The Gift of the Office of Public Ministry

by Robert Mohns

I am indebted to Lutheran Church–Canada’s first Synodical President, Rev. Dr. Edwin Lehman, for bringing to my attention a little tract written by Rev. Dr. Albert Schwerman, entitled, “The Call into the Glorious Office of Holy Ministry.” 

The Office of Holy Ministry really is a glorious calling. Might we even go so far as to say it is the most privileged calling on earth? For those who serve in this office are able to devote their whole lives to proclaiming, teaching, and witnessing to the grace, mercy, and glory of God in Christ Jesus. St. Paul commended the Office in this way: “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task” (1 Timothy 3:1).

A pastor coming home from yet another day of dealing with broken interpersonal relationships, ever-broadening scope, and ever-deeper complexity in his ministry may ask: “Where is the glory of this Office?” Likewise, lay leaders working alongside a pastor who is suffering depression, or who has become insular or heavy-handed may ask: “Where is the glory of this Office?”

Yet it remains true that the Office of Holy Ministry is a glorious gift from God. In Numbers 18:7, God said to Aaron: “You and your sons with you shall guard your priesthood for all that concerns the altar and that is within the veil; and you shall serve. I give your priesthood as a gift.” Aaron and his descendants might have seen the Office as a privilege passed along by them through the right of inheritance. But God wanted them to remember that the Office is a gift of His grace, both to Aaron and to Israel.

And if the Aaronic priesthood was established as a gift, how much more so is the ministry that proclaims life and salvation through Christ! St. Paul notes this in 2 Corinthians 3:7-18.

In Ephesians 4:7 and 11, Paul makes it clear that “grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift… And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers…” Who gives the gift of the Office of Holy Ministry? Christ, of course. He is the crucified, risen, victorious, triumphant Son of the Father. 

A conquering king would normally demand tribute and gifts be given to him by his subjects. But, in a world turned upside down, the King of Kings—having vanquished sin and death and devil—is the one who gives gifts to His people. That is pure grace!

The Office of Holy Ministry is a glorious office because through it, Christ, the Giver of this gift, reveals the glory of God.

Reflecting on the gift of his own ministry, Paul said: “To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8). And the Lord Himself reminded the disciples that what they received from Him was a gift: “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). The Office of Holy ministry is a gift of God’s grace then, both to His pastors and to His people.

A gift has no ultimate significance apart from the giver. Your holidays may take you to by stores filled to the hilt with “gifts”—from trinkets to expensive one-of-a-kind items. But they have no real significance as a gift until they are given to someone else. The gift reminds us of the giver.

So too, we must understand that the Office of Holy Ministry is nothing apart from its Giver. Too often we think of the Office primarily as a position or focus on its function without reference to Christ. St. Paul denuded his own gift of ministry, describing himself as a fool, but a fool for the sake of Christ. 

It is Christ, the Giver of the Office of Holy Ministry, that makes the ministry worthwhile. The Office of Holy Ministry is a glorious office because through it, Christ, the Giver of this gift, reveals the glory of God.

That glory and honour ultimately goes to God who is the gift-Giver. It does not necessarily go to those who bear the gift. St. Paul reminds the Church that this gift is given to us in clay pots. We tend to spend too much energy trying to form the pots to our liking. If only the mouth were a different shape it would be more appealing! But the clay pot adds nothing to the treasure; it is the treasure that needs to be exalted and the treasure-Giver who must receive all honour and glory.

In his 1986 address to church workers, President Emeritus Lehman concluded: “The Office of Holy Ministry is a glorious Office. It is not the glory of being a pastor, nor his ministry. Because the ministry is a gift, the glory of the ministry is the glory of the Giver, the Giver who gave the gift to men.” It is good for the Church in our day to be reminded of this again.

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Rev. Robert Mohns is Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)’s West Regional Pastor.

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