There is a very destructive myth that exists in the church today.
They myth states that the pastor and staff of a church are hired to do the ministry and mission of the church, while everyone else cheers them on and prays for them! This misunderstanding may do more to cripple the mission of the church than just about anything else! In fact, most studies reveal that only about 10% of church members are really involved in any kind of personal ministry or connection to the mission of the church. Part of the reason for this is a misunderstanding of the teaching of the Bible when it comes to God’s calling on our lives.
There is a myth that being “called into ministry” is a second experience that happens to only a few, privileged super Christians.
We believe that God takes the spiritual upper class and entrusts them with the big ministry tasks and everyone else’s job is to show up. . . give a little money. . . come to events and service. . . and help pay the bills.
Although God definitely calls people into specific, vocational ministry, the truth of the matter is the we are all called. The Bible refers to all believers as priests and prophets. (1 Peter 2:9-11, Ephesians 4:11-13) Jesus says to every disciple, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” In fact, in Ephesians, when Paul was talking about this very subject he called the pastors and ministers the “equippers of the SAINTS for the work of the ministry.” We are ALL called to leverage our lives for the spread of the gospel. God didn’t call all of us to be vocational ministers, but he most certainly did place all of us on the front lines of His mission.
What’s your next step in the mission?