Flanders: The Ministry

This week at the Movement Campus Church we continue our series The Gospel of Ned Flanders. Building upon the contrast of Christian vs. Secular worldviews, we will be examining distinct definitions of the Ministry with the help of Rev. Timothy Lovejoy, "Presbamethodist" pastor of the First Church of Springfield and its faithful saint Ned Flanders.

Religion Saves?
We begin with the question of the importance of religion. Increasingly today, the worldview among Non Christians and Christians alike has moved toward religion being irrelevent. The common battlecry for this coming generation is "Everything is Spiritual," the argument that spirituality has replaced the need for religion.

Religion Kills?;
Since religion has become little more than mere zealotry and pumped up legalistic ritual, the worldview of many people argues that religion must be replaced and its institutions destroyed. But is this worldview of Christianity Biblical? What does the Bible say about the role that religion in salvation?

Hebrews 3:1-2
Holy brothers, who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house.

The writer of Hebrews speaks of Jesus Christ and His work of salvation for us in religious terms. He calls Jesus our High Priest who works diligently in God's House. Why then would we need a high priest if religion is worthless routine? The Biblical answer is evident: Religion does not save us, the process of religion keeps us saved.

There is no point in a high priest if there is not a lamb; likewise their is no point in a lamb without a high priest to make intercession over and to perform the sacrifice. Jesus Christ was both our Lamb and High Priestt! The role of the ministry (religion) is therefore pertinent to salvation. Paul echoes this while he writes to the Romans saying, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God... and how shall they hear without a preacher?"

Herbrews 1:5-6
Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify, but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if we hold fast our confidence.

Jesus perform the priestly duties in Christians who are the temple of the Holy Ghost. He perform daily intercession, sacrifice, and cleansing in his imperfect vessels. The daily submission to religious oracles keeps our confidence in the lamb's sacrifice on Calvary.

Without Calvary's lamb, none will come to salvation. Without Calvary's High Priest's daily ministry, none will come to salvation.

Religion Loves
Many will argue that ministry has been used to steal, kill, and destroy. That actions or deeds done in the name of religion have made the world a worse place. We do not deny this, yet Biblically we find multiple definitions of ministry along with stern Godly rebukes towards those who would corrupt its heavenly intentions.

Please consider joining us Sunday as we unpack the role of ministry, especially if you feel that ministry has been: manipulative, greedy, judgmental, ecumenical, or hypocritical. We will discover together that the ministry that is faithful in the example of Jesus is none of these things the gospel of Flanders claims it to be in the secular worldview. Instead it is "absatively posilutely" the opposite:

Hebrews 4:14-16
we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God. we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.