It should be understood that the word "minister,"
in the above text, does not necessarily mean "preacher." A
minister is a servant, one who ministers or serves.
In the text just quoted, the word "servant" indicates a more
complete and humble servitude than the word "minister."
The difference is shown in the margin of the Revised
Version, where we have "servant" given as the
equivalent of "minister," and "bondservant" as the equivalent of
"servant." The word rendered "minister" is the
ordinary word for servant, while that rendered "servant" is the
usual word for slave. Now note the gradation
in which they are used by the Lord. He who will be great in the
church, must be a servant; but he who will be
chief, must be a bondservant. That is, the degree of greatness
depends upon the completeness of the service
and the giving up of self to Christ.
So we learn from the words of the Saviour, that
there is to be no such thing in the church of Christ as the exercise
of authority such as is known in civil government.
The church is on an entirely different plane from the State.
There is no likeness whatever between them. The
kingdom of Christ is a thing entirely different from human ideas
of government. He said, "My kingdom is not of
this world." John 18:36. They who think to understand the
working of Christ's kingdom by studying earthly
models, are proceeding in the wrong way, and are working in the
dark.
We have read in 1 Corinthians 12:28 that "governments"
are among the gifts that God has bestowed upon the
church; but we shall come more closely to God's
idea of government if we note that the Revised Version gives the
alternative reading, "wise counsels." One of
the titles of Christ, as the one upon whose shoulder the government
is laid, is "Counselor"; He is "wonderful in
counsel," and so He provides wise counsels for the government of
His church, said counsel to be derived solely
from Him, who alone is the Source of wisdom. He governs by love.
His counsel is "the counsel of peace."
Recall again the words of 1 Peter 5:3. The elders
or bishops he exhorts not to be "lords over God's heritage, but
being ensamples to the flock." There can therefore
be in the true church of Christ no such thing as a "Lord
Bishop." That is one of the fruits of the unlawful
connection of the church with the world. Christ is the only Lord;
but here again we shall grievously err if we
think of Him as occupying the "lordly" position of earthly lords. He is
"meek and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11:29), and
all men have to learn humility from Him who is "Lord over all." He
calls upon them to humble themselves to walk
with Him. Micah 6:8, margin
The church of Christ, as directed by the Lord
Himself, is the only place on earth where "liberty, equality, and
fraternity" can be fully realized. The apostle
Peter proceeds, "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the
elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another,
and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and
giveth grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5. The
trouble with earthly associations formed for the purpose of
promoting liberty and equality on earth, is that
they are only human organizations, directed only by human
wisdom and human power, and among men self is
bound to predominate. Only the Spirit of Christ is unselfish.
"Rank," as known among men, is unknown to the
church of Christ. There is no such thing as one setting himself
up above another, or allowing himself to be so
placed or considered. That pertains to the princes of this world,
but the words of Christ are, "It shall
not be so among you." Christ "emptied Himself," and therefore self has
no
place in His body, the church. To the Jews He
said, "How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another,
and seek not the honor that cometh from God?"
John 5:44. Through the apostle Paul He said, "Be kindly
affectioned one to another with brotherly love;
in honor preferring one another." Romans 12:10. Again, "Let
nothing be done through strife or vainglory;
but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than
themselves." Philippians 2:3. Love "seeketh not
her own." 1 Corinthians 13:5. "Be not ye called Rabbi: for one is
your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren."
Matthew 23:8
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