Church and oppression part I: Lording it over you

25Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:25-28 NIV)

So how did we stumble into forms of church that do just what Jesus referred to as an action of the Gentiles? Our churches typically have officials that exercise authority over the church. But Jesus said that the "great ones" are to serve.

Ephesians 4 talks of the "leaders" of the church, the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. But rather than "leading" or having authority, Paul writes that they are to "equip". In other words, according to Ephesians 4 the pastor has (or pastors have) the duty to equip, not rule. They aren't "in charge".

But the typical church structure has an authoritative body over it. Now, atypically, sometimes this body is less authoritative in practice and is really about equipping. I've been blessed to be a part of two bodies that were such (or maybe I was just less of a innovative renegade type then). But I've also been places where I've felt led to do one thing, and the pastors (or elders) have said "no" or hindered. It wasn't in their plans, or in their mindset.

Now, that's not to say that a leader should permit anything that someone feels inspired by God to do. But it does require a bit more work than "no" or lording it over. As a servant, not an overlord, these equippers should spend a season (or find someone to spend a season) with the person to see what is that desire and what God is up to in that person. Once clarity of what God is up to has occurred, the equippers are to help equip the person. In some cases, it may mean supporting the person in leaving to go elsewhere to do it.

Yet too often what really happens is the church represses someone, denying them from doing what they feel should be done. Independence in thinking is squashed. It "doesn't fit the vision". And rather than helping someone or a group find another place to be what God is calling them to be, they are left either repressed or abandoned to find somewhere else.

Is it no wonder that so few volunteer at church? The roles are cast by the authorities and too often you might as well be a puppet given the amount of freedom you aren't given in the role. It seems to have grown worse in recent years, as churches struggle to find volunteers they react in the opposite way than I think they should -- they simplify the tasks and provide "scripts" so all a volunteer has to do is show up and perform it. In reacting to the lack of volunteers, they've take the duties and removed any need for individuality, uniqueness, or creativity in the roles. Is it no wonder their volunteer crisis grows worse? What is needed is an environment that encourages and equips the disciple, and lets the Holy Spirit determine roles and how they fit.