Church of God

The term laity is a word derived from laos, a Greek word meaning people. In the biblical sense, it includes all people who believe in and are committed to Jesus as Savior and Lord. The doctrine of the priesthood of all believers is a fundamental belief among our clergy and laity. In recent years this doctrine has been a topic of major importance as we seek to evangelize the world. This belief presents a paradox to all thinking leaders in the Church of God: we acknowledge the “priesthood” but still it is a sacred few who actually do the work of ministry. The laity are needed. The doctrine of the laity is so important, that if adequately understood and properly expressed in the life of God’s people, it could bring about a spiritual awakening that would revolutionize the life and ministry of the church.

Church of God Laity and the Present

The Church of God has been a trendsetter in the arena of lay ministry. Consider the following:

• We are among a handful of denominations that partially fund and staff a full Department of Lay Ministries.
• There is a general acceptance of laity as ministers and sincere attempt to understand the vital role of the laity.
• Many lay people are involved in meaningful ministry in our local churches.

However, there remains a lot of work to do in this area of preparing God’s people for ministry. The words of the late Rev. Richard C. Halverson strike a responsive cord when we consider the plight of the laity. He said, “The church has succeeded in pulling Christian men and women out of the world, out of society, and out of community and civic affairs. It has become a little island of irrelevant piety surrounded by an ocean of secular need.” The present status of our laity seems to be introspective as we tend to look at ministry only within the confines of the church. There are two key areas that are responsible for this situation:

1. Our callingOften, the role of the laity seems to be gauged only by finance and attendance. We serve as council members, trustees, clerks, teachers , advisors and board members. It appears that still only a “sacred few” do the real work of the ministry. The Church of God has wrestled long with the problem of Christian vocation and partnership in ministry. Are laity “called” (the word “calling” comes from the Latin vocatio meaning “vocation”), or are only clergymen? It appears that the laity chose what they are to do, but the clergy are the ones who receive a divine call into ministry. The issue here is not the clergy but clericalism which results in the exclusivism of God’s work. One leading laymen in our church put it this way, “I believe our present status [referring to lay ministry in the Church of God] is considered a “perk” of the church and not a recognized source of ministry. A ‘perk’ is something you can use or take advantage of but it’s not vital.”
2. Our ministryWhen we think of “full time ministers” we tend to think of only those who are ordained as clergy. Ministry is a station for a few rather than the function for all. The concept of “pray, pay and obey” is painfully evident as the primary function of lay people. The laity are valuable because of who they and what they can do. The laity are not used to reach the goal of the church…they are the goal! We must see that
   1. laity can receive a “call from God” in their daily work,
   2. the vocation of lay people is a stewardship opportunity and,
   3. the work of the laity is the will of God in the life of the believer. The secular work of the laity must be viewed as both a “calling” and a “ministry.”

Church of God Laity and the Future

We have to be concerned with the future of our church, the only future which cannot and must not anticipate retirement. To be wedded to today is to be a widower tomorrow. We live a new fast-paced, technological society that calls for dramatic change in thinking and action. The program structure of the our denomination is built on a model that is at least one hundred years old. That is, most our present boards, agencies, commissions, associations and departments arose from our early history. The change that has come has been within the structures, not in new structures. Dramatic change is needed in these areas:

Conclusion

The future awaits us, a future which will not tolerate yesterday’s Church in today’s world, let alone the world of tomorrow. The future is in the hands of the leaders in the Church of God. This is an hour of challenge. And of promise. The choice before the church as we face the future is continue with our present pattern and style of ministry or to allow for a “second reformation” — a reformation of the released power of the laity-God’s people-in the world today. We truly need holy boldness.

By Leonard C. Albert

After Pentecost, Peter was a premier preacher. He preached and 3,000 people got saved in one service. Now that’s preaching! Do you remember Stephen in Acts 7? He was a layman and when he preached, they stoned him! “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:59). Why am I scared? It’s a big world out there and when I realize that God has called me, as a layman, to preach and minister it is frightening. Let’s talk about that call.

We are all called.

All laity are called and this calling includes preaching. Probably the greatest coup d’état that the devil ever pulled upon the church could be titled, “But I’m just a layman.” When we look at the first century church we find that the laity preached. Stephen preached in Acts 7. Acts 8:4 says, “they [the laity] that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” Philip (a layman) in Acts 8:35 ” … opened his mouth, and … preached unto him Jesus.” In the early church everyone was a minister. In just 300 years the church accomplished the most amazing results. The whole Roman Empire was undercut and overthrown by the power of the Gospel of Christ. In fact, the pagan Celsus wrote a book against Christians in the second century and admitted that it was the “wool-workers, cobblers, laundry workers and the most illiterate and bucolic yokels” who carried the gospel. Who was he referring to? The laity! The devil would make us believe that only preachers are called. But I would like to sink a dagger into that lie because our pulpits are everywhere—coffee tables, work tables, gas pumps, office desks. Every Christian occupies some kind of pulpit and preaches some kind of sermon every day. Someone asked one of our laymen if he was called and he replied, “Certainly, I’m an ordained plumber!”

We are ministers.

We are never told that Stephen ever did one thing his position as deacon demanded, but he did extremely well in what his mission demanded. Long before Stephen had a position, he had a mission. In fact, the word “minister” is the translation of the Greek word diakonia, which means “servant.” Thus, a minister can be a deacon who is a servant. Ananias (a layman) was a servant like this. He laid hands on Saul in Acts 9 both healing and commissioning him. Aquila and Priscilla were lay missionaries in Acts 18. The Bible clearly indicates that the work of the church is not solely the responsibility of the pastor—it is for all believers. Originally, the word “minister” was a function of the church. It was a verb—something we did. It was the assignment of all believers and each follower had his own ministry or ministries. Slowly, through the centuries, it has moved from being a function of the church to become a station in the church. Ministry is a function for all, not a station for a few.

We are gifted.

In Acts 6:8 we read, “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.” For many years I have pondered this scripture. What were those “wonders and miracles” that he performed? Here is a layman performing “wonders and miracles.” I have asked God to help me do the same. I believe that every Christian is called of God as a minister and gifted for ministry. Peter says it best in 1 Peter 4:10, “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Stewards of His grace? Have you ever thought of that? Think it through. We (all of God’s people) have received a gift (or gifts) and we are to minister that gift! How do we find our gift? Ask these simple questions:

• What do you see? So many people are waiting for a mystical call from God while all around them work is to be done. If no call seems obvious, then do the obvious! Is there a class with no teacher, a jail with no volunteers a nursing home with no church service? Get busy!
• What do you do? Can you teach, sing, or play a musical instrument? If you are good at it, do it!
• What do you enjoy? There was a time when we thought that if we enjoyed doing something, it was wrong. What you love to do is a clue to your anointing.
• What do you feel? What burdens you? What hurts you when you see it? Help heal those hurts.
• What you do hear? What do others say about you? You can expect affirmation from the body of Christ as to the reality of the gift of God within you.

God has called us to do more than pray, pay and obey. There’s a new reformation coming. It is a second reformation: a reforming of the priesthood of all believers. This second reformation will take place when the ministry is in the hand of all of God’s people. If we understand, accept, and act on the doctrine of the laity, it will bring about a reformation such as the world has not seen since Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the door of the church at Wittenberg. My prayer is that the laity and clergy can become true partners in ministry.