Roles In The Church

by Bill McKay

Many times we talk about our role in life. Sometimes we question how satisfied we are with our position in society. We wonder how we will spend the rest of our working life. Rarely do most people stop and think about their responsibilities and role as members in the Church of Jesus Christ. In his letter to the Ephesians (Eph. 4:7-16), the Apostle Paul explains how some people are called to be pastors, some apostles, some teachers, some prophets, some evangelists. Is this a comprehensive list? Does this list cover every member in the church? The answer to these questions is a resounding yes! As members of the Church of Jesus Christ, we all have certain responsibilities and a particular role to play.

Does this mean that we all have the same role? As members of the church, we have all received different gifts with which we are to edify and build up the body of believers. Not everyone has the gift of preaching or teaching or evangelism. But we may have the gift of visiting or the gift of hospitality, so it is not a case of saying you have no gifts to offer. If we are to be seen as true believers, we must use those gifts.

Christ himself tells us in Matthew 7:17-20 that "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them." (NKJV)

We do not all have the same gifts, but we do have the same role to play in our lives as members of the Church of Jesus Christ. Our role is to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. This is the role that all Christians are commanded to follow. In its simplest essence, it is to teach others. In our role as parents, we are to teach our children. We are to teach our children in the ways of the Lord. We are to teach God’s commandments and His covenantal promises. We are to teach our children sound doctrine so that they may be able to discern what is right and profitable and to learn to stay away from what is wrong and sinful.

"Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall write them on your doorposts of your house and your gates." (Deuteronomy 11:18-20 NKJV)

Parents are to diligently use all opportunities in life to teach their children.

Jonathan Edwards, the noted New England Reformed theologian (1703-1758), stated in his "Farewell Sermon" that "family education and order are some of the chief means of grace. If these fail, all other means are likely to prove ineffectual."

The main thrust of this statement centres on the fact that if there is little or no biblical teaching of Christian principles and doctrines in the home, then any other method is likely to be ineffective because there is no basis for learning more about God. There is no effort to learn because biblical study is then seen to be very unimportant. We realize that only the work of the Holy Spirit on their hearts can give people the desire to want to learn more about God, but that does not take away the responsibilities and role as parents to teach these doctrines and principles.

There is a great urgency in the Reformed Church today that family devotions have become very weak or virtually non-existent. The concerns we face today are echoes of the concerns faced by the early Reformed Church. Family devotions were considered such an integral part of worship that the Church of Scotland, at their General Assembly in 1647, issued a Directory for Family-Worship that explains the importance of family-worship.

"The ordinary duties comprehended under the exercise of piety, which should be in families, when they are convened to that effect, are these: First, Prayer, and praises performed, with a special reference, as well to the condition of the Kirk of God, and this kingdom, as to the present state of the family, and every member thereof. Next reading of the Scriptures, with catechizing in a plain way, that the understandings of the simpler may be better enabled to profit under the public ordinances, and they made more capable to understand the Scriptures when they are read: together with godly conferences tending to the edification of all the members in the most holy faith: as also, admonition and rebuke, upon just reasons, from those who have authority in the family. The head of the family is to take care that none of the family withdraw himself from any parts of family-worship; and seeing the ordinary performance of all the parts of family-worship belongeth properly to the head of the family, the minister is to stir up such as are lazy, and train up such as are weak, to fitness for these exercises."

First there is prayer and worship, followed by the reading of Scripture, which is followed by the catechizing of the children. The question then comes, "Who is responsible for this family worship?" The head of the family. The fathers have a great biblical responsibility to catechize (or teach) their children. This is the role fathers must play in raising their children with the mothers assisting in this development. In addition, the ministers and elders of the church do not get off easily. They also have a great responsibility in family worship. By the Act of Assembly of the Church of Scotland (1596, ratified again in

December 17 & 18, 1638), the minister and the elders of the church were required to ask the following questions during their house visitations:

"Whether God be worshipped in the family, by prayers, praises, and reading of the Scriptures? Concerning the behaviour of servants towards God and towards man; if they attend family and public worship? If there be catechizing in the family?"

The pastor and the elders of the church are called to be teachers in the church. But their main responsibility and role is to teach the parents so that the parents will have the tools and the knowledge to teach their children. With the advent of Sunday School, Youth Groups, etc., some parents have become more and more reliant on the pastors, elders, and other members of the church to teach their children. One reason for this pattern could be laziness, but in most cases, it comes from a lack of confidence due to inadequate teaching to the parents. The pastors and the elders really need to strive to provide assistance in this area to the parents. During our observance of Covenantal Baptism, parents are asked if they promise to instruct their children in the truth of God’s Word and in the way of salvation through Jesus Christ. The members of the congregation are then asked if they will assist the parents in these duties. The congregation are not asked to replace the parents as teachers but are asked if they will assist the parents. The focus of teaching our children needs to be placed back where it belongs, on the heads of the households with assistance from the congregation. This is not to say there is no place for Youth Groups and Sunday Schools in our churches, but we need a return to the model that was shown to us by the Apostolic Church and confirmed by the historical Christian church.

The question then arises about what materials to use in teaching your children. All of the following should be used with a good study Bible:

Heidelberg Catechism
Belgic Confession
Canons of Dort
Westminster Catechism

God has provided the historic Christian church with the materials that are needed to teach along with His Holy Word. Parents, teach your children!