I hate “lay people”

Posted on November 18, 2009 by Kary Oberbrunner

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“Lay people.”

I hate the term.

As if a few of us are ministers while the rest are second class Christians.

The Bible doesn’t read that way.

And it was never God’s heart…this clergy/laity divide.

You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:5-9

I’m lucky to serve at a church where we flip the paradigm.

Forget the 80/20 rule.

Most consider themselves ministers and most serve in a ministry.

Like Saturday.

We deliver 150 Thanksgiving meals to those in need.

Turkeys, pies, stuffing.

Just one facet of Grace Serve.

So are you a minister or just a “lay person”?

http://melindalancaster.com Melinda Lancaster

In light of your post I hate “lay people” too. Interestingly enough the dividing lines go much deeper. There is “paid staff pastors” and “unpaid staff pastors”. Ask most “paid staff pastors” when asked consider “unpaid staff pastors” to be “lay people” considering moving UP. UGH!
I though we were supposed to be decreasing so He can increase. In truth we are all called to be ministers–period. Along with you I lament the divide which has become a chasm in Christianity.
Glad you are able to see past it and share your heart. It has brought me encouragement tonight!
Thank you!

Kary Oberbrunner

Thanks Melinda.

marlin oyer

thank you Kary, Amen
ya gotta know who you are in Christ.
PastorJack

Umm…no. There is clearly an apostolic ministry of Word and Sacraments in Scripture exercised by the holy apostles and their successors the episkopoi (bishops), presbuteroi (elders, priests), and the diakonoi (deacons). Those who want to blur the line between the ordained ministers of Word and Sacraments and the laity (laos– people–which is itself an order in the Church) do so without any basis in Scripture. No the laity are not bishops, priests, and deacons. Their function is different. They are to live out the Christian life through their daily vocations. They do not exercise the public ministry of preaching, teaching, absolving, and administering the Sacraments. This is for those set apart through the laying on of hands and invoking of the Holy Spirit by those already in the apostolic ministry, ie. the bishops. Do not confuse the priesthood of all believers with the particular priesthood of those who are ordained. Yes, we all saved by God’s grace in Christ as a free gift, both clergy and laity. In that sense there is no difference. But we have different functions in the Church. Obscuring the roles of pastors and laity in the Church is the bane of Protestantism. It has lead to to the absolute breakdown of authority in the Church and the present crisis Protestant Christianity is presently facing.