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Throughout history, the church has been composed of two types of people - those who "do" ministry and those to whom ministry is "done." Exploring the theological, structural, and cultural reasons for treating laypeople as objects of ministry, Stevens challenges the idea that a select few are called to minister to others and argues that the clergy-laity division is not only biblically wrong but practically counterproductive.
All Christians are called to live in faith, hope, and love and to do God's work in the church and world. This biblical perspective has serious implications for the existing attitudes and practices of many churches as well as for our understanding of ministry. For too long, people's daily lives have been separated from the life of the church. Effectively eliminating "the laity" as second-class church citizens, Stevens argues that churches need to recognize, support, and equip people for ministry in their homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods. This thought-provoking book, made even more useful with case studies and study questions at the end of each chapter, offers inspiring reading for anyone interested in what the Christian life holds for the other six days of the week.
Throughout history the church has been composed of two types of people—those who “do” ministry and those to whom it is “done.” In this provocative book R. Paul Stevens shows that the clergy-laity division has no basis in the New Testament and challenges all Christians to rediscover what it means to live daily as God’s people. Exploring the theological, structural, and cultural reasons for treating laypeople as the objects of ministry, Stevens argues against the idea of clericalism. All Christians are called to live in faith, hope, and love, and to do God’s work in the church and world. This biblical perspective has serious implications for the existing attitudes and practices of many churches as well as for our understanding of ministry. Stevens shows that the task of churches today is to equip people for ministry in their homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods.Written by a scholar and pastor well known as an active advocate for the whole people of God, this thought-provoking book—made even more useful with the inclusion of case studies and study questions at the end of each chapter—offers inspiring reading for anyone interested in what the Christian life holds for the other six days of the week.
R. Paul Stevens is professor emeritus of marketplace theology and leadership at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia.
