The Myth of Full-Time Ministry

Have you ever felt just a little disappointed that God failed to call you to serve Him as a missionary, pastor, or pastor's wife?  Have you ever felt like you were inferior to these "chosen" men and women of God.  I confess I have.  These spiritual giants have sometimes made me feel a bit insignificant in the kingdom of God.  Surely they must have special seats in Heaven right next to the throne.

But wait a minute, where is full-time ministry mentioned in the Bible?  Of course some are called to be pastors/elders and others are chosen to be deacons, but what about the rest of us?  Does God view as us as members of a lesser class, the "lay-people," since our salary doesn't come from a church or mission board?  Not at all.

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28

Unfortunately, too many Christians have tried to elevate the status of those who are pastors/elders and missionaries.  I certainly believe men who hold a spiritual leadership position should be respected and their physical needs met through the giving of tithes and offerings by the church body.  But keep in mind that the Bible clearly teaches that we are called to serve the Lord in all that we do.  Yes, Christian plumbers, cops, nurses, stay-at-home moms were all commissioned into full-time service the moment they were converted.   We are called to share the Gospel and to use the spiritual gifts God has blessed us with to benefit our local church body.  There is no secular or sacred in God's kingdom; all we do is service for our King.


I found this paragraph from a Christianity Today article fascinating:

Greek words meaning "layperson" existed at the time the New Testament was written. But the writers chose not to use them. "Laikos," meant of the common people. And "idiotes" meant non-expert. But the New Testament uses neither term to describe believers. Instead, it calls us "laos Theou," the people of God. Every true Christian belongs to the "laos." But as the first century ended, one of the church fathers, Clement of Rome, began dividing the church into classes, calling the non-ministering members "laikos" (laity). Now, some twenty centuries later, the "laity" terms, firmly embedded in our religious language, shape the way we think.

I may not receive a salary from a church or mission board, but I have a Boss who is keeping track of my time sheet.  Right now He is monitoring my activity to make sure I'm truly giving Him my best.  You see, I've been in full-time Christian ministry since I was seven years old.

What about you?  Has God called you to serve Him in some thankless mundane job?  He is not ignoring your service.  He knows your frustrations.  Do not be ashamed of your full-time calling. 

" For he that is least among you all, the same is great." Luke 9:48b

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Hands that Serve our Savior

In the course of your marriage have you ever been tempted to feel just a little sorry for yourself? Have you thought if others truly knew the stress or frustrations you endure with your spouse, how they would surely pity you?  Maybe encourage you to escape so that you could find someone more compatible?  Or perhaps you've considered ending your marriage because expectations weren't met and your relationship has only been fraught with disappointments. 

Would you be willing to marry a quadriplegic spouse and covenant before God to love them in sickness and in health? That's what Ken Tada did when he married Joni Eareckson Tada nearly 30 years ago.   And he has never regretted this decision. This evening I picked up the October issue of Tabletalk Magazine and read an article written by Ken Tada.  This article is entitled "Caregiving: a Cause for Christ."  Here is an excerpt:

"Perhaps . . . the secret to good caregiving [is] a constant awareness of one's desperate need of Jesus Christ and a steady reliance on Him day in and day out, like breathing in and breathing out.  The fact is that when I'm serving Joni, I'm serving Christ, for Colossians 3:23 reminds every caregiver, no matter how difficult or demanding the routines:  "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."  When my focus is on Jesus Christ, caregiving may feel extremely tiring, but the work doesn't have to be tiresome.  It's for Him.  I may get weary, but life doesn't have to be wearisome-again, it's all for Him and His glory." 

Aren't these encouraging words from someone who has every "right" to complain about his lot in life?  I pray that as I have opportunity to minister to others as a caregiver, from my daughter to the elderly, that I will keep this in mind and treat them as I would treat my Savior.  May these hands willingly and tenderly serve my Savior through serving others.  Caregiving is a full-time ministry. 

Ken ends his article with this verse:

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."  Mark 10:45

The Trip to the Psych Ward

Today Abby and I visited the psych ward.  One of my hospice patients, Darrell,*  had been transferred there last week.  Jeff was really wary about me taking Abby into the psych ward.  He had to relay a horrible story about a woman who yanked a baby out of a stroller, slammed him into a rail and tried to yank his arm off.  Thankfully the baby only suffered minor injuries.   I assured Jeff I would wear Abby in her carrier and wouldn't allow patients near her.  

I personally believe you are safest serving God where He has placed you.   If He has called you and your family to go into an inner city amongst drug addicts and street gangs, then you are safest serving Him there rather than holed up in a cabin in Montana.  The God who kept the fire from singeing Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the God who shut the lion's mouths is still our same God today.  Now I do not believe in tempting God and purposely putting ourselves in harm's way just to test His power and our faith.

"And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your  God.'" Luke 4:12

Darrell has been a patient that I've really enjoyed getting to know.  We've visited at length about his military service, his career in the postal service and his love for his wife of 55 years.  I'm only a volunteer so I'm often not privy to medical information, but I surmise he was taken to the psych ward due to severe depression.  His one desire is to return home and his wife is just not able to care for him.  He cannot grasp this.  This one desire consumes him: he just wants to go home to be with the love of his life.  We've spoken about the Lord and I'm not certain what his spiritual condition is, although he considers himself to be a Christian.  I've reminded him that God has prepared a home for Him in heaven and that while he may never permanently return to his earthly home, the heavenly one is much better.  I've prayed with him and read scripture to him and each time I do, it brings him to tears.  He's mentioned that there's no medical cure for a "broken heart."  I try to remind him of the blessings he can be thankful for, but it's quite difficult for me as an untrained professional to deal with someone who is so depressed.  I don't want to say the wrong thing.  I know I can't "fix" him.  Only God can.

In a sermon regarding spiritual depression, John Piper comments: 

"On this side of the cross, we know the greatest ground for our hope: Jesus Christ crucified for our sins and triumphant over death. So the main thing we must learn is to preach the gospel to ourselves:

Listen, self: If God is for you, who can be against you? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for you, how will he not also with him graciously give you all things? Who shall bring any charge against you as God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for you. Who shall separate you from the love of Christ? (Romans 8:31–35 paraphrased)"

So true. God's love for us remains unchanging no matter the circumstances. But this message is difficult to convey to hurting people who are wallowing in self-pity.  

*Name has been changed.

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