Editorial:
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 4:10-11
This is a deliberately controversial title! There is a tendency among some faithful bible-believing churches to emphasise authority, hierarchy, and human organisation in ministry, and in doing so may miss important aspects of biblical teaching. For example, an over-emphasis on the model of church as flock, and the office, function and authority of pastor-teacher, may lead to downplaying key aspects of the bible’s understanding of church as building, body, family.
1 Peter like most New Testament epistles was written to all God’s people, not just leaders. In his introduction (1:1-12) he addresses “the elect”, and assures them that that they all receive the privileges of salvation, they are all part of a “royal priesthood” – these terms normally applied to an elite privileged by birth and/or special training are now given to even the most socially inferior and apparently unimportant lay believer in Christ.
In 4:10-11, there are a number of other points the apostle Peter makes to emphasise this “egalitarian” nature of the people of God.
“Each has received a gift”. To people used to a world of slaves and slave-owners, rich and poor, Peter says that the church is like a family where all the children are equally loved and have received something from the Father. A more contemporary illustration might be: the church is a team where everyone has something to contribute. Many churches believe this in theory, but in practice most of the ministry is done by a small percentage of people.
“Serve one another”. Again, in the original context this would have been radical and counter cultural. Resources, whether inherited or earned, would have naturally been used to benefit self or tribal group. The new Gospel ethic shows a different way: the resources entrusted to each member are to be used for mutual service of one another in the church fellowship.
“Good stewards of God’s grace”. When we think of grace our minds tend to go to the saving work of Christ for us, and this message and the reality of atonement, forgiveness and justification is certainly one of the great things God has entrusted to all his people. But that is not all. God’s grace is “varied”. In this context it refers to all the gifts that God gives to his people, including through one another.
There are two examples of God’s grace being channelled through members of his church: speaking and serving. Both are important in terms of the goal of the glory of God. There’s no sense of hierarchy, rather the point is that God himself speaks through those who speak in his name, and he supernaturally strengthens those who serve.
We serve “by the strength that God supplies”. John Piper points out that this is for today and tomorrow: “God goes on, day by day, moment by moment, supplying the strength in which we [every Christian] minister. This means that spiritual gifts are fulfilled by the power of future grace…”
There are different views within the Gafcon family about the role and ministry of women in terms of church order. However, there should be agreement that each member of the body of Christ ministers to others in the power of God’s grace, trusting in that same grace for future ministry. Each member’s contribution is different, reflecting the diversity of God’s creation, but each is of equal value in his sight. This is supernatural, and egalitarian.