Equipping the Saints

There are many Christian leaders today who are overcome with burn-out.

Ephesians 4.11f (NIV) says

11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

To me, this passage says that the role of leadership is to equip the saints so that they carry out the "work of the ministry." It is not the primary role of the leadership to do the work of the ministry themselves.

Yet many Christian leaders complain of fatigue and burn out. Could it be that they take too much upon themselves and instead of seeing themselves primarily as coaches, they have joined the ranks of the players?

Over the years, have we developed congregations that have been regressed into a couple of roles, that of financial donors and audiences? And if this is so, have our congregations grown to accept this over many generations, if not centuries, so that these roles are now entrenched? Do our congregations now expect our leaders and other full time workers to do the "work of the ministry?" Isn't that what we pay them for?

If this is so, could it be that we have established a modus that not only creates a steady stream of burnt out leaders but it is a system by which our congregations will never achieve maturity (v13)?

Isn't it conceivable that the congregation no longer wants to do the work of the ministry and is content to leave it to the employed leadership of the church? How can this pattern be stopped?

It is the role of leadership to break the vicious circle. I think courage will be required to break the cycle as many leaders now derive their meaning from the work of the Ministry that they do. To train others to do it, to trust others to do it, could be quite unnerving. This is why faith is required. To trust that God can step in and give sufficient grace to overcome the consequences of mistakes that new learning inevitably brings. In the long run, the risk and investment is worth it. It is the key to fulfilling the promise that "greater things" will be done (John 14.12).

So if you are the leader of a church or member of a leadership team, do you do most of the preaching, teaching, worship leading, praying, giving, studying and talking? For example, in a church that is focused on equipping the saints, the "leaders" only preach to show how it is done, the rest of the church should be doing it most of the time.

School for Christians

Since we started looking for a suitable school for my eldest son (who is now just about to turn 6), it has struck me that in Western society, if we think something is important then we educate for it.

If you want to drive a car, then there is a "road code" that has to be studied, each chapter has its learning objectives and eventually an examination has to be passed before a learner's licence can be obtained. Even then a practical examination is also required to prove one's competency behind the steering wheel.

The principal tools of education seem to me to be:

1. Curriculum
2. Age-appropriate learning objectives
3. Assessment
4. Recognition

Most Christians would believe that the Bible is really important to living our lives under God. Yet few of these four tools are commonly used in a systematic way unless one goes to Seminary. But how many go to Seminary and why should one be typically over 18 before the benefits of education can be applied to Christian learning by a Christian?

In my experience people learn differently when they know that there is going to be a test to sit after a unit of work. Just passively listening to sermons each week doesn't cut it because:

1. Many ministers and pastors don't set out to evenly cover what the Bible has to say, instead preferring to move from topic to topic "as the spirit leads." Unfortunately this can end up leaving the congregation very familiar with that particular leader's soapboxes but their understanding of other issues are neglected.
2. The congregation learns to be an audience rather than taking responsibility for building and maintaining its understanding of the scriptures. Instead of maturing the congregation to carry out the works of the ministry they become dependent on leadership.
3. When the list of soap boxes run out they can fall into the trap that there is little else to learn and they cannot see how there can be a lifetime of inquiry and engagement with God through the Scriptures. Starved of any brain food, they apply their energy into other interests, their careers, hobbies or families.
4. Without a good understanding of the scriptures, the congregation do not know what solutions there are to life's issues and challenges that can be found there. Yet those issue's and challenges must be met, so the scriptures do not seem relevant to a modern society. Christians must then resort to secular common-sense. Non-Christians aware that this is so, do not refer to Christians since they cannot bring a unique perspective to problem solving. The church is therefore perceived as irrelevant.
5. Being brought up to be an audience means that few Christians realize that there is a work ethic that comes with Christian living. Instead a consumer culture can prevail in the Church. In Marketing 101, the needs of the market are paramount. Without moderation such a philosophy can only lead to selfishness.

I propose that Churches should run night schools for its congregation with multiple age-appropriate units of work that can be established for self study or through attendance in classes. A suite of examinations can be written that can mark the end of each module and if they aren't passed then a student can sit another examination until it is. This is the Keller Plan system.

The benefits of such a night school are manifold:

1. By running them at night, church members can attend without being distracted by work.
2. A night school can become a wonderful place for discussion and debate that can fuel interest in the Scriptures as a handbook for modern living.
3. It creates an environment for developing new talent for teaching the scriptures. If a church is almost exclusively limiting its venues for teaching to the pulpit, few individuals can find opportunity to develop their giftings.
4. If a certificate or other age-appropriate qualification was an object of study then students can be further motivated by having something to focus on and work toward.
5. Over time, church members will build their confidence to study, research, discuss and debate the Scriptures so that they find answers to life's challenges. Eventually the church will find its relevance once more.

Not all church members will find night-time courses appropriate. Young children need to sleep earlier, and the elderly may find travelling from their homes at night not only ardous but hazardous. However these methods can be adapted for sunday school teachers and parents to administer to their children; and for the elderly during the day.

By creating a greater emphasis on the Scriptures, we will address a great source of malnourishment in the Church today.