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Empowering Lay People

Guest post by: Theodore Henderson

Article Overview: Early Christians saw themselves as disciples and ministers on an individual basis. In fact, to a great extent they were people of God and shared equality on that footing regardless of social position or wealth. Instead of looking at a minister or reverend as the “leader” each person saw themselves as an essential part of the body of Christ and a representative. Modern Christians would do well to take another look at that type of understanding.

Empowering Lay People

You Don’t Have to Be Clergy to Minister

“We must become the change we want to see.”~Mahatma Gandhi

Early Christians saw themselves as disciples and ministers on an individual basis. Infact, to a great extent they were people of God and shared equality on that footing regardless of social position or wealth. Instead of looking at a minister or reverend as the “leader” each person saw themselves as an essential part of the body of Christ and a representative. Modern Christians would do well to take another look at that type of understanding.

1 Corinthians 12:4-13 (New International Version)

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit.

9 To another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit

10 To another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.

13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

This scripture is wonderful in its ability to point to our diversity as people as strength. So many people with so many different gifts operating cooperatively is an unstoppable force.

Mt 5:14 (New International Version)

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

What a great start to Christianity after the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for us! Too bad it was not to last. Now we’ve “evolved” into a system thatteaches us becausesomeone who went to seminary, became ordained, and went to work full-time for pay in a church is the ONLY clergy and the rest of us are “just volunteers”.

Empowering lay people is about how we as Christians will not only have a deeper relationship with God but also how we can “unwrap” our divine gifts. It will not only make us more valuable in our church but aid in finding our purpose in life and passionately live it out in and away from church.

The benefits of unwrapping your divine gifts:

1. You will be better able to uncover and use talents you have in your life and career.
2. Explore the best ways to deepen your relationship with God.
3. Transform your church.
4. Develop leadership from the laity or “volunteers” in your church.
5. Use it as a source of healing if your congregation is fractionalized and dysfunctional.
6. Become a better you in all the walks of life.

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Article Tags: as well as suggested tags from the article, faithbased living, the wisdom compass, theodore henderson
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