Who Makes Things Happen at Your Church?
When something needs to be done at your church, who does it? Many people would say it’s the pastor. They view their clergy as paid employees who are supposed to do the work of the church and serve them. But should they?
Paid Staff
The idea of having professional clergy lead the church is an Old Testament perspective. Back then the priests, as supported by the Levites, served as the people’s representatives between them and God.
The priests were paid staff. They did the work of the church, which at that time was the tabernacle and later the temple.
This attitude continues today. We effectively divide ourselves into two categories: clergy and laity.
Many people view the clergy’s purpose as to serve the laity.
Though this primarily comes from the congregation itself, ministers often reinforce this attitude. In doing so, they make themselves invaluable and help ensure their continued employment.
Priesthood of Believers
Though this was what God intended in the Old Testament, Jesus ushered in a new way. He came to fulfill the Old Testament law and prophets (Matthew 5:17).
Like Jesus, we are to be living stones, a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5). When we follow him, we become a chosen people, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9).
From this we get the concept of the priesthood of believers. Through Jesus, we all become priests. This means that we all serve.
It furthermore means that we shouldn’t hire someone to serve us. That’s our job. Through Jesus, each one of us is a priest.
Pulpit or Pews?
If you want your minister to grow a following, let him or her do all the work. Have your paid staff welcome visitors, help people when they’re in need, and guide them on their spiritual journey to Jesus.
In fact, most people expect this of ministers. They insist on it. They’re too busy to do this themselves.
But when the minister leaves—which will always happen—their followers scatter. Attendance sags, giving drops, and growth stagnates.
Yet if you want to grow a church, you need to do the work yourselves: welcome visitors, help people in need, and encourage them on their spiritual journey.
This distinction becomes one of pulpit or pews?
If you want a clergy-focused church, let the paid staff do all the work, even insist on it. But if you want a kingdom-focused church, embrace the priesthood of believers. This means you serve as priests and do the work yourselves.
In this way you move from a pulpit-driven church to a pew-driven congregation. Though this might seem like a radical shift—a novel concept—it started two thousand years ago. It’s just that we’ve lost sight of it today.
The answer to the question of pulpit or pews should be the pews. But is it?
Read more about this in Peter’s thought-provoking book, Jesus’s Broken Church, available in e-book, audiobook, paperback, and hardcover.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.