What Does It Mean To Be A Minister?

What Does It Mean To Be A Minister?

The definition of the world "minister" from the original Greek, according to Strong's Concordance:

"One who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master, a servant, attendant, minister."

1a) the servant of a king
1b) a deacon, one who, by vitue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use
1c) a waiter, one who serves food and drink.

Fascinating that most think of a Minister as the power-tie wearing, spiritual authority figure and CEO of the local Christian franchise.

Wouldn't it be awesome if pastors and ministers simply loved and served people because it was what God called them to do and not because they were being paid handsomely?

As we've been exploring spiritual gifts I've realized that all spiritual gifts are for the benefit of others, not ourselves. The gift to pastor is intended to provide spiritual care for the rest of the Body, not a position of authority and power to be "Lorded over" the people of God.

If being a pastor is a gift from God, like the spiritual gift of encouragement or administration or speaking in tongues, this means that a twelve year old girl could have the gift to pastor others.

It also means that one could attend seminary and command a high salary at a mega-church and not have the gift to pastor at all.

God gives this gift to His people in order to make sure they are cared for and loved and are spiritually healthy, not so that some can be the center of attention at the expense of others.

-kg