We've been hearing these words, "Which ministry are you involved in?" If you say no, then they'll ask you why. Either you should be involved in preaching or at least you should be taking offering in the Church. If you are not involved in any of these activities, then, the Christian world tags you as "Worldly".
Is it really true that we should be involved in Church activities or in some form of ministry? Did Jesus ask us all to be involved in ministry? Does The Bible say this?
This whole idea of everybody doing ministry comes from the verse where Jesus said,
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.28.16-20
Said to who?
Did Jesus say this to everyone in Jerusalem?
Did he make this statement "Go and make disciples..." in front of all of His followers? Jesus had multitudes of followers which made the Jewish leaders jealous.
He selectively called His disciples to Galilee, "to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go"; which means, Jesus did not want everyone to come to the mountain. He specifically wanted only the disciples to come to the mountain which means, He wanted to deliver this instruction, "Go and make disciples" only to His eleven disciples.
The same incident is mentioned the book of Mark as follows.
'Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. ' Mark 16:14-15 https://my.bible.com/bible/114/MRK.16.14-15
Again, said to who?
The statements are very clear. Jesus appeared to the eleven....and He said to them. I do not understand why the preachers don't understand this statement.
But, I believe the confusion comes with the following statements in the same passage. Jesus continues to say...
'He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”' Mark 16:16-18 https://my.bible.com/bible/114/MRK.16.16-18
Did Jesus say that those who believe will preach Gospel? It simply says that every believer will be able to do such things; they will be able to cast out demons, speak in new tongues and even, lay hands on the sick.
Does it mean that every believer should go around and keep healing the sick?
Does it mean that every believer should go around and casting out the demons?
If the situation demands, every believer will be able to do so, which means that not only the preachers will have such special powers or abilities. Every believer will be able to do. There is no hierarchy as the Holy Spirit residues inside of every person who believes irrespective of their profession, unlike old testament days where Holy Spirit came upon the prophets once in a while. Holy Spirit did not reside inside of the prophet or in anybody until The Cross.
Also, in the passage, nowhere it says that every believer should be preaching Gospel.
In fact, in an incident when Jesus healed a demon possessed man and the man wanted to go with Him in the ministry. But, Jesus said...
'As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. ' Mark 5:18-20 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/MRK.5.18-20
But, even this verse can be misunderstood. Jesus does say that don't come for ministry with Him. But, He asks him to go and tell his people how much the Lord has done for him.
Did Jesus ask him to go and do preach Gospel? No. He asked him to say witness. Saying witness is not preaching Gospel.
Doing ministry is preaching Gospel. Saying witness is another thing. In some instances, Jesus said "Go and say witness". In some other instances, Jesus said "Don't tell anyone". So, depending on the situation, we may say witness. But, preaching the Gospel is entirely different profession.
What is Gospel then? Jesus Himself gives the definition of Gospel. It's crystal clear.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.28.16-20
So, what is doing ministry? Make disciples, baptize and teach.
Witness is sharing what God did to you personally as and when situation arises. I believe if you don't be a witness, people will not believe your witness ! That's what happens with most of the Christians throughout the world. They don't live a life of Christ and be a witness of Christ. Either, they keep trying to preach the gospel (which is not everybody's job as described earlier) or they keep saying witness and nobody is there to believe. Because, they don't be a witness in the first place.
Every believer is supposed to do one thing. That is, fellowship with God. Again, people think that if you keep doing ministry, that is fellowship with God. Certainly not !!!
Fellowship with God is spending time with God through His Word. Spend quality time every day in the Word. Prayer is another thing. Prayer is, we speaking to God. Reading God's Word is God speaking to us. These two, we must do as a Christian every day including those who preach Gospel, Pastors, and so on.
That is why, most of the ministries struggle. Because, they don't have any fellowship with God. They don't spend time with God as they don't have time due to their administrative work running the Church and other ministries. Then, eventually, they go far away and lose contact with God. It's like space scientists go away in to the space and lose contact with the ground control. Relationship stays. Fellowship Fades.
Have you ever understood Matthew 7: 21 - 23? People just ignore that verse saying that it is talking about false prophets just because Jesus talks about false prophets a couple of verses before. No. These verses are not about false prophets.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23 https://my.bible.com/bible/114/MAT.7.2,21-23
It says that everybody should be doing the Will of the Father. How do you know what is the Will of the Father about you? Because, two things are very clear from these verses.
Preaching Gospel is not everybody's job
Will of the Father is different for every one which he is going to expect and grade in the second coming.
So, doing ministry, saying witness, being the witness and fellowship with God are all different.
How would you know what is the Will of the Father about you? If you find that out and keep doing it, that is your ministry. Read Your Ministry.