There’s a kind of “Jack’s as good as his master” view of authority among many Australians. Some Christians claim there’ll be “no great names” in the coming move of the Spirit of God; that God will minister the same gifts through every believer. If by this they mean that every believer will be used in some way or other, I’m sure we all agree. But does this view reveal an innate dislike for scriptural authority?
Most Australians have an egalitarian attitude. No doubt this is due to the fact that the soldiers, settlers and convicts who arrived in 1788 in what was then an unknown land, 16,000 km distant from England, were left to survive on the far edge of it as best they could. (A second fleet turned back, leaving those from the First Fleet struggling on the edge of starvation.) Terra Australis was more Terror Australis.
Those were tough years: everyone had to pitch in if all were to survive, and survive they did, but thereafter authority was never as strong as when they had first landed. An independent attitude had developed, which pretty much stated: “I can make it on my own!”
Is Jack as good as his master? When Jesus said “signs” would follow those who believe, did he mean that all of the signs would follow every believer? Some would say yes. But the Apostle Paul did not. “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?” (1 Corinthians 12:28-30) These are rhetorical questions: the answer to all is no, of course not.
In the previous verse, Paul writes that God has placed in the church: “first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; after that, miracles…” And so on. It may be that Paul is listing these ministry gifts in order of their appearance in a church’s establishment and development.
If “Jack” really is “as good as his master” – and Jesus said “The servant is not above his master” — then who is running things? It’s true that all Christians are equal in the sight of God and share a common faith. But the Body of Christ is not a democracy: not all who are saved are called to be ministry gifts (“people gifts”).
Neither do all have the capacity required or the persistence needed for the demands of such ministry. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers need more of God’s grace than most others!
Yes, the Lord’s desire is to use all of us, but not all have what it takes to do what every situation and circumstance requires — and at times demands. So, be kind to yourself by being happy in the use of the spiritual gifts you’ve been given. There’ll be greater gifts when you are ready to receive them and the responsibility and the accountability that come with them.