CQOD: 05/17/07 -- Edge: the ministry of the clergy

Christian Quotation of the Day

May 17, 2007

Ascension

Meditation:
    Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God."
    -- Acts 8:20,21 (NIV)

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Quotation:
    God has called the laity to be his basic ministers. He has called some to be “player-coaches” ... to equip the laity for the ministry they are to fulfill. This equipping ministry is of unique importance. One is appointed to this ministry by the Holy Spirit; therefore it must be undertaken with utmost seriousness. This is a radical departure from the traditional understanding of the roles of the laity and the clergy. The laity had the idea that they were already committed to a “full-time” vocation in the secular world, [and] thus they did not have time—at least, much time—to do God’s work. Therefore they contributed money to “free” the clergy to have the time needed to fulfill God’s ministry. This view is rank heresy. If we follow this pattern, we may continue to do God’s work until the Lord comes again and never fulfill God’s purpose as it ought to be done.
    ... Findley B. Edge (1916-2002), The Greening of the Church [1971]

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Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, purge me of vain presumptions.

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See Believer's Desktop Companion 2007
    http://www.cqod.com/cqoddtcb.html

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