God Provides the Workers

I have agonized over a big problem in the church. It's the problem of workers. In the churches I've served for ten years, we have had a system for finding workers. It's called the "Nominating Committee." The Nominating Committee is not a biblical idea, it is rather, a political idea. This idea was taken by early Baptists from the democratic process of electing people to serve in various governmental positions. We still see this today in the Democratic or Republican National Conventions. A candidate is nominated by a committee to serve in a position. That candidate is voted upon, being either accepted or rejected. If accepted, they are nominated to the American people who then vote on who they will accept. The last several elections have seen many people not like any of the nominees, but that's another story.

In the church, we do the same thing. We nominate a committee, who then nominates people to serve in the various organizational positions; choir director, Sunday school teacher, VBS director, maintenance committee, etc. The Nominating Committee looks around once per year and solicits workers, usually keeping the same people who did it last year, or otherwise attempting to coerce new people to fill slots that have been vacated. You often hear, "If no one else will do it, I'll do it." The Committee then takes the report to the church who votes on it as a slate nomination. In other words, accept them all or accept none. 

Oddly enough, we never find anything like that in Scripture. In Exodus 31:1-11, we find God's plan of placing workers.

"[31:1] The LORD said to Moses, [2] “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, [3] and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, [4] to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, [5] in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. [6] And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: [7] the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, [8] the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, [9] and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, [10] and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests, [11] and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.” (Exodus 31:1-11 ESV)

Here's God's plan in a nutshell. 1) God calls us by name; 2) God gifts us according to the need; 3) God appoints us to the work; 4) we obey God.

In the New Testament there is much said about gifting, calling, appointment, and obedience; but it works essentially the same way.

An interesting series of events has occurred at Live Oak since the announcement of the Freedom Life service. God has been calling people out. God has been gifting people according to the need. God has been appointing people to the work. People have been obeying God and doing wonderful and creative new things.

As pastor, what do I do in this process? Praise God!!