Lausanne World Pulse – Themed Articles – Tear Down this Wall: A Note for Pastors and Laity

By Kent Humphreys
April 2010

Obstacles for the Laity
 Let us now address some of the reasons laity have chosen to let the walls remain.

  • They have little or no idea of the biblical teaching of the “priesthood of every believer.”
  • They think the “professional” has a “special” call, and that they are very ordinary.
  • They have no understanding of the principle of biblical “calling.”
  • They do not understand the biblical model of the equipping ministry of the saints.
  • They do not see their responsibility to be doing the ministry where they live, work, and play.
  • They have bought into the fact that they are to help the pastor and the professional church staff to do their ministry.
  • They would rather pay hired “professionals” to do it than to have to do it themselves.
  • They would rather tell the pastor what to do and have him take care of them, pray for them, preach for them, entertain them, and make them feel good.
  • They like creating heroes and putting pastors on pedestals as celebrities, then they love to take them down when they fall.
  • They do not feel qualified, trained, or gifted.
  • They do not want to be full-time ambassadors for Christ and on call twenty-four hours a day.
  • They want the freedom to do their own thing.
  • They are afraid God might call them to be missionaries to some far-off land.

Suggestions for Pastors in Equipping the Laity
What can a pastor do to break down the walls? Let me share a few suggestions I give in my book, Shepherding Horses.1

  • Instead of trying to build your church or create programs, try to build bridges of long-term relationships and concentrate upon a few at a time. Do not worry about what others will think or about losing your job. Follow the model of Jesus.
  • Seek to understand the issues those in your church are having, particularly in the workplace. Go and visit them in their workplace. In fact, volunteer to be a chaplain in the workplace one day a week. It will change your ministry and how you preach.
  • Affirm each of your people in his or her calling.
  • Equip them to minister where they live, work, and play.
  • Commission them as ministers formally in front of the entire church.
  • Release them to serve God where they are.

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Kent Humphreys has been a business leader for over thirty years. From 2002 through 2007 he was president of Fellowship of Companies for Christ International (FCCI), an organization that equips and encourages Christian business owners who desire to use their companies as a platform for ministry. He now serves as a worldwide ambassador for FCCI.