In scripture we often read that one person ministered unto another or to several others. The meaning is often lost in translation as there are a couple meanings; one is to serve and another is to preach the good news.
And sexism is found in this double meaning because when a woman like Martha preached to Jesus and His disciples the word is translated in the context of service.
But when men preached it is translated in the context of preaching.
That aside are we as the body of the church, as those who willingly take upon us the name and mission of Christ, supposed to act in His stead and serve God's children rather than having them serve the church?
It's not that preaching is wrong it's that usually it is done simply so that others will convert to believing as we do. This doesn't do as much good as feeding the hungry, or visiting the sick and imprisoned.
Thick Nhat Hahn once said "The most precious gift one can give is the gift of the presence." That's not verbatim but the point still stands that being truly present and to listen with the intent to understand and develop compassion for the one you are presently with rather than simply waiting for your turn to talk, is the greatest gift you can give. Convincing them to think as you do or to believe what you believe does not.
Cory Booker put best what I'm trying to say "Before you speak to me about your religion, first show it to me in how you treat other people; before you tell me how much you love your God, show me in how much you love all His children; before you preach to me of your passion for your faith, teach me about it through your compassion for your neighbors. In the end, I'm not as interested in what you have to tell or sell as in how you choose to live and give."Jesus has a divine authority to heal, to minister and command us but that's not what gave His teachings their power during His life; the way He lived His life, the way He served God's children, the compassion and understanding of those children that He displayed however, did.That example, and living up to that example as best we can will endow our lives, and the lives of those we come into contact with that same power. Jesus changed the world but not by ruling an Earthly kingdom, writing a book, by art or music. He changed the world by His message but more specifically by living His message.So how do we best serve Him?By serving God's children. All of them, as you would yourself or your family.Jesus gives us perfect examples of how to serve Him here:"31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." Matthew 25:31-46 KJV
How do most church service projects work? You clean the church, you serve the institution of the church in some way, or EQ gathers and helps people move, maybe home or visiting teaching is completed?
These things are important but how much more important is it to visit with those who can do nothing for you in terms of checking off the box on your visiting or home teaching list or fulfilling a request by a church leader but instead to visit with someone who could use the company?
How important is it to help someone who will likely never be able to repay you, leaving you to help because you can, because it's the right thing to do, because you are neither chasing reward or fleeing from punishment and because you are simply doing right because it is right?
God doesn't need our help as much as we need our own help or each other's help. If we are to act in His stead, especially as Priesthood holders then we need to do more of the examples in Matthew 25 more than we need to clean the church or Temples and more than we need to put chairs out or away.
It's not that the little things are useless but we can do far more good than those little things. We can feed a neighbor by cleaning out our pantry and fridge. We can part with a couple bucks to help another catch the Trax. But most of all we can be present with those who could use the company. Like the prisoner or the sick or the elderly.
We could be fully present to those who didn't know how much they needed that until we provided it for them. That could be anyone. So be present then be of service. Serving the church isn't the way it is supposed to work, we as the church are meant to serve one another. You'll never know how many prayers you could answer until you begin to serve.
Love is a verb. It is defined by its action. Vision without action is fantasy and love without action is simply good intentions. Which the road to Hell is paved with.
