The ManicaPost
Pastor Lee Fore
Religion
THE gist of this article is to clarify the difference between a ministry and a church, from Scripture.
I dare say that few Christians ever give this matter much thought, but it is important to be clear.
This is not really about right versus wrong for the sake of right versus wrong (although it is good to be right). This is about churches and ministries being effective in serving God.
Ineffectiveness in church and ministry is a hindrance and delay to the end of the world and Lord’s return (Matt 24:14).
I believe it is one reason why church attendance is quite low in comparison to the number of professed believers regardless of the Covid-19 regulations.
Christianity as a whole would be better off if God’s way, the Bible way, was done the first time, rather than the confusing situation today of ministries and churches being confused with one another.
Some may think that chaos and confusion is a normal situation, or not a problem, as long as everyone loves each other and spreads the gospel.
But I would remind such people that God is primarily a God of order (1 Cor 14:33, 1 Cor 14:40), and He has a very specific reason for doing things a certain way.
The Bible mentions knowing God and His ways (Psalm 103:7).
It is not enough to just know God (that He is love etc), we must also know His ways, and how He likes things done (Heb 3:10).
If we don’t know His ways, it is like knowing your wife’s personality but not knowing the way she likes her eggs cooked for breakfast, ultimately it will make her upset.
Similarly, not knowing God’s ways upsets God (Heb 3:10).
In the Old Testament, there are many examples of God’s servants who did not do things exactly as He commanded (Numbers 20:11).
Therefore, God’s way of order in the church is important.
Although God does use chaos to accomplish His plan, such as evident in nature/biology, or even wartime, environmental catastrophe and persecution — His church, as a reflection of His person, on this earth, should be characterised by order, and the Apostle Paul desired to see order in the church (1 Cor 14:33, 1 Cor 14:40).
In today’s Christianity, we have the confusing situation of ministries being called churches, and the results of ministry going back to the ministry rather than the church.
Ministries can be bigger than local churches.
Ministries today may pull in millions and millions of dollars, far exceed ministry wealth of local churches.
Ministries are headed up by one man or woman, but the biblical principle is of ministers being sent out “two by two”.
In order to try and arrive at the truth in God’s Word, we shall examine the life of one of God’s main ministers — the Apostle Paul, and his relationship with the churches.
About Ministry
Colossians 1:23 — Paul was a minister. Who did Paul minister to? Eph 4:11-12. The church, Body of Christ, what did Paul minister? Rom 15:16 — the gospel of Christ, 2Co.3:6-8 — the Spirit. In the Bible, ministers normally ministered two by two (Mark 6:7, Acts 13:1-3).
Paul and Barnabas went together, Peter and his wife went together. Even when Paul and Barnabas split over sharp contention, Paul then took Silas, and Barnabas wanted to take John Mark (Acts 15:37)
About Church
Church is an assembly of believers, but not just any assembly — for example 5 or 10 Christians going out for lunch is not a church (Heb 10:25).
The church is local in practice (Rev 2), and universal and one in essence (Ephesians 4:4-6). In contrast, a ministry may travel place to place, wherever the minister goes. Paul’s travels are one such example.
Paul travelled from town/city to town/city, but in each town/city he visited, was a local church.
The ministry travelled, but the church stayed put in its own locality.
The church is broader than a ministry, and consists of a plural leadership structure (James 5:14). The church has all kinds of ministries and gifts (Eph 4:11-12, 1 Cor 14:12), whereas a ministry may only have one or two gifts.
Ministry comes out of church (Acts 13:3). A church is first established by ministry (Acts 14:23), but then becomes semi-autonomous under the leadership of the elders not the ministers.
The results of ministry come back to the church, not ministry (Acts 2:47). A church is like a home-base for the spiritual growth of believers — a church is where shepherding and feeding takes place, resulting in spiritual growth (John 21:17).
But a ministry comes and remains for a time, and then goes somewhere else. A local church may produce ministers to be sent out (Acts 13:1-3).
Unlike a ministry which is temporary and may start and end with the minister, the church continues on forever (Matt 16:18). Paul’s ministry died when Paul died, but the churches continued on even to this day.
Where do you belong, church or ministry?
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