Ministry or Social Club?
When ye come together to eat, tarry one for another ...
that ye come not together unto condemnation. 1 Cor. 11:33-34
So, what religion does your church like to condemn? Or, who is on your group's personal hit list? Maybe your family has roasted preacher for lunch? Though, surely, most are eager to gather information about one caught or thought to be in sin.
Some online groups determine those who share writings, but don't share their life's details, are less valuable to that group. Others conclude that those who don't write are the ones less valuable. Members may not all be likewise gifted ~ but multiply the group's seed as they utilize it to minister to more. So, while your hands may have done the work, others serve as your feet.
Still yet, some may enjoy all your e-mail shares but think you're anywhere from impersonal to a SPAMMER, and your ministry inferior, if you don't spend additional hours in the chat rooms. Yes, we all know that fellowship can be great! Though, Jesus' calling wasn't to be served. So, who are we to say any different, when He calls another likewise?
Besides, I thought we stopped telling people their service is inferior, when we came to the net, and God says the part we have to offer is accepted with Him.
One feels even less welcomed when a group requires participation in specified, more active, ways than others either have time or skill for. Then, when demand is given to otherwise leave, all the while they're praying you might find a place in your heart for them, 'no room in the inn' comes to mind.
Churches often determine poets are not needed among their already exciting ministries. So, God must be calling them to use that ministry elsewhere, right? Well, it is true that, when man closes a door, God opens more. But, God sent that poem for someone within your church first ... and you deny Him? Just because you have no need does not mean that another member doesn't.
Then there are those so skilled in knowledge that the layperson has no idea what they're saying, while the skilled refer to feeding the layperson as 'whitewashing'. Perhaps it was forgotten that Paul met people where they were, not where others thought they should be, and he referred to his teaching as 'milk' ... and to everything there is a purpose.
But, the really big blow to the soul is when one gets judged for things others only imagined.
Whether good seed or bad, it multiplies and, once judging begins, we all end up angry. And, for all else that could possibly be said, I taught you better than that.
And though the list could keep going, the point is ...
1.) stop mocking the cross.
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 2 Cor. 5:14-15
2.) stop calling God a liar.
Judge nothing before the time (until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts) and then shall every man have praise of God. 1 Cor. 4:5
Bottom line: If your ministry's yoke is less than equality, you're out of line. And, when you take it upon yourself to buffet another, you're only serving as an accuser, a thorn; a messenger of Satan.
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal ... as God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
(How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? John 5:44)
Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are
necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked. 1 Cor. 12:4-7, 18, 22-24
When you finally let the hands be the hands and the feet be the feet, and count every member (the giver and the receiver) as equally valuable (even in their unseen ministry), only then is your church, group, or ministry serving as the body of Christ. 1 Cor. 12:27 (par.) Otherwise, you're just another social club.
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more. Hebrews 12:12-19