CLERGY/LAITY?

Clergy/Laity?                                                                                              11.13.12

I do not see a basis in Scripture for “Laity” as defined today. 
 Knowing there are other groups who hold this same view, I 
 have purposely avoided  the reasons  for their  positions.  A 
 person who  publishes a  paper, an article  or a  book with a 
certain view on doctrine, is obliged to use the same principle 
as one who  develops sensible  budgets year  after year.  Just
as zero based budgeting is the proper way to  develop a bud-
get,we who would study doctrine must use the Scripture as a 
base for  our doctrine,  not relying on that done before in the 
area.

  The only source we need to establish correct Bible doctrine 
is  Scripture  enlightened by  the Spirit of God.   It is evident,
much information on doctrine is based  upon  the  way things 
have been taught, tradition,with little reliance on God's Word.  
One  must leave preconceived  notions out  when studying the
Word, for any purpose. The Apostle Paul is said to have spent
have spent three  years in Arabia,  away from the  disciples or  Apostles, who went before,  for an understanding of  his doc-
trine. We must  then do as the Apostle did after his time alone 
with the Lord  and  communicate with those who were before 
us, to determine  whether we have  missed the mark.  Now, to 
the subject at hand: 

   Webster's dictionary defines laity as, "One
who is not  professionally or specially devo-
to a pursuit."  Just using the second  part of 
the definition;  Can we say a "lay" person is
not  specially devoted to  the pursuit  of  our
Lord, Jesus Christ? If I understand anything
about following the Lord Jesus Christ; when
one  receives  Him  as  Savior,  he  receives 
Him as Lord. 

                 Scripture in Romans 8: 14:
  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,
these are the sons of God." If we were to use
just this one passage,  there is doubt cast on
the validity of one  being a child of  God who 
not "specially devoted" to Him. There is also
a  passage in Revelation 3: 16 where Christ
says; "So  then, because you are lukewarm,
and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out
of  my mouth."  The Lord is disgusted with a
person who is  not specially devoted to Him,
and passionate about serving and in pursuit
of  such knowledge.  If  we  define a disciple 
as a learner, then, we must be passionate in 
the learning as well. 

     Another view of  this doctrine  is  found in
1 Peter 3:15. This passage says, "But Sanc-
tify the Lord God in your hearts, and  always
be ready to give a defense to everyone who
asks you a reason for the hope that is in you,
with meekness and fear."  This was not writ-
ten  to  professionals,  but  to everyone  who
names Jesus Christ as Savior. There is to be
careful preparation  for anyone who will be a
servant of the Lord.  There  is also the narra-
tive  concerning Phillip,  who  was instructed
from  the Spirit of  God to take a walk toward
Gaza.  Now,  this  Phillip  was  ordained as a 
deacon, not a "Minister" or "Pastor,"  but was
always  seeking for ways  to serve  his  Lord.
On his walk he encountered a high official of
Ethiopia, and  explained to him Jesus Christ.
He  was  immediately  translated from  there,
where we find  him preaching  the gospel  to
anyone who would listen.

    There was a man of God, Charles Haddon
Spurgeon, who never attended a university of
theological seminary,  nor was he ordained to
ministry by men.  Mr. Spurgeon is considered
to be one of the finest preachers of  the Gos-
pel of the era.  His Godly life speaks volumes 
as does his  prolific pen.  He is thought  of as 
a professional  and was  specially  devoted to 
Christ, but never consider himself "Clergy. He 
pastored a large church, and at the age of 20 
years exhibited a great depth of Spiritual ma-
turity rarely seen in persons of  any age. The 
following is an  exerpt from  his sermon  deli-
vered at New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, 
UK on January 7, 1855.        

   "He who often thinks of God will have a lar-
   ger  mind  than  the man who  simply  plods 
   around  this narrow globe.  The most excel-
   lent  study for expanding the soul, is the sci-
   ence of Christ, him crucified, and the know-
   ledge of the Godhead in the glorious Trinity. 
  Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing 
  so magnify the soul of man as a devout, ear-
  nest,  continued  investigation  of  the  great 
  subject of Deity..." 

      There are also the Scriptural qualifica-
tions for one to serve as a deacon with the
local assembly.  "Deacon" is a "Spiritual"
office, but  one who serves and assists  the 
widows in distribution of  goods and servi-
ces of  the church to disadvantaged.  Dea-
cons  serve  the  needs of  a  congregation, 
but must exhibit Spiritual  qualifications as
does a  pastor/clergyman. The only quality
required  for Pastor and not  for a Deacon,
is  "...apt to teach."  The  only way we may
justify "laity,"  is when we divide the life of 
a  child of God into two parts, sacred  and
secular.  As  Dr. Bob Jones, the  late foun-
der  of  Bob Jones  University,  Greenville,
S. C. said,  "For the Child of  God,  Life is
not  divided  into  sacred and  secular.  To
the Child of God, all things are sacred.   
  
There is also the principle of our attitude  
toward our  work.   Scripture says to the
Child of God, "Whatever thy hand finds to
do, do it with thy might."  It  would  seem,
then, the Child of  God  is working for the
Lord  even as  he performs  the job that is
providing income for himself,  his family
and  any "charitable deeds"  he might do.
Every  Child  of  God is  "full time"  as  he
serves his Lord. 

  This article is not intended to be an attack 
on the  “professional ministry,” but a remin-
der.  Every Child of God is expected to live 
to the fullest in service to His lord.  Nothing 
less will be blessed of God, nor can be. We 
could use the metaphor; husband and wife.   
I am not a professional husband and my in-
come  is not  derrived from  the practice  of 
husbanding.  It is foolish to say;  because I 
am not a paid husband, I am not devoted to 
my wife and am less passionate about this
relationship than one who  might be called 
a full-time husband. I'm not a paid husband 
and  earn an income doing something else. 
It  could be observed that the reason I have 
a  profession,  is  to  support  that  one rela-
tionship,  help  others  and support service 
to my Lord.

Post Script:  Is it possible there  are  men in today’s
pulpits who  were  never called of God  to  the Mini-
stry?  How does it work?  A man or  woman becomes 
involved in a local church, having had an experience 
of the New Birth.  At some time, this person becomes 
convinced the Lord has issued him or her a call into 
ministry.  As a rule,  the “called," attends a college, 
university or  Bible school and at  graduation offers 
to be in some sort of vocational ministry. There is a 
possibility this one is mistaken about the call of God 
or sees “Ministry” as  a  pleasant  way to earn a liv-
ing.  There is also the possibility the  person was not 
even born again; is deceived a charlatan or hypocrite. 

      Another scenario comes to mind:
Suppose a  young man or lady has true regeneration,  
is filled with  the Spirit, displaying leadership skills
that persons around him or her see as the Hand of 
God on the life.  This persons, not seeking an office
ministry or recognition, is chosen by God through
the people of God to a position of leadership.

Which of these illustrations is most likely to be
blessed of God?    

     One other possibility goes this way; Suppose a  
person begins in ministry; with little apparent suc-
cess and finally quits; a failure? 

It  happens multiplied times in  this  country  
today and has for years. The number of men 
leaving ministry  for  "secular"  work is sad,  
indeed.  There  is  more  than  one  possible 
explanation for this phenomenon.
.  
Here, we offer two:
In  Scripture  there  is  a description of  a 
class  or group of  persons of  whom  it is 
said, “the world was not worthy of them.”  
One  explanation might  be;  the group to 
whom  this  one attempted   honestly and  
in God’s will, to minister,  was unworthy 
of that person, so the Lord removed Him.
(Hebrews 11: 36-38)  Another possibility 
might go like this;  The person was doing
his/her best to minister in the flesh with-
out Holy Spirit annointing, not knowing
better and failed.

     A most important thing to keep in mind on
these  kinds of issues is;  you and I are not to 
judge  whether one  who is  ministering in the 
church is truly what he seems to be. That will 
be settled  by the Lord God who will judge the 
quick and the dead.  Judgment  belongs to the 
Lord. We are, I think, to be wise; not deceived
by every kind of doctrine.  There is a knowled-
geable  appraisal of  persons by each  believer,
and as long as our private knowledge of a per-
son  by their  "fruit," is never used  to verbally
condemn the person, it is right and proper, but
we  must not  be deceived by charlatans, hypo-
crites  or schizophrenics  who have a  guise of 
respectability through an assumed ministry.

   Spiritual discernment, achieved through dili-
gent  study of  the Word, and  consistently put-
ting this wisdom  into practice  through obedi-
ence is key.  Being an effective  knowledgeable 
servant of  the Lord  does not come  automati-
cally  just  because one has  put on  the mantle 
of  "Christianity,”  but is achieved through the 
hard, blessed  discipline of  prayerful study  of 
the Holy Scriptures, lived out daily.

 Note: In 2 Chronicles 35; 7, 12,13 in the New
King James Version of the Scripture, 1982, by
Thomas Nelson,  there are references to "lay" 
people with  an  apparent contrast between lay 
people  and the  priests  or  clergy.  This same 
Scripture in  King James Version, 1631, refers 
to people, or children of  the people and never 
uses the term "lay" people. I consider the refe-
rence to lay  people as a  fairly recent develop-
ment, and  possibly  a misinterpretation of  the 
intent of the Word of God. (The term "lay peo-
ple" probably refers to "people of the land", 
not adherents to Judaism.      

(edited 3.11.17)   donporter,sr