The Ministry of All Believers by Howard Snyder: Part 4
Posted by Radical Resurgence | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on 14-05-2012
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SERVANTS OF CHRIST
The third foundation stone for the ministry of God’s people is the call to be servants of Jesus Christ. To be a minister in the church means to be a servant. This underscores the practical significance of the church as servant.
A key passage here, though many others might be cited, is Matthew 20:25-27. “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus says in effect: If you are going to be my disciple, you must function differently from the world’s way. The model is not hierarchy but servanthood. Ministry is service, and greatness is Christ-likeness.
This foundation stone suggests three things for the ministry of God’s people. First, Jesus is the model for ministry. We do not have to look else where, and anything we learn elsewhere must be corrected by Jesus’ example.