The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
April 20, 2003
In
This Issue:
Who
is My Minister?
By
Steve Klein
God
is Faithful
By
Gary
Henry
Who Is My Minister?
Without a doubt, there is a lot of confusion in the religious world today about what a minister is and what a minister does. Most folks equate being a minister with being a preacher. And while preachers are ministers, it is entirely incorrect to reserve the term minister exclusively for preachers. Actually, the word minister as it occurs in many English translations of the Bible simply refers to one who is a servant or to the act of performing a service.
As we attempt to identify who the minister is, it might be helpful to consider the different ways ministers may be described. Ministers are described with respect to who they work for, the work they do, or who their work benefits. To illustrate, consider how we might describe a waitress in a restaurant. She works for the restaurant, so she is a minister of Quincy's or Shoney's or whatever. She serves food, so she is a minister of food. Her service benefits the customers, so she is a minister to the customers.
These three views of ministering can be seen in the service of the apostle Paul. He was a minister of Christ because he was working for Christ (1 Corinthians 4:1). He was a minister of the gospel because he preached (served) the gospel (Acts 26:16; Ephesians 3:6-7; Colossians 1:23). He was a minister to Gentiles because they had received the benefits of his preaching and been added to the church (Colossians 1:24-25). All three of these descriptions of Paul's ministry are found in Romans 15:16, where Paul says that God's grace was given to him so that he, ``might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God....''
In Ephesians 4:11-12 we learn that God intends for the saints who make up the church to be equipped for the ``work of ministry.'' All Christians are ministers of God, in that we work for Him (cf. Hebrews 9:14). We all should use whatever God has given us to benefit others; as Peter says, ``If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies'' (1 Peter 4:11). Our ministry should focus particularly on fellow Christians -- the work of ministering to the saints is especially commended in Scripture (1 Corinthians 16:15; Hebrews 6:10).
So, who is the minister? Surprise, Surprise! YOU ARE. Or, at least you should be.
On one occasion a man asked Jesus, ``Who is my neighbor?``(Luke 10:29). Jesus answered by telling the story of the good Samaritan; the point of which was to teach that we should be more concerned about BEING a good neighbor ourselves than about HAVING good neighbors around us. The question of concern should not have been ``Who is my neighbor?'' It should have been, ``To whom can I be a neighbor?'' The point being made in this article is much the same. The question ``Who is my minister?'' should not concern us nearly so much as the question ``To whom can I be a minister?'' Whom can I serve, and how may I serve them?
By Steve Klein
When we are tempted to worry about the uncertainties that are inherent in a changing world, it is reassuring to remember that the whole cosmos in which we live was created by a God who is eternal. He is "the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End . . . who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty" (Rev. 1:8). The comforting thing about God's eternal nature is not merely that He exists eternally, but that His character is eternal. God is changelessly faithful.
What It Means That God Is Faithful. Unlike the false gods of paganism, who were thought to be fickle and whose capricious anger was thought unpredictable, the God who really made us and revealed Himself to us can be counted on to be the same always. "I am the Lord, I do not change" (Mal. 3:6), He has said. With God "there is no variation or shadow of turning" (Jas. 1:17). We never have to worry that an alteration in God's "mood" will result in a change in His personality or His principles.
But more than that, God's eternal faithfulness also makes Him different from Satan, the liar (Jn. 8:44). God's word is unfailingly and infallibly true. God's truthful character is immutable -- He "cannot lie" (Tit. 1:2; cf. Hb. 6:17,18). Long ago, Isaiah prayed, "O Lord . . . Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth" (Isa. 25:1). And when we say God's word is always "true," we do not just mean it is accurate. We mean also that, because it is true, it can be depended on. God is never treacherous. He never cheats. Every word He has ever spoken has been "a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance" (1 Tim. 1:15). God's eternal truthfulness means that He is eternally trustworthy.
When He has spoken to mankind, God has often made promises. It is in regard to these promises that we see further what it means for God to be faithful. Faith has always meant taking God at His word when He promised something -- and such faith has always proved to be well founded. God has never failed to keep a promise. On the basis of that evidence, discerning people have long been willing to do as Sarah did, who "judged Him faithful who had promised" (Hb. 11:11).
Another important thing about God's eternal faithfulness is that the fulfilling of His purposes is no less certain than the keeping of His promises. The glorious conclusion to which God intends to bring His creation is unstoppable because His character is unchangeable. The Psalmist's statement is true of everything God has ever purposed: "The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations" (Psa. 33:11). Through Isaiah, God declared, "I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,' . . . Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it" (Isa. 46:9-11). God has given us reason to be assured that though the world around us passes through change after troublesome change, He is still the eternal Sovereign whose purpose for His creation will not fail to be accomplished.
How Understanding God's Faithfulness Helps Us. Learning the eternally changeless character of God is a wonderfully practical exercise. At the very least, it drives worry and fear from our lives. How can we doubt that we will be taken care of by a God who has always shown Himself to be so faithfully concerned about His children? The Christian (who has not only the usual cares of daily living, but also faces additional suffering because he is a Christian) can endure whatever trials and tribulations may confront him. Knowing that God remains on His throne and that He is working toward a victorious consummation of all things imparts strength to the suffering saint -- strength because the saint knows that the eternal Judge will ultimately vindicate what is just and right. Peter wrote, "Let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator" (1 Pt. 4:19).
Moreover, a comprehension of God's eternal nature helps the Christian deal with sin. Knowing that God is not mocked (Gal. 6:7,8), that He will not fail to do as He has said about punishing sin, surely ought to give us a more serious attitude about sin. And on the positive side, knowing the steadfastness of God's help is the very thing needed for us to resist temptation. As Paul put it, "God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it" (1 Cor. 10:13).
Finally, an understanding of the unchangeableness and faithfulness of God is the thing that assures us of our salvation and motivates us to remain faithful to Him. The Hebrew writer appealed to his readers: "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful" (Hb. 10:23). In the long run, that person will be "faithful until death" (Rev. 2:10 NKJV) who sees clearly that God will always be faithful to us. Giving credence to God's eternal truthfulness, we take on a confidence in God's trustworthiness that imparts a constancy to our allegiance to Him.
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away; change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me!
Gary Henry
- Revised 06/29/01
via Brass Tacks column in Focus Magazine