When Clowney penned this book back in 1964, I wonder if he would know how appealing the notion of shared-authority type of leadership structure would be. As we transit from the boomers to the millennials, we probably will see a shift of submissive obedience to an anti-institutional anti-authority posture.
For those of us who have been in church for some time, we would be familiar with the jostling of position/power, and perhaps had even engaged in that some time or other. We demand that our leaders earn our respect before they try to instruct (or put it less politically correctly boss us around). But what Christ taught and demonstrated at the cost of his life (see second last paragraph in the excerpt below) has a timeless application. Stott in page 38 of his devotional "Through the Bible Through the Year" highlights that the apostle John contrasted Cain and Christ - "Whereas Cain hated and murdered his brother, we are called like Christ to love others and lay down our lives for them (1 John 3:11-17)."
We probably would recognise the self-serving, attention-grabbing and power-hungry carnal natures within ourselves. We just see it better in others. I recall a friend recounting a story of a brilliant pastor who was being honoured at a large gathering, perhaps a conference. Yet his response was that he reluctantly accepted the honouring, because he would rather have received his gift from his Father in heaven.
Will we serve Christ's bride, the church, without clamouring for recognition? When we are given increasing amounts of responsibility, can we continue sacrificially minister even if our pastor would never find out? Will we give of ourselves, without expecting anything in return from those under our care? Will we look forward to time eternal, perhaps just to see the smile of our beloved Jesus Christ for having been faithful on this earth?
From Page 41-42 of: Called to the Ministry
A minister is a servant; Christ is the one Lord, who must rule until all his enemies are put under his feet (1 Cor. 15:25; Col. 3:1 ). No one is called to lord it over the flock of Christ (1 Pet. 5:3); no throne is set in the church but the one at God's right hand. On the other hand, every Christian, called by Christ's name, is united to Christ in glory. He sits with Christ in the heavenly places, and is called a king, a son of God in him (Eph. 2:6, 1 John 3:1).
Spiritual dominion by princes of the church is doubly impossible: Christ the king is with his people; his people are kings with Christ. Can any officer outrank an "ordinary" Christian who shares Christ's throne and will judge angels? (1 Cor. 6:3). Christ's total rule obliterates all hierarchy. The Mediator does not need mediators (1 Tim. 2:5).
No, the minister is not a prince, not even a master (Matt. 23:8-12). He is a servant. But Christ is a Servant, too. The Lord became the Servant; he came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28). His service fulfilled all the ministry to which the people of God are called, just as his sufferings bore all the judgment their rebellion deserved. The church has one Minister, one Apostle and High Priest of our confession (Heb. 3:1).
To the fellowship of his ministry Christ calls every Christian. When the apostles argued about rank in the kingdom, he offered his cup of suffering (Matt. 20:22); for patterns of ministry he gave them a basin and a towel (John 13:4-14). Every Christian, then, is called to share both the ministry of the cross and the dominion of the crown.
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