Macro and micro ministry

(GB Message)

Over the years, we have added some original words and phrases to our vocabulary in EBA for better understanding of doctrinal truths. Vocabulary develops as thoughts and subjects develop. We need not be apologetic about it. In the Oxford and Webster’s dictionaries, thousands of new words are added year after year. Such additions are considered to be the crown and glory of any etymological book. If others are interested in knowing what our special phrases mean, we shall gladly explain. We are at liberty to use little phrases, anecdotes, or parables in order to explain biblical doctrine.

I wish here to explain the the terms ‘macro ministry’ and ‘micro ministry’ that I sometimes use.

These terms explain two types of ministries that are in vogue in the educational systems and in the building of the church (Ekklesia). The well-known Great Commission, contained in Mt 28: 19 – 20, includes both these types of ministries. The Bible, the word of God itself is macro in nature and all embracing. Only very few people have the anointing to understand the entire Bible. Even among them some understand some parts better than others, who may understand some other parts more than the first group. Anointed men must read the commentaries and writings of other anointed men and learn from one another.

From this macro ministry emerges the micro ministry as a logical outcome. Every local church, for instance, does micro ministry. Some ministers do so well, as beloved disciple of Lord Jesus Christ with His special anointing. Some unfortunately do so as respectable hirelings and agents of Satan. That is why we have the command “Let not many of you become teachers my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness”, (Jam 3: 1). God gives very great importance to micro ministry and is furious when wrong teaching is given to a young person. It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. (Lk 17: 2).

God has given very special importance to this ministry because the responsibility of the ministers is to make the hearers “disciples” and then only to baptize them. Of course many a times, wrong people are baptized, and this may not always be the fault of the teacher unless he is deliberately careless.

The word disciple is derived from the root noun discipline. The word discipline is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as “the training of people to obey rules or a code of behaviour.” In EBA we prefer to use the word ‘teaching’ instead of ‘preaching’ or’ sermon’. This is because we consider the church to be a training institute for the believers preparing themselves to inherit the kingdom of heaven.

This is a blessed ministry though strenuous and time consuming. I have known great men and scholars who did not have the gift of teaching. Ironically they were often very highly educated and authors of great books. They may be good for macro ministry. Scholarship and teaching are different gifts though occasionally some may be in possession of both. But the fact remains that these are two different gifts. James 3: 1 refers to mainly teaching of micro ministry. Macro mininstry is the vocation of the anointed who are great scholars and authors, though some among them attempt to do micro ministry also.

I use their ministry to my advantage but I cannot directly use them for my micro ministry. Dr. Zodhiattes the great scholar for instance, is involved in macro ministry. His books are used for not only general understanding of Bible Greek, but also for advanced work and research for preparing comprehensive commentaries. Offering Dr. Zodhiattes’ work directly to the church, in the micro ministry, would not serve any useful purpose.

I greatly admire the macro ministry that some do and praise the Lord for them. God fulfills Himself both, through such ministries as well as those engaged in micro ministry. Both are blessed ministries mutually supplementing and complementing each other.

We can site an example from the human body. The brain represents the macro work in the physiological system. All the limbs could be compared to micro ministry for without the limbs the human body cannot function though in their absence, the brain might suggest some artificial substitutes, which in any case cannot be ideal, being only substitutes for the natural limbs.

It is Lord Jesus who allocates work whether macro or micro. When man chooses the ministry for himself according to his own whims, it turns out to be substandard. “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it”, Ps 127: 1. This verse is expressed by the well-known Latin phrase “Nisi dominus frustra”. I remember it since this was the motto and emblem of my high school where I studies when I was eleven years old! To be a minister doing a ministry assigned him by the Lord is what we in EBA mean by ‘anointing of the Lord’. How beautiful it would be if every minister is sure of this fact, and in such a case all wrong churches would vanish away like vapour.

I knew several great secular teachers in my elementary classes, high schools and in university too, just as I knew other teachers who were most unfit. Regarding the great teachers in my life, though I did not convey my appreciation to them directly, being immature, shy, and timid to do so then, I remember them gratefully. It is my ambition that I may be one like them, worthy of appreciation. But the appreciation should come from the mouth of Lord Jesus, and not from any human being. Every one of us should aspire to be such workers in the Lord’s vineyard, whether in a tiny way or in any big way.

It is easy for macro ministers to come into the limelight because, they work on a huge canvas. But micro workers cannot be prominent because they work at the grassroots level. However, they can be instrumental in shaping future micro as well as macro ministries. Although they may not be conspicuous, the Lord’s eyes are upon them in a special way. In a manner of speaking, they are more blessed. “Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, just as the LORD your God promised him”. (Deut 10: 9). What a blessing! Let micro ministers be levites in the churches of God,

Moreover the church is the most precious creation of Lord Jesus since it is treated as His own body. Hence the invisible micro ministries are very precious in the sight of Lord Jesus. May the Lord make this article meaningful so that it may motivate many either to avoid or choose the ministry, whichever would bring greater glory to Lord Jesus.