The marks of the church are the use and distribution of the means of grace - preaching God's Word, baptizing, administering Communion, and absolving. Here, preaching includes music! Where these things are present, though we can't discern the presence of individual faith, we can say the church is present. We can say those involved in the direct use of these things are in "ministry."
People who are indirectly or not involved with marks of the church may socialize with other Christians, but this is not a "ministry," and the church should not be obligated to sponsor is as such. We can say that they are acting vocationally out of Christian love, and if Christian encouragement arises, it is welcome.
The problem is not necessarily that pastoral care is insufficient. It's that our fractionalized postmodern culture runs away from it. Are you a 25-year-old young professional female? Clearly, you should associate as much as possible with the others in your age demographic at your church. Never mind that the pastor is probably your strongest choice for spiritual counsel. People - women especially - have this shyness when it comes to associating with the called men in their church, partly because of the role difference between churchmember and pastoral office, partly because society has encouraged them into divisions. So much for "female empowerment."
Historically, a healthy church has always operated in all its diversity, the whole spectrum of M&Ms. Young people learn their heritage from the old. Called men and laymen learn to get along with women (sometimes a little too well; this results in children). Families of different ages and types support each other. Encouraging people that the means of grace are more effective in private use rather than corporate use, or separating the church for reasons that have nothing to do with its marks, will ultimately draw church members away from a regular use of corporate worship, and trust in their pastor whom God has placed over them to care for them as a flock.
Private gatherings in the name of ministry, with or without the marks of the church actually present, must not supplant or set the standard for the public gathering around the means of grace, over whom a called minister of the Word is placed. Though officially other "ministries" are seen as a supplement to congregational life, laypeople view them as the main course, which is apparent in how they are relied on. Don't look down on congregational worship or pastoral care because the diversity - yes, diversity - makes you uncomfortable.
People who are indirectly or not involved with marks of the church may socialize with other Christians, but this is not a "ministry," and the church should not be obligated to sponsor is as such. We can say that they are acting vocationally out of Christian love, and if Christian encouragement arises, it is welcome.
The problem is not necessarily that pastoral care is insufficient. It's that our fractionalized postmodern culture runs away from it. Are you a 25-year-old young professional female? Clearly, you should associate as much as possible with the others in your age demographic at your church. Never mind that the pastor is probably your strongest choice for spiritual counsel. People - women especially - have this shyness when it comes to associating with the called men in their church, partly because of the role difference between churchmember and pastoral office, partly because society has encouraged them into divisions. So much for "female empowerment."
Historically, a healthy church has always operated in all its diversity, the whole spectrum of M&Ms. Young people learn their heritage from the old. Called men and laymen learn to get along with women (sometimes a little too well; this results in children). Families of different ages and types support each other. Encouraging people that the means of grace are more effective in private use rather than corporate use, or separating the church for reasons that have nothing to do with its marks, will ultimately draw church members away from a regular use of corporate worship, and trust in their pastor whom God has placed over them to care for them as a flock.
Private gatherings in the name of ministry, with or without the marks of the church actually present, must not supplant or set the standard for the public gathering around the means of grace, over whom a called minister of the Word is placed. Though officially other "ministries" are seen as a supplement to congregational life, laypeople view them as the main course, which is apparent in how they are relied on. Don't look down on congregational worship or pastoral care because the diversity - yes, diversity - makes you uncomfortable.
If you want to be the church, please don't run away from the marks of the church.
