Electrolytes.

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The week before last my wife, Audrey, had to go to the hospital because of pressure in her head. In addition, she was extremely weak. The diagnoses were varied, including tuberculosis in one lung and a kidney infection. However, the main culprit turned out to be a lack of sodium due to the daily use of a diuretic. I would never have believed that a low balance of an electrolyte could have such a devastating effect on an individual.

(9/30/2007) I was preaching from the second chapter of the Book of Revelation concerning the church in Pergamum. We got as far as "you have those who hold to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans." "Nico" refers to the idea of conquering. "Laitans" refers to people, according to my understanding. So the doctrine of the Nicolaitans may refer to that which conquers the people.

This made me think of the priest-people concept which came from the Jewish arrangement through the Catholic Church through the Protestant churches to the present day. It is that of the clergy-laity division.

We are so accustomed to giving our spiritual proxy to a "minister" that we simply cannot comprehend the nature of the one Body of Christ. There are no clergy-laity distinctions in the Body of Christ, and the custom of referring to a "minister" as a clergyman is understandable, giving the historical precedent, but it really is a destructive practice.

It is not at all helpful to have "superior" Christians sitting on the platform. Obviously this is going to cause those in the congregation to feel they are inferior!

Why is it destructive? Because it robs the great majority of believers of the motive to seek their unique gifts and ministries. We Americans who love money, sexual enticement, and power, willingly give our proxy to the minister. The minister prays. The minister seeks God on our behalf. But we are to spend our efforts in the world, where our heart is.

Isn’t it about time for this abomination to cease? The only manner by which any of us can come to the fullness of Christ is through the ministries of all the members of the Body. We give lip service to this idea. But every time we refer to a clergy, a laity, a reverend, we show clearly that we do not believe that the Body of Christ is made up of many contributing members, all of equal importance.

All of equal importance? Where do I get that?

Think about the sodium ions. How much do you know about them? Did you ever hear of anyone falling in love with a person because of his or her sodium ions? Probably not.

Suppose the mouth (the pastor) says to the sodium ions (some of the congregation, maybe), who needs you? You are not important. I am important. I am the mouth. I sit in one of the big chairs on the platform. I am someone of importance around here!

The sodium ions say, "Oh is that so!" I think we will just take a little vacation and see how you do, big mouth." Pretty soon big mouth is on his back in the hospital, scarcely coherent. He no longer is able to preach the Word. All he can do is hope that soon the doctor will put enough sodium back into him so he knows where he is and can get out of bed without help.

A proper balance of electrolytes is necessary if we are to be able to live, move, and have our being, even though we never see them.

So it is in the Body of Christ. Each and every member is needed. There are no members who are clergy. There are no members who are laity. There are no members who are reverends. All of us are necessary if the saints are to be brought to maturity.

If we only knew, each of us, the vast treasures that await us if we use the talents God has given us to build up His Kingdom. But if we do not use our talents, and I would venture to say that the majority of believers in America have never taken the time to find out from the Lord what their gifts and ministries are, we are in danger of the outer darkness.

Without doubt the churches of the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation were not perfect in the sight of Christ. Yet the Apostle Paul spoke of a Church without spot or wrinkle.

How are we going to have a mature, perfected Church? Only as the members of the Body of Christ cease giving their spiritual proxy to a "minister" and begin to exercise their unique gifts and ministries.

To not do so is to displease Christ greatly, and none of us wishes to do that!

You can hear the morning sermon at morning. http://www.wor.org/audio/audio.htm

You can hear the evening sermon at evening. http://www.wor.org/audio/audio.htm

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