remember one time, soon after I arrived at a church to speak, the elders gathering around me nervously asking if I would be willing to also lead the prayer time, give the Communion meditation, and pray after the offering was received.  The responsibility was theirs, but they were eager to pass it on to someone else.  

This is an extreme example, but the thinking behind it is all too typical of how churches view the role of the pastor.  He is hired to do the bulk of the ministry—preaching, teaching, evangelism, visiting and comforting the sick, and increasing the attendance.  Job descriptions like the one I saw are the rule rather than the exception.  And it is one of the main reasons so many churches are ineffective in having a true impact on their members and on the communities in which they are located.  Instead of pastors being hired to train believers for ministry, they are hired to do the ministry.

The effect of this is to deprive believers of the opportunity to mature in their faith.  For Paul is very clear that the equipping of the saints for ministry directly leads to spiritual maturity and unity.  The idea that church leaders are to do all of the ministry is very foreign to the New Testament Church.  Instead, the expectation is that all believers are to be involved in ministering to others.  There are no spectators cheering on their team.  Everyone is on the field.  

And, of course, this makes perfect sense.  Parents train up their children by giving them increasing responsibilities as they mature.  A child for whom the parents do everything will likely become a very immature and ineffective adult.  It the same for the church.  If we are to become spiritually mature and effective in the work of the Lord, then we need to be properly equipped.  That is the role of our pastors and other spiritual leaders.  

Think about this: As a parent, would you allow your child to expect you to do everything for them?  If not, then why is it acceptable for spiritual children to expect those in authority over them to do all the work of ministry while they happily cheer them on?  

Today, recognize ministry is not to be hired out, but to be done by all according to the gifts they have been given.  The role of your pastor is to equip you, not do everything for you.  The sooner we all learn that, the more effective we will be as God’s servants.  

© Jim Musser 2014