Saturday I went to visit a friend in the hospital. She has cancer and the doctors are not giving her long to live. I don’t go to hospitals very often. Usually it’s been to visit friends and family who have had babies. I don’t really know what you do or say when people are really sick and the prognosis is not good.
I know in the Bible, God gives us hope… hope for healing, hope for comfort, hope for a new, better life with Him after death. I have a hard time remembering the exact verses, so I brought a Bible with me.
While I was waiting in the lobby for an elevator, three other people arrived. One of them noticed the Bible and asked, “Are you a minister?”
Want to know how I responded?
Well, to be honest I was caught off guard by the question and replied awkwardly with something like, “Well, not officially. I’m just here to visit a friend.”
He replied wishing my friend well, and they got on the next elevator.
Something about my answer didn’t sit right with me. I immediately started replaying the conversation in my mind, trying to think of what I wish I would have said. (Ever do that?)
What is a minister?
What is a minister? Someone who has been ordained (i.e. certified by an official church)? A paid representative of God? Someone who is more holy or knowledgeable than the rest of us?
That’s what a lot of people believe.
The Bible tells us that when we receive Jesus’ death as payment for of our sins and make Him the lord (leader) of our life, that God’s Holy Spirit comes to live within us, filling us with God’s power, love, and wisdom. He gives us the Holy Spirit so that we can love (aka minister to) those around us
God does not give any special power, rights, or access to ordained clergy.
Yes, ministers tend to have a better understanding of God because they’ve spent more time studying God’s word. Yes, pastors tend to be better at ministering to other people because they’ve been trained and have experience interacting with people in hospitals, funerals, marriage counseling, etc.
But what is that compared to the wisdom and experience of the Holy Spirit who guides every Christian?
Are you?
If I had the chance to do that conversation again, I would say, “Yes, I am a minister. Is there anything I can do for you?”
And if you follow Jesus, you are a minister too.
Really!
If you think otherwise, you are dissing yourself and more importantly dissing the Spirit of God who lives within you.
Have you been doing that? Have you been dissing yourself and God like I did?