We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; (Romans 12:6)
Is the Body developed around the abilities of the members or do the members have to fulfil pre-set positions in a system?
I see the situation in football. A manager comes in and immediately looks to impose his style and his values on the playing staff with little regard to actually making the most of what he has. It’s not unusual to see players playing out of position and team-mates struggling to adapt to the new way. Performances drop and results reflect the dip. The system and manager are so inflexible to a playing staff that so does not fit the requirements that disaster is almost inevitable.
Sometimes it’s like that in church life. Little thought is given to those who actually attend. Little care is shown to who each one is and how they can contribute. Little consideration is expressed for how church life is best being demonstrated in the light of who people are, what they have to offer, how they best grow and how they can be best served. Rather than any of that the age old template is wheeled out and it’s a matter of where people fit in the template.
Even if that means believers doing things for which they’re patently not equipped. Even if that means styles of delivery that are patently ineffective in helping people to engage. Even if in all the activity and service, actual spiritual growth and love for God barely moves on.
Some of us are still of the impression that the pastor or elder is the manager. Some of us still haven’t caught up with the practical outworking of how life is when Jesus is the manager. For when Jesus is the manager the gifted are released. Those who prophesy do so carefully. Those who teach do so diligently. Those who serve do so mindful of their call. Those who administer do so meticulously. Whatever the gift, wherever it is expressed it finds its release under the management of Jesus who gave the gifts and knows the abilities of those so gifted.
As each gathering learns to play according to His tactics, so we won’t be confined to ineffective templates and models of church life. As the gifted are released so the environment is set for others to be released and church to benefit from it.
There is the exciting thing of seeing a church willing to solely submit to Jesus’ management.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 