Mule or Tractor

Congregations in the United States gather in meetings and form their leadership under the influence of a pattern that was imposed on the Church by Constantine and the culture of Greek and Roman temples and priests. One person is the priest, who is responsible for all the spiritual work and leadership. In the styles of government in which a board of deacons or a board of presbyters or a board of directors do the leading, the priest (the pastor, the minister) does the spiritual work. None of this process is looking for gifts of the Holy Spirit, which He gives to each believer, setting them in the ekklesia in a way that He sees brings value and work (1 Corinthians 12:18).

Paul gave us a glimpse of a meeting in a home in Corinth. There was a meal, there was communion, there was leadership of the meeting that was offered by anyone present. Work was developed in communities under the leadership of elders, whose gifts differed, and therefore, manifested Jesus in every emphasis on every need. If this was normal then, why would we not be desperate to return to that place of multiplied strength and influence by shaking off the choking fist of human strength that limits what is possible to the point of reducing it to zero in some cases?

If we did decide to revert the emphasis from running programs to equipping saints, how could we start? If you found out that your grandfather had thrown away the tractor and purchased a mule, would you try to make the mule into a tractor, or just start over with a new piece of farm equipment? Some people are happy with the current “mule.” Should they just be left to enjoy that without bothering them with the details of how wonders-full things used to be when, as Luke described in Acts 8, “…those who were scattered went on their way proclaiming the message of good news.”?

Whichever side you choose in this perspective conflict, please pray that Jesus would cause His body, His ekklesia, to be effective at what He died to give her to do in the earth. If the assignment is big, though, please consider that it may take more than the 4 or 5 percent of the membership of the church that some people call the “clergy” to get it done. It may take every believer having a spiritual gift and an important part to play. Pray.