NT Bases of Contemporary Christian Ministry

There seems to be an emphasis of the growing church on “institution” as it tried to meet the demands of time. NT ministry utilizes wisdom from God by observing how “gift” of leadership and organization goes together. After the apostles were gone, the church felt the need to maintain the authority figure by discerning who and what is a Christian leader. In effect, the shape of modern Christian ministry has always been grateful on the way the church lived as an “organism” and “organization” at the same time.I believe that the church—both as an organism and organization—is a biblical pattern the present leadership ought to consider. We function not merely as a structure of hierarchy but as a body also, ministering to one another. Both systems have their own risks to face. First, the institutional type of leadership is subject to abuse. Because of the desire to take full control—a human urge without bridle can be abusive and manipulative. Anything that is in accordance to the structure and outside of it is considered threat to the norm and dominant system. Rigidity in church leadership in conformity to the system can be oppressive and suppressive. Nevertheless, structure is good in that it provides framework to serve and hold the unity of the whole system; it also give foundation to the many facets of its parts so that the system can stand. Apart from structure, orderliness and authority is called into question. Hence, the church as an institution remains a crucial element to the effectiveness of her purpose, goal, and meaning.

Not only that the church is an organization, it is also an organism. The symbol that Paul used in particular is the “body of Christ.” Hence, the leaders ought not to be preoccupied with the institutional aspect of the church ministry, but most of all, the bodily aspect of it. Jesus is the head and the body must find direction, meaning, and purpose from what the head designed. However, the head won’t do what the hand is not willing to do. We as a church must reconsider what Christ intended the church to be. The basics of Christian church are always a necessity. When we do ministry, we ought to see it through the eyes of Christ who founded the church, to see if all of our ministries are in line with what the founder intend.

Tne thing I like about the early NT churches is that: they took problems as challenges—not hindrances to growth. It was at the time of need and desperation that they strived to prove their worth as a body and not just some cultic organization. The Filipino church, likewise, can see a valuable example of remaining intact despite of the unfavorable circumstances of time. The church was forced—at least for good—to clarify herself and stick to what she believe as the Lord’s blueprint for the church. Apart from the design of God for the church, she can easily be turned into a social organization, incorporation, institution, or worse a “club” that caters to the community’s need. Her mission can be compromised into mere anthropological study and conservatory—hoping for a better change in the society or the preservation of its culture in the raging change of time.

Today, church leadership is also on the verge to clarify herself to be “run”, managed, marketed, and secularized. These main concerns of modern church leadership ought to be addressed clearly from the biblical standpoint knowing that our “drivenness” does not always mean spirituality, ministry, and purpose. The church should offer clear stand to major questions. Is apostolic leadership irrelevant today? Where is the church leadership going? Is biblical position more important that the person?