Building for Free

“Building for Free” : 

“Building for Free” Or “How to be a voluntary choreographer…”

Ephesians 4:14-16 : 

Ephesians 4:14-16 As we each do our part, the body is “supplied” Epichoregia = “furnished” The choregios was the person who furnished the funding to pay for actors and singers in a Greek play) When we exercise the gifts we have been given, we act as “co-choreographers” with Christ in furnishing His body Without this supply, we have a production that runs out of resources…. To volunteer as a choregos was one of the most noble acts of citizenship in ancient Greece

Romans 15:14-16 : 

Romans 15:14-16 Paul described himself as a Letourgos (“minister”) The Letourgias were a set of 5 “financial responsibilities” that Greek society asked of its citizens: Choregia (cost of putting on a play) Gumnasiarchia (cost of training athletes to race) Hestiasis (cost of food for civic meetings & ceremonies) Archetheoria (cost of sending an emissary between cities) Trierarchia (cost of maintaining a warship)

Slide 4: 

These acts of civic responsibility were (for several centuries at least) VOLUNTARY!!! Those with the means were expected to participate in the “proper working” of society The “liturgies” were later made mandatory through taxation Today the word remains, as the “Liturgy” used in traditional churches (mandatory words of worship or responses to the priest/minister) WHERE AM I GOING WITH THIS?!

Slide 5: 

There is no word in the NT that is translated "Voluntary"

Why not? : 

Why not? Perhaps they didn’t need one? There is a related word: “willing” or “unwilling”… There was already a strong sense of social and civic obligation within both Greek and Jewish culture Those with the means, and the ability, stepped-up for the benefit of everyone else…

“Volunteering” in church : 

“Volunteering” in church The early, growing church embraced this Kingdom concept and built upon it The key difference in the church’s structure was that EVERYONE had the means to participate in the building, not just a blessed few… 1 Cor.14:26 = “Everyone has a Psalm…” The “building up” of the body became the social responsibility of everyone The church had one “director”, but many “choregias”, each contributing their time and gifts What happened to this model? How did we end up with so many “professionals”?

Time for some meddling… : 

Time for some meddling… We prefer to pay professionals, in every area of life! Politically, Christians are often suspicious of “social programs” Has this always been the case? For centuries in Europe, it was the church who provided care for the homeless, the widow, the sick and the orphan (cf. George Muller) If we are not careful, we can bring this mindset into the church when it comes to the spiritual growth of others We are not just meant to “fend for ourselves” We each have a responsibility to participate in building the body We each have divinely-choreographed time, gifts and money We NEED a word for how we employ them – “voluntary”

Psalm 110:3 : 

Psalm 110:3 “Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power….” Let’s get back to God’s original “liturgy…”