I was delighted to hear from RJ and the Ruffrages's (and others) concerning the possibilities of every Christian performing pastoral functions. This is what I have come to see, too.

Yes, the elders (older ones) are to give special attention to this work (1 Pet 5, Act 20), but THAT AIN'T ALL.

Go with me, now.... Would it be wrong for younger ones, as well, to engage in this shepherding work as opportunities avail and the realization sets in that we are our brother's keeper? No! Or would it be wrong to pray in public just because a particular passage directs us to the closet? No! And would it be a violation for a wife to love her husband since it is the husbands who are specifically commanded to love their wives? Hardly.

There are multitudes of statements as these in the scriptures that cannot be taken exhaustively. One other comes to mind at this moment: For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Would we say there was absolutely no grace or truth prior to Christ's advent? I think not. Noah, for example, found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

What am I trying to say? Simply that there were not originally the rigorous confines upon the saints in this matter of gifts. I am also suggesting that there are varied degrees of overlapping dimensions in God's purposes and plans for the saints.

I am also suggesting that things do not fit into the neat little boxes that we are so fond of. In the New Testament we are often dealing with extemporaneous and "occasional" exhortations, not some kind of Euclidean mathematics. This is why none of the lists of ministries or giftings exactly correspond. It's also why that the NT passages which quote the OT, do not do so verbatim.

These things in no way depreciate the integrity of God's word, but just remind us of its context. The context of God's written revelations is real life - not a systematic theology, indexed with cross-references and footnotes. Neat little boxes have greatly obscured God's truth, especially since the Reformation. I'm referring to the difference between "the truth" and "the whole truth".

Again, I am not against the systematic study of any discipline, especially God's revelation, provided things are kept in their original perspective. I have a book entitled: "Symphonic Theology" which is to be preferred to "systematic theology".

When we look at Eph 4, we have placed, I believe, an inordinate emphasis on the word _some_: _some_ prophets, _some_ apostles, etc. We have also mistakenly presumed that the _some_ implied a higher ranking. Not so.

The word that Scripture emphasizes in this matter is _every_ or _each_. The _some_ is just a subset of the _every_ . Special gifts, enablements, graces are manifested in each believer - no one is the same. All are not prophets, teachers, or apostles, but all have something that will benefit the whole. All are thus indispensable in God's economy.

1 Cor. 3:5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe -- as the Lord has assigned to each his task.

1 Cor. 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

1 Cor. 12:11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

Eph. 4:7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

_______________________________________ More from H. Snyder:

4. The tendency to exaggerate some gifts and depreciate others. This is one of the most serious and most common distortions of spiritual gifts-the tendency to restrict legitimate gifts to only certain specific ones. How serious this aberration has become is seen in the fact that any discussion of spiritual gifts today usually becomes sidetracked on the question of tongues. The tendency to think of spiritual gifts only in terms of the more spectacular gifts such as tongues, healing or prophecy is an aberration which must be avoided. All gifts are important, all gifts are necessary and all are given by God for the common good.

***An examination of the relevant biblical passages suggests that the various gifts mentioned are intended as representative, not exhaustive.*** The multiform operation of the Spirit may awaken an infinity of gifts; gifts may be as varied as human personality. The New Testament lists the specific leadership gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist and pastor-teacher (Eph. 4:11; 1 Cor. 12:28). But such designations as utterance of knowledge, helps, service, acts of mercy and so forth, may be understood as general categories which include a wide spectrum of specific gifts and ministries. Thus any ability ignited and used by the Holy Spirit-whether in music, art, writing, intercessory prayer, homemaking, hospitality, listening or whatever-is a legitimate spiritual gift. If God has given the gift, then it is good and is intended to be used. The biblical teaching is plain: "As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:... In order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 4:10-i I)

The problem, too often, is the failure to affirm the full range of gifts~the failure to appreciate "God's varied grace." The fact is that all gifts are important, and none is an anomaly when exercised rightly in the context of community. Thus it is as wrong to over emphasize preaching and teaching and to deny tongues and healing as it is, on the contrary, so to emphasize the more spectacular gifts that the more mundane gifts are lost sight of. The Holy Spirit acts so "that there may be no discord in the body" only when all gifts are affirmed and operate cooperatively. To quote David Mains again,

Every true member of the local church has a minimum of one gift, and most people have many. Since no one has every gift, and everyone has at least one, there exists an interdependence among the members of the church. Scripture teaches (1 Cor. 12:22-25) that the less spectacular gifts are more necessary than the showy ones. In other words the church can go a long time without a miracle, but let it try to exist without acts of mercy or contributions!... How disabled the body of Christ has become because our primary Purpose for church attendance has been to hear one man exercise his gifts, rather than to prepare all the people to develop their gifts for ministry, not only within the church but also to society.

The function of a local church should be to expect, identify and awaken the varied gifts that sleep within the community of believers. When all gifts are affirmed under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and in the context of mutual love, each gift is important and no gift becomes an aberration. Whether the Holy Spirit chooses to grant to a particular congregation all the gifts mentioned in Scripture remains, of course, a divine option. We have nothing to say about that, for the Holy Spirit is sovereign. We can be sure, however, that God will give to each local church all the gifts really necessary for its own upbuilding in love.

The Problem of Wine Skins, Howard A. Snyder. Inter-Varsity Press, Downers Grove, IL pgs. 134-135.

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Acts 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

Hebr. 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

1Cor. 14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

In the service of his Majesty,
David Anderson