Honoring God, blessing others, and finding personal peace in ALL that you do!

I was ordained as a minister of a mainline Christian denomination many years ago! I have been a minister of various Churches and communities for almost 17 years now. These have been incredibly blessed and rewarding years! Of course there have also been some challenges and frustrations.

I have always believed (well at least for as long as I have been a 'believer') that every person is a minister! After all, ministry is about bringing God's loving will to bear upon all of creation, and bringing creation fully and effectively into God's loving presence and will.

This is something that every Christian disciple can, and should, do! Every person should be a 'full time minister'!

On this recording for my radio program on Radio Pulpit (http://www.radiopulpit.co.za) I discuss the notion that honoring God, blessing others and finding personal peace are all related to PRODUCING fruit, not just CONSUMING fruit (as is quite popular in contemporary Christianity).

So, if you're interested in listening to this short message, please download the file below - it is a 6.2MB MP3 file.

http://www.spirituality.org.za/files/RadioPulpit/Forster1Apr09.mp3

I don't believe that there is no place for the 'Ordained' ministries within the body of Christ - however, I am of the mind that ordination needs to be extended to a broader group of persons than those who perform largely secular functions within the Church (convening Church meetings, presiding over committees, managing budgets, doing marketting, managing staff and physical plant, etc., etc.,) I feel that the pastoral responsibility that we all share (to pray with one another, bear one another's burdens, disciple each other and be discipled, hold one another accountable to courageously living in accordance with God's loving, inclusive and gracious will... ) should be extended to many more persons!

The 'sacraments' (at least the two sacraments in Protestant and Reformed Churches, namely Baptism and the Eucharist) can be shared and upheld by most persons in most settings. Have you ever thought what Baptism is? In short it is a visible sign that outwardly illustrates an invisible grace that is operable in the life of the person being baptised and the community into which they're being baptised. How does a person come to be a part of the body of Christ? They come to be a part of this community through being encountered by the transforming and regenerating love of Christ! It is commonly called evangelism... Whether it is done in a propositional manner (i.e., introducing people to 'truths' about the nature and person of Jesus), or a non-propositional manner (i.e., trying to find ways to expose people to the content and reality of Christ's loving Gospel) - evangelism is something that all disciples should be involved in! Even systems can be evangelised (that is what we do as Christians when we exercise our social and political rights...) Baptism is a celebration of this reality...

Then of course there is the Eucharist, a feast of thanksgiving that visibly demonstrates the true nature of God's Kingdom, where all persons are united with God and one another in transforming love. This Kingdom is a place of grace, mercy, provision, equality, and true life... Wherever a Christian in society brings God's Kingdom to bear (whether through a choice, a decision, or an action) they are 'stretching the communion table into the community'). I am involved in reuniting people to themselves, one another and God every day. That is an enactment of the grace of the sacrament that I celebrate in the Church (and in my case also in the place where I work) frequently.

As an aside, I frequently celebrate communion in my workplace with persons who seek it. I find that it is a fitting and blessed space in which to demonstrate the grace, blessing and love of Christ!

Well, I would love to hear what you think about this approach to sacramental theology. I would also love to hear your perspective on fruitfulness in EVERY aspect of life. And lastly have you got any ideas on the difference between the ministry of the apostolate of the laity and the ordained ministries (Presbyters and Deacons?)

By the way, you can read a more academic and articulate theological article on this subject that I wrote two years ago by following this link:

A document on Deacons, Presbyters and the sacraments in the MCSA

Comments

[Riaan Oosthuysen]

I,m going to reply in Afrikaans. It is easier for me.

Ek dink nie dit was ooit die plan dat net pastore en dominies die boodskap moet uitdra nie. Jesus se opdrag was dat ons moet heengaan en dissipels maak en nie dat ons kerke moet bou en mense daar moet dissipel nie.

Daar is egter niks fout met kerke nie. Ek het 'n paar inskrywings op Nuustak gemaak onder die opskrif 'Huis van Geloof' wat my siening oor kerke weergee.

Ek hou van die term 'markpleinbedienaars' want dit is wat ons moet wees. Ons moet 'n verskil maak in die markplein en die verlossingsboodsskap daar uitdra. Ons moet egter nie vergeet dat ons ambasadeurs van die hemelse koningkryk hier op is en as sulks die koninkryk hier moet verteenwoordig nie.

Die pastoor of dominie se taak is dus om die gemeentelede toe te rus sodat hulle in die markplein gestuur kan word om 'n verskil te maak