The Church Equips

There have been many moments of frustration towards the Church but like many relational issues I’ve come to realise my issue was one of misunderstanding.

I was frustrated that the church didn’t do more. That they didn’t have ministries in every aspect of life. What about ministry for every type of injustice? What about ministries for sport and music and art? But mainly, what about evangelism? The church always seems to look inward.

In churches with a staff team a form of dependency can form. But I came to a very sudden realisation this week… that the ministers and Sunday services are here to equip not do it all. They equip the Church so that more people can then go and do all the above. If only the staff of team did everything then the church would become benefactors or consumers – that’s not church. We attend small groups and Sunday services as an inward phase so that we can then go and be outward for the other (many man more) hours of the week.

And so, it makes sense that we pay a children’s pastor and youth pastor not an evangelist or ‘Justice seeker’. The pastors equip so the entire church can be outward focussed. And so that’s why I think the church I’m in is so effective. They employ people who will disciple a Church that is active. If the Church takes the discipleship and does nothing then it isn’t an effective church. Likewise, if the church just paid the staff to look outwardly and never disciple the church itself then that would be ineffective too – you’d be drastically decreasing the reach.

An outward looking Church is a Church that looks inwardly well; looking inwardly well is doing so with the main aim and goal to equip everyone to look outwardly.