Another completely opposite meaning

Below in your front page feed is a post about pastors being encouraged to support others. The context is financial support. Untold millions of times, the church has been told to "support the pastor".

Another complete reversal of meaning regards the ministry. Most Christians still do not regard themselves as ministers or servants. And their actions usually demonstrate it. Please notice that the ministry belongs to every believer - young or old.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Ephesians 4: 11-12.

It is the saints who are performing this work. Ministry is not an office.

We daily lament the lack of influence of the Christian church at large. But we can only blame ourselves that we are certainly not the servant church which God intended. We thank God for the exceptions - but they are much too few.