Many blame the problems of America on our pulpits.

I tend to agree …

But for entirely different reasons.

The problem is not that churches lack strong pulpits with strong preaching …

But lack strong disciples who can function together as the multi-gifted, multi-part Body of Christ.

Big difference!

In fact, churches primarily built around some man and his pulpit …

Are a concept utterly absent in the New Testament – unless you count the warnings against Diotrephes, who also wanted to be “preeminent” over a church. 3 John 1:9

So let’s embrace the New Testament imperative that we all be the church …

Each and everyone.

Because according to the New Testament, when we gather together we’re to participate together by using the wonderfully diverse gifts and callings God distributes among us to mutually build up each other.

We do this by learning to minister to one another, by one another …

Rather than letting one person and his particular calling (no matter how gifted he may be) dominate our gatherings.

Until we get serious about church as the New Testament actually commands it, we will continue to produce passive and dependent church members who gather as mere spectators before some preacher and his pulpit …

Instead of active, confident, multi-gifted disciples who’ve learned to actually function together in our different callings as mature believers – and can then go forth to change the world once again.