Serving in the mind of Christ: a guideline

“As you sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” This Bible text from John 17: 18 was the focus of a divine service Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider held on 27 June in Gendeng in Yogyakarta (Indonesia). Nearly 1,900 ministers and their wives participated in the service either directly or by transmission. The service was broadcast to 40 locations.

Jesus Christ: the perfect example of a servant

The Chief Apostle said that Jesus Christ is the perfect role model for serving, “As Jesus was sent by His Father so all of us have been sent to serve. And we want to serve as He served.” An important aspect here is His statement, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me” (John 7: 16). “We are servants of the Lord. That means that we proclaim His word and His teaching, and not our own ideas and opinions,” the Chief Apostle explained.

“To proclaim the gospel means that we teach things that are valid for everybody in every situation everywhere. Everything else is not really the gospel,” he said, setting the standard. “It is not our task to establish new laws and rules. Of course we need rules, but they have to be corroborated by the gospel.” Ministers cannot say, “If you behave this way and if you respect this rule, you will be saved.” All a minister can say is, “If you apply the gospel you will be saved.”

We don’t force people

“I am absolutely convinced that I as the Chief Apostle am only an instrument,” he stated. “Maybe God will say already tomorrow that He needs another instrument, and will then call another man,” he continued. “Our person is not important. It is not our congregation. Our congregation is the church of the Lord.”

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He made it very clear that He refused to use His power either for Himself or for others. In the same way, ministers must not exercise their power and authority, and rule over the members in their congregation to “make sure that they follow us”. As an example the Chief Apostle mentioned such threats as, “Imagine what is going to happen if you don’t come to the services. This would be using force to fulfil our mission.”

Meeting people at their level

“Jesus served the people. He served everybody, the good ones as well as the bad ones,” the Chief Apostle explained. “God decides who belongs to His people. That is none of our business. He wants us to serve all those whom He has chosen, even if they don’t agree with us or are even against us.”

“Jesus even went a step further. He came to mankind. His concern was always whether He was near enough to the people?” the Chief Apostle said and continued, “Jesus was very close to the people, and approached them on their level. Let us do the same and come near to the people.”

Role models and helpers

“There is a difference between a servant and a teacher,” the Chief Apostle said and went on explain that it is not enough to proclaim the gospel. “We have to work and lead by example. We are the first to whom our sermons apply. We have to practice what we preach.” And then he added, “It is nice to teach, but it is far more important to be there for our brothers and sisters when they need help. A servant of God is a helper, not just a teacher.”

At the end, the Chief Apostle mentioned a point that was very important for him. “Jesus did not serve to receive a reward. He served because He wanted to give mankind the same thing He had: He wanted to share His glory and inheritance.” That was His only motivation. Ministers do not serve in order to receive a reward either, “Our motivation is that our brothers and sisters receive the same thing that we long for: salvation. And because we love them we want them to receive the same thing we want: eternal fellowship with God. That makes a wonderful servant of God.”