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Seeking the perspective of Jesus

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2: 9-10

“Irrelevant Distinctions in the Body of Christ” is a term a good friend of mine has introduced to me. This friend is a gifted teacher, a pastor, a Bishop in his denomination, and an author, and he speaks to groups around the world. He is a man of God. He also happens to be African American. Do you recognize any irrelevant distinctions in the litany of descriptive words about my friend? As our brother in Christ, do you see anything that is irrelevant in his distinctiveness as a man of God? I’m sure you will say that recognizing his race is not relevant and I agree, but what else? How about being a Pastor, a Bishop, an Author, or a world-class speaker? Why would these attributes be irrelevant? After all, don’t these establish him as successful in his ministry? Doesn’t it communicate that he has a higher level of commitment to Jesus than those who have not garnered these laurels or education? Would it not declare that his words are more authentic and relevant because he has a broader audience? The truth is that these questions reflect the way the world sees things but not how God sees them. The distinctions that are really relevant are that God has given this man spiritual gifts that are unique to him and he uses them to God’s glory. Why is it important that irrelevant distinctions in the body of Christ such as these be challenged? It is important, for if we do not understand their irrelevancy, we will adopt a view that there is a spiritual hierarchy. We will conclude that God loves some people more than others or those people love God more and the reason is tied directly to their “position” in the hierarchy. The truth is that many Christians see things this way, which compels me to address it in this devotional.

In the world, there are many distinctions in mankind. There is race, gender, height, weight, left or right-handedness, nationality, voting preference, educational achievement, and a multitude more that I don’t mention. It is logical to identify someone in one of these categories, … in the world. However, in the body of Christ what really matters is the unity we have in Christ, both individually with Him and collectively with each other. The identity we have as Christians is that we are the “people of God.” We are a “royal priesthood.” We belong to Him. What really matters is not the color of our skin, the size of our bank account, or the achievements that we have garnered in business or ministry. It is not the irrelevant distinctions that we claim for ourselves or tag on others. Rather, it is our heart, the condition of our soul, and the way our life points to Jesus. Our relevant distinction is in our spiritual giftedness and whether we are using those gifts to God’s honor. Even then, these distinct gifts are part of a bigger spiritual gift mix called “The Church,” or said another way, “The Body of Christ.”

I am reminded of Charles Spurgeon. He was a great preacher. But what made him great was the way he opened the hearts of the listener to see the majesty of Almighty God. It is said that there was another great speaker who preached in a church across town. When people left his church they would exclaim, “What a great pastor we have! He is such a great speaker!” When people left Spurgeon’s church they would declare, “What a great God we have!” With one pastor the honors were garnered for himself. With Spurgeon, the honors were garnered for Jesus. What people heard when they heard Spurgeon preach were not irrelevant distinctions that set him apart from other pastors. What set him apart was a heart that was ablaze for his King and the spiritual gifts that he was given being exercised from an abiding relationship with Christ. This is a relevant distinction and the only kind that counts.

Now talking about distinctiveness, one would have to admit that John the Baptist was a pretty unique guy. He lived in the wilderness, ate wild honey and locusts as his diet, and wrapped himself in the skin of dead camels for clothes. He preached repentance and that the people should prepare the way for the coming Messiah. When

asked who he was and what authority he had to preach as he did, he turned the question around. He said that he wasn’t important and that the bigger question was Who was this person he was preaching about? To John, it was all about Jesus. He didn’t need a title or an irrelevant distinction to qualify him as a messenger of God. His relevant distinction was the call God had on his life and the purpose for his life being fulfilled.

In the Body of Christ, there are so many irrelevant distinctions that I am sure must really displease God to hear. There are two irrelevant distinctions that I hear often and they must be challenged, for at the heart of these distinctions is incorrect doctrine and the communication of an unspoken spiritual hierarchy. The first is the term “Para church.” I don’t know who started this description for ministries that work outside “the local, congregational church,” but whoever did- they have communicated an irrelevant distinction. All true Christian ministries are in the Body of Christ (the Church). This would include all denominations of congregational churches, prison ministries, campus ministries, foreign missions, home missions, and so on. It would include massive Mega-Churches and home churches of only a few people. There are some of these tagged Para church ministries that work cross-denominationally with local churches or work specifically in specialized ministries outside a local church. However, they are no less in the Body of Christ. They do not have a charter such as a local church and their governing structure may use a different model for accountability. Yet, they are no less a member of the Church, and to see them tagged as something else is wrong theology. This is an irrelevant distinction and brings sorrow to our King’s heart.

The next term that I see as an irrelevant distinction in the Body of Christ and one that grieves me greatly is the term “Layman or Lay Minister.” Where did that term come from? Am I not reading in the above scripture that all Christians are members of the “Royal Priesthood?” Are we not all priests in our own right? If a person has the gift mix that expresses through teaching or even preaching, is he any less a minister of the gospel and should he be identified differently? I think the truth is that the term developed because within an institutional church culture, it just doesn’t fit the mindset to see people that are gifted, passionate, called, and anointed for ministry that doesn’t fall within the professional model. This is a shame, for a major segment of a local church’s ministry manpower is placed on the sideline, and is not being used. These churches are making an irrelevant distinction about the “priests” within their congregation. If they do not embrace the work God is doing in ordinary men and women and acknowledge and encourage every member ministry in their church, it is likely that the ministry of that church will become irrelevant in God’s work in the Body of Christ.

Let us join together in the Body of Christ and serve together for His glory. Let us make relevant distinctions with each other and throw out those distinctions that keep God’s priests discouraged, under-challenged, and made to feel irrelevant. It is time that we become a unified family and live like a family belonging to each other and to our King.