SACRED AND SECULAR MINISTRY: A PROBLEMATIC DISTINCTION

Introduction

Today's Christian is faced with many challenges pertinent among which is the dilemma of choosing to do full-time ministry which is normally interpreted to be sacred but is often unrewarding for the first few years, or choosing to do secular work which is normally interpreted to be ordinary or mundane but is often rewarding.  The distinction between sacred and secular ministry seems to be a human invention rather than a divine revelation, and we shall investigate this in the unfolding paragraphs. 

What is Ministry?

The term "ministry" refers to work of any kind or service in the tabernacle in particular. In the Old Testament, service in the tabernacle was the reserve of priests chosen from only the tribe of Levi. The Levites were selected by Jehovah to be the tribe of priests, and they were commanded to never engage in secular work. They were made to live on tithes and offerings presented to the house of God by the rest of the Israelites. 

Employment and Ministry

It is worth noting that there is a slight difference between employment and ministry even though both terms  mean work. Employment is a work you do or a service you render for a wage or salary whereas ministry is a work you do or a service you render in fulfilment of your purpose. It may come with or without wage or salary. 

Full-time and Part-time Ministry

Modern Christians define full-time ministry as being totally devoted to the service of the church without engaging in secular work, and part-time ministry as doing secular work in addition to serving the church. 

Sacred and Secular Ministry

Full-time ministry is interpreted to be sacred, that is, holy and most pleasing to God, and secular ministry as ordinary or mundane, and less pleasing to God. This interpretation has led some Christians to regard full-time ministry as more important and honourable than secular ministry. Some have even concluded that those who are into full-time ministry are doing the real, biblical ministry but those who are engaged in secular work while still serving the church are not really doing the work of the ministry. 

Clergy and Laity

Adding to the challenge of modern Christian interpretation of ministry is the distinction between the clergy and the laity. Those who are consecrated and authorized through ordination to perform special duties in the church belong to the clergy, whereas those who are not consecrated and authorised through ordination to perform special duties in the church belong to the laity. The clergy, again, is interpreted as being superior to the laity, and this has gingered many a Christian to use any means possible to assume the revered status of the clergy who are regarded as the actual priests of God. 

What does God's word say about these things?

•Work is an act of worship 

Worship is man's response to God's worthiness. There are so many ways of telling how worthy God is to you. These include praying, singing, dancing, obeying his word, giving offerings and also, working hard. Your attitude to work speaks voluminously of how grateful you are to God for his grace. Commitment to work indicates that you are grateful for the opportunity and the grace provided you to work. God created Adam and made him the manager of all his natural resources. Again, God put him in the garden of Eden to take care of it. This means that God gave Adam work to do. Adam's role was to be the manager of the natural resources in the universe including the garden in which he lived. This tells us that even before the fall, work was a blessing bestowed to mankind by God, hence its sacredness. 

•Secular work qualifies as ministry

The term 'secular' shows the fallen man's attempt to remove God from his consciousness. By denoting a work as 'secular', it is meant that the work is not done in the interest of God, hence, not sacred. However, God's word teaches that "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." (Col 3:23 NIV). This means that for us Christians, instead of joining the world to regard our work as secular, we must treat our work as sacred, as though God is our employer and not merely human. According to this Scripture, even what we term as "secular ministry" is problematic, for work, to us, is an act of worship, hence qualifies as ministry.  

•Priesthood of all believers

The New Testament teaches that all believers are kings and priests unto God, our heavenly Father (1Pe 2:5; Rev 1:6). The priesthood, therefore, is not limited to those who are ordained and belongs to the clergy. In fact, the clergy-laity distinction of Christian ministers is not biblical to say the least. 

•Ministry widens under the New Covenant

Under the Old Covenant, there were three main ministerial offices namely, the priests, the prophets and the kings. One could not do the work of the other except in the case of David, who played the role of a prophet, priest and king at the same time. David was a typology of Christ who was truly a prophet, priest and king. Under the New Covenant, ministry widens beyond the five-fold ministerial offices of the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the teachers/pastors. There are also elders and deacons in the church, as well as church administrators, singers, trumpeters, givers, ushers, cooks, waiters, janitors and laundry workers. The New Testament acknowledges ministers of the Lord who were tentmakers, construction workers, smiths, metalworkers, dressmakers, dealers in fabric and fashion, palace administrators, prison wardens, military officers, proconsuls, governors, even kings and queens. 

Conclusion

Under the New Testament, every believer is a priest and minister of the Lord. A minister of the Lord is not necessarily a preacher. Ministry under the New Testament is not limited to work done inside the tabernacle (temple) but also outside. Any work done in fulfilment of your God-given purpose, whether within or without the temple, is ministry. Again, any work done in the interest of the Lord, whether inside or outside the temple, is sacred. Whatever work you do, whether in or out of the temple, if it is done to the glory of God, it counts for ministry. Therefore, see every honourable work as opportunity to serve men and to glorify God.  


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