TAKE LETTERS IN BLUE WITH A GRAIN OF SALT –  THEY ARE MY WORDS, NOT JESUS’  😀  smiling at you

TO ACCOMPLISH THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH  we must have structure.  So what are the Biblical job descriptions?  Eph. 4:11-12  “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ;”  We know the pastor; he’s the guy who holds this thing together.  He is also the only teacher/preacher most church attendees have.  Some denominations address certain personnel as apostles and/or prophets; often they serve as administrators. A few evangelists still evangelize.  Remember revival days! And camp-meetings!  A lot of evangelists were camp-meeting preachers. They said what needed to be said!  Lukewarm Christians liked to watch others have their toes stomped.  And if their own toes were bruised it wasn’t too bad if it was done by someone who went on his way instead of staying around to demand accountability!  Toe tromping sometimes reached the heart, and a broken and contrite heart is loved by the Lord so there were some positive results!  Not much soul searching and heart rending takes place without a Jeremiah.  Wow, what a man.  Delivering the word of the Lord even though he was told upfront that he and his message would be rejected!

THE WORK OF DEACONS is also instituted in Acts 6.  The office of elders is referred to in I Timothy 5:17.  Elders preach, teach, and pray for the sick (James 5:14); deacons are to take care of responsibilities other than prayer and preaching (Acts 6:4).  Deacons may be qualified to teach and preach also, as was the evangelist, Phillip, in Acts 8.

AND IN THE CHURCH GOD has appointed…apostles…prophets…teachers…workers of miracles…those having gifts of healing…helpers…administrators…those speaking in different kinds of tongues (I Cor 12:27-28).

HELPERS!  Ushers, janitors,  counselors, givers, nursery workers, cooks, hostesses, trip organizers, seamstresses, carpenters, parking lot attendants, coffee makers, clerks, A/V personnel!  Those, along with a host of other busy and important people, find themselves in Romans 12:6-8:  prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, contributing, leading, and showing mercy. I guess it was pretty smart in the first century AD for Paul to throw in that word, helpers.  If he had said chauffeurs and light bulb changers, somebody would have thought he was talking through his turban. Then again, Paul probably didn’t wear a turban, hat, beanie, or kippah.  See I Cor. 11:4 & 7.

ISN’T IT STRANGE that none of these categories include the artsy, talented kinds of ministries?

Artists, singers, writers, dancers, tambourine players?  Maybe they are helps.  I like them.  They inspire me.  They stir up the “spirit” in me.  They help me meditate on the Lord.  That often leads to worship.  Nothing said in the NT about leading people to worship.  That is such a private thing to do.  Maybe it is not intended that people be led to worship.  Maybe preachers/evangelists/prophets/apostles/teachers just lead to repentance.  Repentance leads to thankfulness.  Thankfulness leads to worship. Here I am theorizing again!  I got this way when worship leaders used to tell me to worship in my prayer language; I knew what I needed to a good dose of repentance!  Most often I still have to go the repentance route!  Anybody understand what I mean?

EZEKIEL MUST HAVE BEEN an “artsy, talented” kind of man.  What effect did it have?  God said in Ezek. 33:31-32 NIV, My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice.  With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain.  Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.”  So much for beauty, talent, and excellence affecting change!  Wonderful bait, but it doesn’t catch much.  Sometimes I wonder if only a broken heart can break a heart.  Like a visual image of Jesus’ bloody wounded back and the cry of his broken heart, “Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem!  How oft I would have drawn you as a hen draws her chicks.”  That breaks mine.

OFFERINGS FIT FOR THE KING are more apt to be honed out on a jailhouse floor like the songs from suffering Paul and Silas than from the grandest arias of the best symphonies’ finest operas.   But, Lord, forgive me, I still want the best from the most beautiful, the most talented.  I’ll pretend those offerings are fit for the King.  Let’s go hear Ezekiel sing his pretty love songs with the instrument he plays so well.  We won’t have to change our ways  – just listen and enjoy.