TRADITION: Only the Pastor and Evangelist are God's gifts for the Work of the Ministry. The Pastors, Evangelists and Missionaries must do the work of the ministry, witnessing, soul-winning, teaching, church cleaning, bottle-washing etc. 'After all, isn't that what they were hired to do?' 'Yeah, they are getting paid so, it's their job to do the "work of the ministry" isn't it?'
TRUTH: All Born-Again Believers are equipped with a Spiritual Gift to do the Work of the Ministry. Ephesians 4:11 does say God gave the Gifts of Evangelist and Pastor-Teacher to the Church, but, as we read on vs. 12 completes the thought, describing the purpose of God in giving these Gifts. Yes, the Evangelist and Pastor-Teacher must perfect or mature the saints to do the work of the ministry. Each Believer has a spiritual gift given to them by the Holy Spirit! (Romans 12:6-8; I Corinthians 12:1-31). If the Believer is not exercising their Spiritual Gift in ministry to the Lord and man in and through the Local Church as God planned, they are not doing God's will and therefore are out of His will for their life. We must all remember the slogan of General Booth, founder of the Salvation Army: "Saved to Serve" If we are not serving the Lord Jesus Christ we are like fish out of water for He came to serve! He must be our Perfect Pattern in all things!