Members gifts developed v. Members do no more than sit in a pew

The priesthood of all believers is a New Testament concept that is rarely emphasized by those whose paycheck and social status depends on unbiblical perceptions. These are usually the ones who are most aggressively opposed to the spiritual revolution.

We are calling religious leaders to account for consuming people’s focus, efforts, and resources with the traditions of men. Are they spending your money, time, and energy to build their organization? Do you really want your resources squandered building the legacy of a man or a sect?

Organized religion fails to help people develop their gifts and become godly leaders because if it did it would go out of business. Instead, they want you to build their organization. But the result of this blatant self-inerest is a widespread shortage of ‘ministers’ in every so-called Christian denomination.

There is a spiritual revolution underway because many people want to make a difference, but are ill-prepared because of the pervading leave-it-to-the-experts mentality. This mentality impacts the whole society in a lot of negative ways, with families probably hurt the most.

If you’re new to this discussion, we’re talking about dropping extra-Biblical baggage in order to be more effective and enjoy God’s best. We are not advocating keeping some perfect pattern as a way to earn our way to heaven, nor are we saying that traditions are an automatic condemnation.

We encourage individuals and families to take responsibility for their spiritual growth rather than depending on ‘professionals’. We help volunteers develop their gifts to lead a highly relational home church where they help themselves and others to grow spiritually and stay engaged and involved in meaningful work.

The priesthood of all believers is a New Testament concept found in 1 Peter 2:4-10, where we are called a holy and royal priesthood. A couple of chapters later Peter tells us:

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:10-11)

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.” (Eph 4:7-8)

Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly. (Rom 12:6) Read the whole chapter (Romans 12) for help discovering your gift.

Christ gave each member of the body a special gift of grace, and each one is exhorted to put it to work as a good steward. How can we do that if our Christianity consists of sitting in a pew listening to someone entertain us or tell us what to think?

Unfortunately, this is another casualty of the broken system so many know as church. People fled to America for religious freedom. All the denominations followed. After several hundred years and the addition of many more sects, they all look pretty much the same.

The typical churchgoer might report, “They pretend to preach the truth and we pretend to listen.” It’s a ridiculous charade.

Here’s how The Good Story describes first century Christianity: Day by day, from house to house, they met for fellowship, prayer, studying the word of God, and on the first day of the week they gathered to eat the Lord’s Supper. This was like a family get-together in someone’s home to enjoy a love feast, and each had a psalm, a teaching, an exhortation.

What’s your gift? Wouldn’t it be nice to get into an environment where it can best be developed?

Next up: Mutual edification v. Clergy/laity >>>