Service the Purpose of the Church
Chas. De Witt Boardman, D. D. Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; The text is clouded by a wrong punctuation. If a single comma be dropped, so as to make the text read, "He gave some, pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministering," it will clearly express what some expositors believe is its meaning, and be in harmony with what is taught elsewhere in the New Testament as to the duty which is owed by the Church to the world. "The saints" have a ministry if "the Body of Christ" is to be "edified." The Church is not to be as a lake without any outlet — a mere glass in which the sky is reflected — but a reservoir that yields what it receives for the health of mankind. Every member has something to do. Every Christian is to be a channel of blessing to others, "even as the Son of Man came, not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many." I. In the development of this theme let us consider, first, THE DISPARITY IN CIRCUMSTANCE AND CONDITION BETWEEN OURSELVES AND THE VAST MULTITUDE OF OUR FELLOW MEN; THE CONTRAST BETWEEN OUR AND THEIR MORAL EXPERIENCE. If there be anything approaching the truth in our oft-repeated confessions, we have entered, through Christ, upon an ample inheritance of privilege and honour and power. Our sins are forgiven; a new life has been given us; we live in God's fellowship. "All things are yours," says the apostle, "whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours." And what deed ever conveyed riches like these? "Why am I, honest and industrious, harassed and tormented, while dishonesty thrives, and has the world, cap in hand, at its feet? Where is the evidence of the love, or the wisdom, you preach? Where even is justice? It is a bad world; and the best thought about life is, that it will soon come to an end." II. This brings us, second, TO THE PRINCIPLE WHICH IS EXPRESSED IN THE TEXT, AND ON WHICH ALONE THESE INEQUALITIES CAN BE JUSTIFIED. Every variety implies in some sense superiority or inferiority. But who would wish for a mere uniformity, which would be the destruction of all that is interesting, of all that is beautiful, of all emulation, of all excellence? Who cannot see that to receive from one another and to impart to each other what we mutually lack, is a far better thing than to be born to an exact equality of advantages? Variety is essential to the proper development of society; and whilst God alone can explain why the obvious advantage is with one man, or with one class instead of another, still He takes from it all that is invidious by associating with privilege the responsibility of service. Turn, for illustration of this, to the account of the calling of Abraham. He was chosen out of the ranks of his countrymen, and out of the world of his day, for special enlightenment; to hear a Divine voice that was unheard by all others, and to realize a communion more elevated and purer than theirs. And why? Did it denote that he monopolized the Divine favour? that those who were left in the dark had no part in the thoughts and the purposes of Jehovah? On the contrary, he was elected for their sakes; in him, who was thus favoured and quickened, all the nations of the earth were to be blessed. And this is always the end which God has in view in the appointment of any to superior possession and privilege. Their endowment is to bring good to the many. Every great movement in social or political life may be traced to some individual, or to some company of men, who have been privileged to originate the high enterprise. The diffusion of truth is not by the equal instruction of all men at the same moment, but by circles and schools who have found out the truth, and through whom it spreads out until it becomes the possession of all. The preference is shown to the few in the interest of the many. And it is the same in respect of the Church. Those in its fellowship are to serve; for it exists not for itself, but for man, for humanity at large; because man is comprehended in the great love of the Father and in the scope of the redemption which Christ came to accomplish. (Chas. De Witt Boardman, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; WEB: He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;