Restating Vision for the Church

Last week I shared with you few paragraphs that impacted me in my devotional reading on the purpose for our church – we are the theatre of God’s transforming Grace, empowering us to live right.  The whole universe is watching to see the evidence that what Christ died for is effective in lives of His followers, that the Love of God poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit is shining gloriously in our lives, caring for one another, being tender toward each other in this Family we call church.

Over the past 9 years I had communicated the Vision of restoring the Priesthood of ALL believers, envisioning the Church where every believer is a minister, where every believer serves others.  We all have received spiritual gifts at our baptism, and joining the Body of Christ, the church, we had received specific functions. It is only right for us to exercise our God-given gifts, ministering each one according to our calling. 

By now not only our church, but churches around us, fellow Adventist believers are picking up this important Vision – every believer a minister.  Yet, I invite you to consider the Big Picture.  Apostle Paul right after writing to Corinthians (1^st letter, chapter 12) about spiritual gifts and the teamwork of members (read body parts) within the Body, tells that there is a way to be priesthood of all believers, there is a way to practice our gifts – a better way.  1^st Corinthians 12:31 after restating the Vision in words “strive for the greater gifts” Paul invites believers to follow him: “I will show you a still more excellent way,” proceeding to tell them about Love.

Chapter 13 of 1^st letter to Corinthians is known world around as the “love chapter” and it is read frequently at weddings.  Yet, the main purpose of the chapter is to set love as a context for practicing spiritual gifts.  Chapter 14 verse 1 continues this theme “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts.”  We may be the best servants, ministers, and exercise our gifts speaking with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy, speaking God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, having faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jump, giving everything we own to the poor, willing to become martyrs, BUT! If we do it without love – we are nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate, getting nowhere, being bankrupt without love (Peterson’s Message paraphrase).

The Love Paul talks about cannot be manufactured by our effort.  The Church cannot manufacture God’s Glory.  It could only radiate when Christ is present.  Spiritual Gifts are to be empowered by the Holy Spirit, only then our activities are loving, caring, patient, kind, humble, not forceful, enduring without burning out.  For God’s Love, Empowering Grace is forever.

So, as the world watching to see Christ in the Church, let me restate the Vision: this Church is a Place where every believer serves and loves, it is a Family where every member tenderly cares and attends to the needs of others.  Every Believer is a Loving Minister.