Mending the Saints

Have you ever had one of those experiences where you thought you knew a word and then - BAM - your mind and theology blows up in your face when the fullness of the word reaches your heart?

Growing up, I learned the importance of "equipping the saints." My definition for equipping came from my basic understanding of the word meaning "to equip, to arm, and/or to empower."

 Ephesians 4:11-12 ~ "And he gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints for the work of service to the building up of the body of Christ."

From a limited perspective, it would be an easy to read these verses in Ephesians and think the role of leaders is to equip (give) "something" to people within the body of Christ. In this one little word 'equip' I thought it was a leader's job to give something to another for this equipping to occur.

Remarkably...are you ready for your mind to be blown?...that is not the Biblical definition of the equipping!

The verb equipping, as found in Ephesians, doesn't mean empowering or arming, it actually means mending!

This equipping verb is derived from the noun (katartizo) meaning to make perfect, mend, prepare, restore and perfectly join together. This is the same word both Gospel writers Matthew and Mark use to describe the disciples "mending their nets" when Jesus came upon them at the beginning of the Gospels.

Paul's challenge to church leaders in the book of Ephesians is not to give people a tool, task, or job - but to mend them. Jesus Christ is the One who gives gifts and He has lavished on us lovely talents, abilities, personalities and passions. We, however, are broken people dealing with all kinds of fall-out from sin. This "working out of our salvation" as Paul says in Philippians comes in the form of "fear and trembling" because setting of broken bones is painful. Mending of broken hearts is dangerous. And restoring broken lives is a process.

Knowing my job is to mend the saints keeps my eyes on Jesus - the only One who can truly bring restoration and healing to our lives. It's not about me. There is not a church leader or self-help book out there that has the power to transform hearts and mend our brokenness - that, my friends, comes only through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

It's beautiful to think Jesus chose disciples who were caring and mending their nets. He did not choose men who abused their nets and then thew them away in replace for new ones. Tender care goes into mending. It is not a fast or abrupt process. In our quick-paced, demanding culture, I wonder if we even have time to be ambassador's of Jesus in mending of so many broken lives around us? Or are we all (leaders very much included) simply too busy?

Prayer:
God, please teach me to be someone who mends lives. Show me the delicate process of setting broken bones and healing hearts through Your power at work within us as we painfully work together to form your Church.