Pastoring Churches (Part 3: The Mission)
This final part of the series helps to paint a clearer picture from the Bible in answering questions of what exactly is our mission as the Church, and why we Pastor and minister to the saints.
If you wish to have a background, please endeavor to read the first 2 parts of this series:
Our Mission Background: Where are we coming from?
This journey started from somewhere and is going somewhere. We need to understand this.
In Genesis, before the fall, there was a plan, purpose and mission for man. Even though, God initiated a backup/reconciliation plan should man fall, there is an original mission. That mission is still our mission today. Its ONE and the same and we must embrace this. He wants Sons to be fruitful, multiply, have dominion over and subdue the earth. For we who are saved, we are to help reconcile the lost back to that original mission and this does not stop when they get converted, we labour for all to be reconciled back.
The illustration above helps put our background, journey and destination in context and may be quickly summarized as follows:
- A close walk with God and constant spiritual was in-built and part and parcel of man at creation. The clear mission and work was therefore dominion (rule over the earth, fruitfulness in life, multiplication across the earth and subduing of the earthly systems). This is KINGSHIP.
- The fall interrupted the order, broke spiritual fellowship and man relinquished dominion
- The Law (Old Testament) was a shadow of true redemption and a schoolmaster for what is to come — Christ and total salvation. Jacob, the father of the nation of Israel and God’s model people, prophesied about the coming of Jesus when he spoke about his son, Judah (from which Jesus descended as the Lion of the tribe of Judah): “The scepter (KINGSHIP) shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver (PRIESTHOOD) from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.” Genesis 49:10, NKJV (with author’s emphasis)
- Jesus came to fulfil this — “and from Jesus Christ, … who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father…” Revelations 1:5–6, NKJV (with author’s emphasis).
- Jesus is the gateway of reconciliation of all things — physical AND spiritual:
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. … All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, …
Colossians 1:15–20, NKJV (with author’s emphasis)
- The Church’s assignment is 2 fold — KINGSHIP and PRIESTHOOD to dominate the earth’s systems and reconcile mankind to Himself.
Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation … we are ambassadors for Christ…
2 Corinthians 5:18–20, NKJV (with author’s emphasis)
And so — what is the will of God and our mission? How does God reconcile us with the original and only plan? How does the entire journey come full circle?
Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood…having made known to us the mystery of His will, … that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth — in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1:4–12, NKJV (with author’s emphasis)
All through, we keep seeing the phrase “all things”. He is interested in all things — both spiritual and physical, both in Heaven and on Earth, because He created ALL and ALL are for Him.
Kings and Priests
When man was created, blessed and given the original mission, it was of KINGSHIP (to dominate, subdue, be fruitful and multiply). Fellowship with God was in-built; it was part and parcel of man — “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…” Genesis 3:8, NKJV. After the fall, PRIESTHOOD is necessary to help in restoring man and fellow men to fellowship with God with is crucial in fulfilling KINGSHIP.
This has now formed the basic structure of our mission from Genesis to Revelations — all through the Old (a shadow and schoolmaster) and the New Covenant.
The scepter (KINGSHIP) shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver (PRIESTHOOD) from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.
Genesis 49:10, NKJV (with author’s emphasis)But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people…
1 Peter 2:9, NKJV (with author’s emphasis)and from Jesus Christ, … To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, …
Revelations 1:5–6, NKJV (with author’s emphasis)
The Gifts
To carry out the mission, God has given gifts of Grace to be able to do the work of reconciliation and to help the saints be able to carry out their work
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness… Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another… serving the Lord… patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality
Romans 12:3–13, NKJV (with author’s emphasis)But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. … And gave gifts to men.” … And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
Ephesians 4: 7–13, NKJV (with author’s emphasis)Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant … There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all… But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills
1 Corinthians 12:1–11, NKJV (with author’s emphasis)
Apostle Paul helps us put all these 3 categories of gifts in perspective and explains there are diversities of activities as in Romans 12; differences of ministries as in Ephesians 4 and diversities of gifts as in 1 Corinthians 12 — all are given for the profit of the Body of Christ! Displaying the gifts are not the work of ministry; the gifts are mean to use to equip believers so that believers can do the work of ministry! They are given to minister to the needs of the saints and get them equipped and ready for their assignment — the ministry of reconciliation.
Salt and Light
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:13–16, NKJV (with author’s emphasis)
Above is one of the most instructive passages containing instructions by Jesus for Believers to explain the ministry we have been given— we are salt and light!
Note 2 things — salt of the earth and light of the world.
- We are salt to meet a need (seasoning, preservation and functionality) on earth. We must lend our God given skill-sets to bring order, beauty and function to the world. Remember Adam had to “till the earth” (Genesis 2). That work was not to eat really as God has actually sorted that by planting trees that are “good for food”. So our work is not about survival but in obedience to God to work systems that will create abundance, multiplication and productivity.
- We are light to bring light to a place that is dark — the world and its depraved, hopeless systems. We need to be a light; our lives need to be visible! This must be for the right purpose and in the right way, not to showcase or brag about personal achievements in the way of the world. We must let the words of Jesus be heard through our voices and words at the appointed time and in the right way as God directs.
So as we are Kings (to subdue the earth) and Priests (to bring men to know the Word and Way of God); we are SALT (to fix the decay in the earth and give it meaning, essence and flavour) and LIGHT (to bring men to see the works of God and glorify God). Hallelujah!
Religion & Institutionalism
If we are to success, we must not deviate from what God’s plan. Man-made, man-inspired and man-enforced institutions, no matter how well-intentioned, are subject to man, easily corrupted and will ultimately NOT bring about the purpose, counsel and will of God.
We must avoid these and run away from this.
Examples of these are:
- Carnal leadership structures that exalt people over other people in such a way that demeans, belittles and deprives the followers of growth, success and progress in life.
- Greedy financial structures and targets that elicit lust, undue pressure and bickering amongst believers, belittling the purpose of God
- Self Glorification: Systems, structures that are woven around individuals, seeking to glorify those individuals rather than God.
- Material wealth, investments and acquisitions that only matter on earth and are not rich towards God. Wealth that does not flow into the lives of people, share God’s love with the many and draw them towards God will ultimately stink.
All things, patterns, structures and technology, MUST be subject to the Spirit of God and the Word of God.
Again… Why do we do church?, Why do we Pastor? Why do we minister to the needs of the saints and the earth? What exactly is our mission?
The Father wants Sons to be fruitful, multiply, have dominion over and subdue the earth. Nothing more, nothing less. Our priestly labour and ministry of reconciliation and “work of ministry” is to prepare these Sons.
All “work” must glorify Him and be absolutely according to His plan and purpose. All “ministry” must be absolutely for the edification of His Body. His labourers must be ready to give their lives (their self, ego, opinion, plans and will) for the sake of His plan, purpose and mission.
With God’s love and Mine
