‘Sorry, I’m not able to help with music any more – I need to focus more on ministry.’
Out of all the phrases that have arrived in my inbox over the years, this is the one that reminds me that many evangelicals are still a long way from realising the importance of singing in the Christian gathering.
‘And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ’ (Ephesians 4.11-12). From verse 11 it’s clear that ministry involves teaching the Word by people set aside specifically for that purpose by God. But verse 15 also shows us that ministry involves Christians ‘truthing’ each other in order to build the church of God to maturity and unity in the Spirit.
