DEFINITION OF TERMS

THE CONCISE OXFORD DICTIONARY
SERVE:
SERVANT:
SERVICE:
MINISTER:

BIBLE DICTIONARIES
SERVANT OF THE LORD
MINISTER.
TRANSLATION OF 'SERVANT' FROM HEBREW TO ENGLISH
...EBED
...ABAD
...SAKIYR
...SHARATH

The 'setting apart' of leadership to a place 'of honour' above the people, permeates the culture of today's church. The church will not change until a true attitude of servanthood permeates leadership as the Scriptures specify.

Let's remove the blinkers!

It is done in so many subtle ways, that many of us are completely unaware of what happens.

Please read on with an open mind and do not immediately take offense! And forgive me if I touch on things that are precious to you.

These 'separations' include:

While the robes and regalia of the 'high church' are the most obvious example, there are more subtle ones too.

Many ministers and pastors wear a 'dog collar', as a uniform to distinguish their position from the people. Even subtler are those who decry dog collars but button up their shirt to the collar instead, a 'Clayton's' dog collar.

Still others dress up in an expensive suit and tie, which their congregation cannot either afford or choose not to wear.

A Broom-rape (Cynomorium cocineum) lives parasitically on the broom shrub and gives it handsome yellow flowers. Elijah sat under a broom bush when he ran from Queen Jezebel in 1Kings 19:4-5.

And with Jesus in the New:

Jesus praying in Gethsemane - by William Hole.

Of course, culture impinges heavily in the area of dress codes. But it does not affect the overriding principle of not overdressing to separate, to effectively place oneself above your people.

'Mr Proud'

Some cultures too, effectively live their lives through their pastors. Seeing one dress and live at a standard above them pleases them. This is not scriptural and all too easily leads to the situation that Jesus criticized the Pharisees for, even if it is not intended.

Taking or expecting the place of honour.

At any function the guests of honour will sit 'nearest the action'. Normally at the front, or in the middle, in the case of a circular arrangement, where honored guests become 'the centre of attention' as the well-known saying goes. Jesus clearly saw the problems of pride that can so easily arise.

An Australian wedding reception during the 1950s.

a. IN THE CHURCH: How does this apply in the church? In the seating pattern throughout! The pastor/s will sit in the front row, more often than not on the left hand side. I am not sure why the left, but that is my experience of the many churches I visit. The elders and the deacons will sit in the next row/s, then the keenest members with finally, the least committed at the back.

Amazingly, this pattern applies with children too, in Africa. The keenest ones, and they are really keen and responsive, will sit at the front, while the ones you can see don't want to be there, emigrate to the back!

This 'natural law' unfortunately develops both a comfort zone and a class system within the church. Ask the people at the back if they would like to sit at the front! "No, that's for the really spiritual ones. We're not good enough to sit there!" And how many pastors want to sit at the back? Yet experience again tells me that the back is usually the best place to get a spiritual and physical overview of what is happening in the church.

The concept of servanthood should make leadership think again about taking the 'best seat' in the front row/s.

b. OUTSIDE THE CHURCH: We need to follow the pattern of the previous scripture. Do not accept better food than others. Or being served first. Or sitting in the most comfortable seats separated from others.

But at an Indian Wedding Reception you sit on the floor.

When you go into an older cathedral you see the preacher go up the stairs to a raised pulpit where literally, they speak down to the people.

Of course, we don't do that in modern churches! Or do we?

Firstly, we will generally speak from a raised platform. This is of course, practical, to be seen by the people. But how high does it need to be? Can we come down off it?

Secondly, very often still there is a considerable gap between the stage and the people. Maybe the choir, or leadership, sits here at a 90-degree angle to others, so pushing the congregation further back.

Thirdly, most preachers will stand behind a pulpit. Practical again, for something is needed to hold our notes. But does the pulpit have to be so big and ornate?

BEST BIBLICAL
In each and every case their ministry gifting and position is used as a job description and not a title! In fact, Paul, James, Peter, John and Jude all describe themselves as servants!

BIBLICALLY ACCEPTABLE
Yet in the church, we use job descriptions as titles more than they do in the world! This clearly reveals the level of pride that exists amongst the leadership of the church today. Supposedly in the name of honour! In reality, to raise one up!

BIBLICALLY INCORRECT!
This is particularly so amongst 'Pastors' and 'Revs'. While you may argue that the title is simply showing respect to the position, the reality is that the title automatically places a barrier between 'the Pastor' and the people.

Apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher should never be spelt with a capital! Unless, of course, they are at the beginning of a sentence, and then only to keep English teachers happy!

Jesus healing the lame man.

The role of leadership is to be that of a servant, as illustrated in the introductions to the Letters above.

The church will not move into the fullness of servanthood until the use of the ministry gifts as job titles ceases.

Worldly ways have penetrated and influenced the church in many ways. The problem is that we often don't realize how much we have been affected by the world and its way of doing things. The enemy in fact takes, twists, and exaggerates these things so that become more extreme inside the church than in the world!

Jesus washing the disciple's feet.

We need to seek the Father's will for our lives through the guidance of the Holy Spirit to follow the example Jesus gave us in His Word if we are to be truly become the servants we are meant to be.

Occasionally God impresses something important on you that you never forget.

One of these occasions for me was a vivid dream. And I don't normally remember dreams! Or many other things, for that matter!

Not only did He give me the dream, but on a trip to Africa a short while later, God precisely confirmed my dream in the natural. A bit upside down - like servanthood really! 'First in the spiritual, then in the natural!'

And finally, as we conclude our seven weeks study of servanthood, we must look to the ultimate srevant of all - our Savior and role model, Jesus.

We need to be both spiritual and practical in our approach to servanthood. To correct the ways in which things 'have always been done'. To act as Jesus would instead.

NEW ZEALAND MAORIS

Our native Polynesian people, the Maoris, came down the Pacific from Hawaii in canoes. An incredible feat. Here the old contrasts with the new at a parade in our capital city, Wellington. The facial tattoos are most probably, painted on!