Much can be said about the role that each of us ought to play in the local assembly in the future. But wouldn’t it also be helpful for us to stop and think about the role we have now? For, make no mistake, each of us already has a role, whether we realize it or not.
At the risk of over-simplifying, might we suggest that in any assembly there are four obvious roles. Some are edifying; some are not. Where do you fit?
The Whiner
Sooner or later most assemblies end up with someone to play this role. Under the pretext of shrewdness, the whiner proceeds to systematically criticize and discourage as many people in the assembly as possible. Nothing (at least nothing done by anyone else!) is perfect, and the whiner’s passion is to make sure we know it. And so no matter what godly and edifying service is undertaken, and no matter how much the rest of the assembly is encouraged by it, the whiner can be counted on to “call the assembly back to reality.”
The whiner thinks himself incisive and revolutionary, but Paul would tell us that grumbling is anything but new–there were murmurers in the wilderness, too. The Lord wasn’t impressed by their “shrewd” insights on the life of the people of God, for we are warned, “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer” (1 Cor. 10:10).
This role is an appealing one for many reasons. To begin with, it is the easiest. It requires no skill, no effort, no self-sacrifice, no suppressing of the flesh, no prayer, and no Bible study. It’s much easier to point the finger at others than it is to confess and repent of our failings.
When playing the whiner, one is never short of ammunition; there’s always lots to whine about. After all, the assembly is made up exclusively of sinners. As long as our eyes are looking horizontally, we will find much to complain about. But how different our ministry would be if instead we were to look up! “Set your [mind] on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2). Then we would see our brothers in Christ.
Are there problems in the local church? Without a doubt! Do our fellow believers have their faults? Certainly! But so do we, and if we expect them to put up with us, perhaps we ought to be as generous.
One more thing to consider: if we see a problem in the local church, wouldn’t it be better to try to solve it rather than complain about it? Perhaps, for example, we feel the church is cold and inhospitable. Instead of bemoaning it, why don’t we try to remedy it by being a good example of love and hospitality? Maybe the Lord has placed us in the local church in order that we might help meet the needs that are there rather than gripe about them.
When we are tempted to complain and criticize, let’s remember the example of our Lord Jesus. The Flawless One spent His days surrounded by a little group of stumbling sinners. He knew all their failings–even the hidden ones. He could have spent all His time listing those failings, but He didn’t. He had better things to do. And so do we.
The Watcher
The local church has often been compared to a professional football game in which there are 50,000 spectators in the stands, desperately needing exercise, watching 22 men on the field, desperately needing rest. In the local church it is easy to be a spectator. We may be moral, pleasant, enjoyable Christians. But are we just sitting in the stands watching the local church operate, or are we part of the activity?
There are many reasons we might fall into this role. Perhaps we think we have nothing to offer or have the mistaken notion that the only important roles in the church are those roles that are official: “preacher,” “elder,” “Sunday School teacher.” But the Scriptures repeatedly teach that all of us have a vital role to play in the local church. “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Pet. 4:10). “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal” (1 Cor. 12:7).
Or perhaps we fully intend to get involved and serve in the assembly…tomorrow. There are just a few responsibilities in secular life that we need to get out of the way first. Let’s realize that the devil is more than happy to have us intend to serve the Lord, just so long as we never get around to actually doing it. And this is why, over three millennia ago, Joshua gathered the people of Israel together at Shechem and told them that if they were going to serve the Lord they would have to do it “this day” (Josh. 24:15).
Don’t be content to simply watch the work of God in the local church–pitch in and use the gifts that God has given you.
The Worker
In 1 Thessalonians 1:3, we are told of that church’s “work of faith, and labor of love.” They didn’t spend their time complaining about the problems, or watching someone else do the work of God. They were busy laboring for the Saviour. We read that in Nehemiah’s day the people of God were successful in building the wall “for the people had a mind to work” (Neh. 4:6). Do we wish to see the local assembly built up today? It won’t happen unless we too have a mind to work.
Someone has quipped, “Too many people stop looking for work as soon as they find a job.” Is that true of our role in the assembly? Work is an unpleasant word these days. Work means effort. Work means sacrifice. Work means commitment. Those aren’t pleasant words these days either. Do we value our social calendars so highly that we are unable to commit to faithful and regular service in the assembly? Are we guilty of working harder for an earthly employer (and earthly pay) than for the One who bought us with His own blood? If we worked as hard in our secular jobs as we do in the assembly, would our employers decide it was time to “break fellowship” with us or would they be thankful to have such a hard-working employee?
How many times in the Bible are believers called “servants” or “slaves”? Surely each of these verses reminds us that we have work to do. But they also remind us that we have the best of examples, “For even the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mk. 10:45, nkjv). If we will commit ourselves to sacrificially, faithfully, and humbly serve others, then we will be walking in the footsteps of the Perfect Servant. Will it sometimes be hard? Yes. Will it sometimes be tiring? Yes. Will it cost us that which this world considers treasure? Yes. But will it be worth it? YES! For the very One who is the best of servants, is also the best of masters. In this world our work for others can go unnoticed. But it’s not unnoticed in heaven. Our Lord sees, appreciates, and rewards even the smallest of deeds done for Him. Even a cup of cold water given in this life yields eternal reward. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).
The Worshipper
Even though there is a great deal of work to be done, let us never forget that first of all the Father is seeking worshippers (Jn. 4:23). Perhaps we are workers instead of whiners or watchers. But are we worshippers?
As valuable as service for the Lord is, apart from worship it is empty religion. It is work that is done out of love for the Lord Jesus that is the hallmark of Christian service. Work done for work’s sake misses the point and cannot be sustained. Workers who aren’t first worshippers will end up as discouraged whiners or watchers. But if we will put the Lord first, we will discover worship is actually the foundation for our work, for our worship will energize our service, transform our character, and delight our Master.
Worship is the occupation of eternity. We have the privilege to start early. Let’s not let other activities–even good activities–distract us from the greatest activity of all.