And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry….(Ephesians 4: 11-13, ESV).
See if you recognize these names: Ted Scott, John Ellis, and Paul Tesori. You most likely recognized Ted Scott’s name; perhaps you follow the game closely enough to recognize John Ellis’ name. Most golf aficionados will know that Paul Tesori once played on the PGA Tour.
If there was a category on the SAT exam for the history of golf, golf course management, what club to hit and why, how to read putts, golf etiquette, and the peculiar characteristics of the top courses in the world, PGA Caddies would smoke the vast majority of avid golfers.
Some of these caddies could probably pass a demanding psychology examination, not because they majored in “psyche” at college, but because they’ve been in countless situations where saying the right thing at the right time got their man over the finish line.
Many of these men could undoubtedly write a multi-volume series on golf travel and golf course architecture, start a golf expedition company, or write a best-seller filled with humorous stories about what they’ve seen and heard. The wealth of collective knowledge they’ve acquired is unquantifiable.
While we are fixated on their bosses, these loopers are accomplishing many things beyond carrying the bags of the best players in the world. In short, while caddying is at the heart of what they do, it doesn’t ultimately define them.
What could tie these unsung heroes to the concerns of ordinary Christians? There are a few, but the idea here is to focus on one common denominator: Christ Jesus has called all his sons and daughters to play a role in his kingdom.
Of course, it’s true that these caddies don’t have PGA “cards.” But that doesn’t mean they can’t play, or that they don’t have many other talents that benefit their employers, families, and communities. In a head-to-head match, some of these individuals could thump quite a few club champions.
Okay! Okay! Okay! So what, you ask? Well, most of us understand the simple point being made. The more important point is this: We must stop assuming that our vocational ministers are the only ones called to “…the work of ministry….”
Paying attention to Paul’s point in Ephesians is critical. Paul argues that pastors, teachers, and evangelists are called to equip the congregation for ministry. Yep! Sadly, we have allowed tradition to obscure the plain teaching of Scripture. We’ve unintentionally inverted the process.
Those called to “full-time” ministry should model, motivate, and mobilize the rest of us to live the other six days (Monday – Saturday) discovering and deploying our gifts for kingdom advancement.
Learning to live for Jesus Christ and to be used by him in every sphere of life is a much-overlooked and profoundly misunderstood aspect of kingdom life.
Everyone who has pledged loyalty to the King of kings should know that he has given you a unique gift to unleash against the forces of darkness that have invaded our homes, businesses, clubs, schools, and other cultural institutions.
Learning to discern our place in his kingdom outside the walls of the church on Sunday mornings is essential if we are to see our King honored in the world he created and redeemed.
In short, pastors are not called to train us merely to do church work; instead, they are called to equip us to do the kingdom work of winning others to Christ and teaching them to think Christianly about all of life, including life at our clubs.
There is nothing like hearing Jesus call your name and say, “Get in the game; the Kingdom needs you.”
Prayer: Jesus, send fresh outpourings of your Spirit to awaken and embolden those who call on your name.