We are so used to a false form of love in today's world - we see movies and TV shows depicting "love" but they're actors reading a script. If we're not careful, we too can become like actors reading a script - the script is the Bible. We can end up reciting scriptures we've memorized, and listening to them in countless weekly sermons, but we never become sermons ourselves "living epistles read of all men" - we become speakers of the Word but never doers. Jesus wants all of us, not just our tongues. In some churches we are taught and encouraged to become passive in our love. We are taught that the Pastor is the one that should do "the work of the ministry" - our role is to support him. He's the lead actor, the "star", the rest have supporting roles. If someone has a special need of any kind - we bring them to church where the pastor and staff can minister to them. We rely on them also to lead people to Christ. Can you see how wrong this is? We are all supposed to be doing the work of the ministry, up to and including leading souls to Christ. We are commanded by Jesus to "go", not sit. "GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES "...teaching them and baptizing them....have you been doing this? You've probably been taught to bring them to church so the pastor can do it. We are taught and encouraged to follow our pastor more than Christ.
Many pastors talk about "submission". They demand that we submit. Well, there are two meanings to the word "submit". The second is "to present a proposal to a person or group"....i say we should all "submit"....submit our giftings and callings to the local Body and if they aren't accepted, find a place where they are. If we're more earnestly seeking to hear what our pastor has to say each week than what God has to say to us personally, than something's wrong. People may meet Jesus in some churches but if they do, they meet him as their savior, and that typically becomes the end, or full extent of their relationship with him. They do not become mature in their relationship with him, they do not go on to know him as their Father, or Husband, or even Shepherd because they believe the only way Jesus will shepherd them is through their pastor, not personally.
They never go on to become personally shepherded by the Lord (The Lord is my Sheperd becomes "pastor so and so is my shepherd") The Holy Spirit should be our teacher and guide. Jesus does instruct his leadership to "feed my sheep" but he does not relinquish his role as our chief shepherd, who actually wants us all to feed and shepherd one another. We, the more mature, should take turns feeding the lambs among us, remembering that we are still sheep ourselves, in need of a shepherd. We haven't arrived because we've become a pastor or prophet or apostle, we are still the "sheep of his pasture", essentially sharing the manna he provides for us, till they can gather their own manna.
We are not "over" them, we are "older"them, older siblings helping to feed younger siblings at the supper table of the Lamb, until they're old enough to feed themselves. We should teach them how to seek him, by the Holy Spirit, for their own spiritual sustenance. When we gather each week to feast at his table, overflowing with bountiful gifts, we should all bring something to that table, to be consumed by all - like the church suppers the south is famous for, where everyone brings something, be it a main dish, side dish, desert or drink, bring something! The pastor may bring one kind of meat(y revelation) to the service, but everyone else, with enough maturity, should bring something too. And pastor, if their dish tastes better than yours, don't be jealous, rather rejoice! Be thankful God is using them so well.
Babes and little children should not be burdened with feeding others, but should concentrate on feeding themselves, yet, God can use them too "out of the mouths of babes and sucklings". God can speak through anyone he pleases to, even the youngest of saints, if they've been baptized in the Spirit, even new borns! He can and will use any tongue available to Him. Aren't a child's first words a joyful thing? I remember the great joy and satisfaction of the Holy Spirit when a baby believer gave this word at a service, their first - " God says to us tonight, I love you". I had a word to share that night but didn't get to and it didn't matter - the Holy Spirit was more thrilled to speak through that baby for the first time than through me, whom He's spoken through hundreds of times.
God has blessed me through my own children many times with things they've said. At times deep and profound revelations have come through them. And they don't know the blessing they're being at the time. I actually kept a journal throughout their childhood of all God said through them. I love the times i didn't find out till later that God had used me to bless someone. The ungodly policy of most churches is "(spiritual) children should be "seen but not heard". No! They should be heard as well!
If Jesus is the "firstborn among many brethren", than we are the "many brethren" he is the big brother of. Our pastor or any other leader is also our older brother. Younger siblings are no less important simply because they're younger. Paul told Timothy to "let no man despise your youth". Our Father and his Spirit are our true parents, so please, keep your pastor in the proper perspective, and put yourself in your proper place!
If you're a pastor, do not remain the only one to "feed the sheep", let them feed one another - this is one way they can "love one another". (Eph:4 & John 14). Believer, seek out fellowship with other believers who seek to serve you and who will allow you to serve them. Each of us should esteem the others more highly than ourselves, no one should be "lording over" anyone else but all should be submitting to Christ as Lord. In this way we'll fulfill the will of the Lord that we'll all be one as he and the Father are one.
