Archive for August, 2008
What are the specific spirtual leadership Roles, God has put in place as part of His plan for His church?
As I mentioned previously, I do not like the word leader because it is not found in the bible. Modern influence has shaped leadership from the secular and not spirtual point of view. I prefer the word steward. (Read Stewards Vs Leaders esp Part 2)
Let’s first distinguish between roles and talents/gifts/skills. Just because I can cook does not make me a cook(role). Just because I can apply First Aid does not make me a nurse(role). Some of us have taken care of young children. Maids babysit our children but they are not the mother(role).
God has in place specific spiritual roles to develop the church. They are God’s stewards. Generic role of a minister/servant and priests apply to all christians. We are members and brethren as well.
Who has He put in place in Ephesians 4:12 for the purpose of “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” ?
There are only 4 roles. There are 4 “somes” in Ephesians 4:11 And he gave SOME, apostles; and SOME, prophets; and SOME, evangelists; and SOME, pastors and teachers;
1. Some apostles
2. Some prophets
3. Some evangelists
4. Some pastors and teachers
Notice the last one is ” some pastors and teachers” and not ” some pastors (and) SOME teachers” . Shepherds/Elders/Pastors must know how to teach ( 1 Tim.3:2) . (Note: Not all teachers are pastors) Elders must be able to teach otherwise how then can you spiritually ‘feed’ the flock?
(Some thing about grammar: There is a difference between a) A farmer and A carpenter ARE here vs b) A farmer and carpenter IS here. In b) without an article in the second person,the farmer and carpenter is the same person.)
What is interesting is one key role whom we are familiar with in the churches of Christ is missing here. No mention of DEACONS!!!
Deacons’ role is more operational or logistics as in Acts 6. Here is what I mention about roles and talents come in. Of course a deacon can teach if he is capable but an elder for sure must be ” apt to teach”. A deacon cannot replace an elder even if he is talented in teaching.
The word deacon is diakonos which means minister. Sometimes in the English bible, a servant is used but the actual Greek word may be diakonos or doulos. READ http://www.bishanchurch.com/2008/02/06/stewards-vs-leaders-part-2/
So is there such thing as a full time minister permanently station in one congregation for SPIRITUAL purpose as per Eph 4:12?
Let’s first see what each “leadership” role plays.
The prophets spoke on God’s behalf, ” Someone is coming” .
The apostles were ambassadors and witness, ” Someone has come and He is Jesus”
Both prophets and apostles have played their roles. None exists today because ther role have been fulfilled. So the work is now for all of us to spread the good news Salvation has come. He is Jesus. Why we? Because we are all ministers and priests and let’s not forget the Great Commission.
Evangelists are spiritual “entreprenuers” for God. They go into new work , new fields to start congregations. From the biblical examples, he is itinerant. He does not stay permanently in one place. God’s plan is very clever. This helps the word to spread fast. It also helps the local congregation to mature so that they do not have a dependency mentality. An evangelist work and message should instill in the congregation that he is not staying around for long, thus they better learn to grow up and help themselves. In ministering to one another, there will surface men of God who love the flock of Jesus. It is these men in ministering to others, with or without endorsement, are potential elders to ensure the continuation of the congregation as a church of Christ.
So where do full time minister come in?
Firstly there is no such thing as specific biblical role as minister. We are all ministers. If we choose to pay someone to be a minister then I would view him like a church building or building supervisor. That is for expediency with our eyes wide open that it is not scripturally endorsed. The danger is with time, the congregation grows dependant because a seed of an unbiblical pattern has been planted.
As this plant grows, every seed produces its own kind. Fruits will manifest. Even with so called elders appointed, the minister has a strong say. A terrible situation may arise when the elders/pastors/elders submit to an unbiblical role of a full time minister.
The elders may not discipline the Minister “out of respect” and endorse this unbiblical role that grew out of expendiency because the Minister ” has more experience”. In such a situations,the appointed elders were really put in place as the Minister’s ” program managers”.
If we wish to have the minister as a leader, just do it with your eyes wide open. Just as Israel asked for a king which was not God’s plan, they got what they wanted and many spiritual challenges that came as a package deal. If we want a minister as an operational person, just like a secretary or building supervisor, then it reduces the tension wih God’s plan. Even then, do it with your eyes wide open!
A church does not exist merely to do social work or increase numbers. It is a vehicle through which God’s salvation flows to the carnal world. We are not called to solve world’s problem or to teach effectiveness in relationship etc. We are called to be holy. The church is a womb to give birth to disciples.The world has sufficient wisdom on what it takes to be good. Unless revealed, the world does not know what it takes to be Holy, set apart dedicated solely for God’s glory. Unless revelaed those from afar do not know how to come home to their Maker. We are not called to perpetuate a local congregation. We are called to ensure God’s commission is realised. In ensuring this do not be surprise if the local congregation has to die so that the Word does not return void. (Acts 8:1-4) If God did not spare the 7 churches of Asia started with the apostles’ involvement, what makes you so sure your local congregation should perpetuate simply because a Minister has fond memories and traditions with past glory? God has His plan for His Body. He has put in place the need for certain roles to play their part. The evangelist plays a critical role of ensuring continuity in a congregation without elders, to nurture and disciple and wean away any dependency on him except on God and His word. Once faihful men have been entrusted and develop a love for the flock, there will arise men worthy to be shepherds simply because of their love for the flock and not merely desiring the “office”. A true shepherd will love the flock regardless of whether he is appointed as an elder or not.
It is ridiculous to know of hierachy in the churches of Christ eg Senior Minister, Senior Evangelist or Senior Elder. Was Peter a senior apostle compared to junior apostle Paul simply because he came in later?
Why does this idea come from O Senior Slave?
Every seed produces its own kind.
To ensure a full-time Minister, knows his place, we can take a leaf from the apostles who were very conscious that they were doulos(bondslaves). A suggestion is to name the job title as Servant. Senior Servant sounds ridiculous, isn’t it?
Q.What do you work as? Ans. A Servant.
http://www.bishanchurch.com/2008/02/06/stewards-vs-leaders-part-2/
August 28th, 2008
As a christian, what are your views towards having children?
In the National Rally speech, our Prime Minister threw out baby baits to encourage reversing the trend in falling fertility rate in Singapore.
The trend of falling birth rates is often perceived to be high among the English educated yuppies. I am not sure whether it is still true recently. Many young Christian couples delay having children and some do not want any at all.
What does the bible say about chidlren? Should these verses be interpreted from a cultural context?
Psalms 127:3-5
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
1. Children are an heritage of God
2. They are His reward.
Psalms 128:1-4 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.
You who fear the Lord will be blessed. One of the blessings is having children.
Proverbs 17:6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
More blessings in your old age!
Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Sufer little children……..such is the kingdom of God…so are children a curse? troublesome?
An enigmatic verse which I do not the know meaning:
1 Timothy 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
Women will be saved in childbearing. Strange isn’t it?
The issue I want to focus is NOT 1) ability to have children or 2) number of children BUT the unwillingness to have children.
Muslims view children as gifts from God thus however poor they are they still have many children because it is Allah’s gift and Allah will provide. Young modern christian couples reasons for not having children vary from ” they are too troublesome” , ” I want my freedom” to ” I can’t give them the best so it is better not to” to ” …look at other people, look at the poor in the world..”
Who values children more as God’s gifts? Where is God in the response of christians who do not want children?
I repeat the issue is not ability of having children or number of children one should have but the UNWILLINGNESS to have any!
God will provide because our children are a blessings VS I can provide! God’s blessings Vs My freedom?
What is the best you can give another person especially a child? Best education? Best insurance coverage? Best food?
The best you can give a person is YOU , yourself. Yes, you will lose your freedom. It is called sacrifice. Righteousness often require us to give up our rights because of righteousness sake.
Maybe that explains what it means that women will be saved in childbearing. What was the context of the verse?
1 Timothy 2:13-15 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
Let me confess upfront that this is my speculation for you to ponder:
Eve was too focused on herself thus she was deceived. How do you teach someone who is too focused on Self? Looks like God’s way is to provide a child to teach daughters of Eve. God is Himself a parent.
Being saved is when you have a relationship with someone who saves you, protects you, watches over you. Is God trying to teach women who are like Eve to learn to totally dependent on Him through raising children? When you have a relationship with God like your child has with you , maybe then you truly understand what salvation means, O daughters of carnal Eve!
What about women who can’t have children? Maybe we should study the relationship they(husband and/or wife) had with God. Abraham and Sarah, Hannah, Manoah and wife: I suspect they have a saving relationship with God already, even without childbearing.
The verse in Timothy has a strange condition too with regards to ” saved in childbearing”, i.e. if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
August 20th, 2008
We have seen enough of those whom we thought responded a the Call to serve yet got into trouble with the law.
NKF big boss, the catholic priest Kang, Ren Ci monk are recent high profile cases. You do not need to be religious or subscribe to any charitable work to wonder why people like them who responded to a calling ended up in a mess.
Why does a monk, a priest or a pastor wants to stay in a condo ? Why do they want to find ways to make lots of money for themselves especially when they believe in their call to serve with abstinence typifying their noble calling?
One would argue that if their flock can get rich why can’t they? Well, their flock did not enter the order or “sacrifice” themselves to the same cause as these high profile men did. It is not a case ” if you can do it why can’t I?”.
Another argument is that they are all human and we all make mistakes. Yes we are all fallible but does that mean anything goes? What is noble, integrity, proper, even holy(that is our call by Christ) shines brightly because we are human yet we do what it takes to overcome our weakness BECAUSE of our calling and DESPITE our foibles and falilures.
“Rich” is a measure of possession. The richer you are the more you possess something. In the spiritual realm, it is not what you possess but what is the spirit at work as a result of your possession. Your spirit also manifest what you are possessing and is at work in the depth of your character ( your soul?)
What is your spirit as a monk who made a vow of abstinence, still got rich from the support the flock donated to your cause? How does it affect the message of your calling?
Is your behaviour causing others to stumble even when you think you have the Right? The modern world dislike the word righteousness. Every time the word righteousness is mentioned you may be smeared with accusation of SELF-righeouness (which has a totally separate meaning).
Rightousness often requires one to give up one’s rights for righteousness sake. It is called sacrifice.
Maybe some men are not aware when they signed on the dotted line of giving their lives dedicated to a ministry. The constant fear of supporting oneself if the congregation abandons you may be a strong factor that drives such men to distractions.
For many christian churches, a full time minister may view his vocation as a job more than a calling so can he become rich in any way? Can his wife carry designer bags or wear jewels? What about other people in the church? Is they can why can’t I? Of course you can, but what are the implications?
What spirit is at work. Are you drawing attention to yourself? For example, are you name dropping? Are you constantly reminding people where you stay? Hinting that your addres is up market? What is your spirit that is at work? Doesn’t the flock know where to find you? These questions are relevant regardless of what social status you perched on in church or outside. Remember we are all ministers. Biblically speaking there is no such thing as full time paid minister! ( I shall comment more in another article)
I just heard from my non-Christian relative that his new tenant who will rent his huge bungalow with swimming pool is a pastor of a megachurch. Why would a church pay so much rental to house a pastor? a rental of $15-20 K per month. What kind of pastor who claims to shepherd Christ’s flock demands or accept such a package? What message does it convey to this non-christian landlord? A message of Christ crucified or ??? marketing methodology/psychology glorified?
1 Peter 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
Is Peter referring specifically to hair dressing, jewellry and clothings? Is there more to it? Is he being legalistic?
The question of one’s spirit is still the main focus. Regardless of hairstyle, jewellry, clothing and im modern day context designer labels, are you drawing attention to yourself or to Christ?
Same question is pertinent too when one is on the pulpit. Is the pulpit a place to raise your talent, your achievements or Christ cruficied?
August 8th, 2008
