Unfinished Business

Rating:
Summary: Not radical enough!
Review: In the heady days of the 16th Century, when Luther and Zwingli were challenging Rome and Calvin was codifying what was becoming known as the Protestant Reformation, the reformers agreed: no more priests. All believers are priests who needed no one but Jesus to intercede for them before the Father. No mortal man, of whatever ordination or office, stood between the believer and his or her God.

450 years later, Greg Ogden has looked at the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers, and finds that while all Protestants profess to believe it, we simply don't act like it. Instead of priests lording it over parishes and dispensing sacraments to the laity, we have Protestant pastors attempting to be omnicomptent dispensers of religious services. The titles have changed, but little else. The "clergy" does 80% (or more!) of the work, while the "laity" are passive receivers of "ministry."

Ogden correctly discerns that this distinction between "clergy" and "laity" is not Biblical; some ARE called to be equippers, not to do the "ministry" but to equip all believers to do the ministry. This book is a call for the equippers to share the ministry with the whole body and for the so-called "laity" to demand that their pastors equip them!

The problem with this book is that Ogden does not take his thesis far enough. He paints a picture of the New Reformation Church that is good, as far as it goes. The pastoral staff has taken function names, not hierarchical titles, and is actively engaged in training and releasing believers into ministry. As a result, a much larger portion of the church is finding itself in ministry to others and to the world. But the picture is still incomplete! Again, cosmetic changes have been made; instead of a senior pastor and one or more associate pastor, there is now a pastor of teaching, a pastor of care, a pastor of youth and so forth; although many more non-professionals have been equipped and released into the ministry, the top positions are still held by professional staff members who are simply the priests and pastors of days gone by with different titles.

The more I study the Bible and early church history, the more I am convinced that the true church is the house church (although I'm not saying that true churches can't meet in other buildings besides houses) where worship is led by a non-professional, teaching is done by non-professionals, sacraments are administered by non-professionals, and above all, pastoral care is performed by non-professionals. Of course there are still roles for professionals: Paul was arguably a professional apostle and church planter, but the church of the first century clearly understood that the priesthood of all believers meant the priesthood of ALL believers.






Rating:
Summary: Making sense of a paradigm shift
Review: Reading this book helped me understand where and how my pastor was leading us and why. I highly recommend this book to others who wonder how the church can be more effective in today's time and culture. I also highly recommend it to the 20% of the church that is doing 80% of the work. We do not need to do it all...

Rating:
Summary: Finishing What We've Started
Review: The original version of this book ("The New Reformation") came to my attention several years ago. It completely transformed my thinking about ministry (and ultimately led to a career change!) The historical origins of "the way we do ministry" were both fascinating and insightful, and the contrasts between the historical norm, our current practice and the preferred future were radically enlightening. I simply could not think about ministry the same way again.

I met Greg Ogden, the author, several months ago. As we shook hands, I whispered, "You messed up my life!" and explained the impact of the original book, which I have recommended to key leaders and have given as gifts. When he said that the "revised" version ("Unfinished Business") was about to be released, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! I wasn't disappointed! The new version has many additions and clarifications, and is messing with my head all over again. We are using the book as a tool to re-educate both church staff and volunteers in a new understanding of calling, spiritual gifts and equipping roles. Ogden's call for "One People... One Ministry" should be heard and answered by all who follow Christ... whether or not they formerly divided themselves into "Clergy" and "Laity."

With the current resurgence in interest in Martin Luther (a PBS special and an upcoming theatrical release), readers will be challenged by Ogden's position that Luther's Reformation was incomplete. After reading his clear and passionate reasoning, you'll be ready to take up arms yourself, to complete Luther's "Unfinished Business."