The Work of the Church vs. the Work of God's People

There's a lot of talk about the work of the Church. Is it what is going on in Houston, at the Synod level? Is the real work of the Church mission work and outreach, going to strange lands, or talking to even local strangers? Is the work of the Church this or that?

I think we get two things messed up. We seem to think that the work of the Church is whatever I am doing. If I am a Synodical official - what's going on in Houston, that's the work of the Church. If I am a mission planner - planning mission, that's the work of the Church. If I'm a missionary, well then, that's real Church work. Or no, if I am a parish pastor, that's real church work and those lousy burecrats need to get a real job. Or if I'm a parishioner, maybe I think, "We need a pastor who will pound the pavement and do some real Church work."

Well. . . you know what - I think it's sort of strange to even talk about the work of the Church at all, as though it is 1 specific thing. The Church is One Body, with many members. If you are an administrator - it's YOUR job within the Church to administrate - but that's not the whole of the Church's work. If you are a pastor, it is YOUR job to preach and teach and administer the Sacraments - but that's not the whole of what the Church does. If you are a parishoner - it is YOUR job to be a hearer of the Word - but that's not the whole of what the Church does. If you are a neighbor, it is YOUR job to be a neighbor - but that's not the whole of what the Church does.

Why do we desire to aggrandize our own specific and multiple vocations to which God has called us by saying that it is the work of the Church? Does a mouth say, "ah, talking and eating, that is the true work of the Body!" Does an eye says, "Seeing, and then closing so the Body can sleep and rest, that is the work of the Body!" It's silly.

Don't worry about doing the work of the Church - you of yourself are not the Church. You are a member, and you have various duties that God has given to you. Simply rejoice in those - and don't pretend they are any more important or wondrous than the duties given to anyone else. Be faithful to what you have been called to be.