Who Sets the table
Who sets the table?
This was one of the first challenges the early church faced. Like us, their needs grew faster than their leaders’ capacity. The apostles could not faithfully study, pray, preach, counsel, and shepherd while also waiting tables, distributing resources, and managing practical needs. They recognized that God had given them a particular role and that He also calls others to complementary roles. By defining their lane, they preserved their calling and created space for new leaders to rise. A leadership decision that multiplies leaders—not a bad idea. We should maybe think about this as a church!
Here’s what they told the church in essence: “We Word people are only human. We cannot lead pastorally and serve tables at the same time. And honestly, we’re not good at what we weren’t called to do.” They understood that if a church asks Word guys to be Waiter guys — they are asking for poor service across the board. In other words, this is a recipe for failure where everyone loses. Good thing we aren’t required to accept this.
Table Waiters are Essential, Not Optional
If you’re not called to Word ministry, then you’re called to Service ministry. There’s no biblical category for passivity in the church, especially among men in the church—only for destitute widows; they can be receivers because, well, they are both destitute and widows, genuinely marginalized. If you’re a man (or woman) with no responsibility, you’re sitting in a seat that doesn’t belong to you, it belongs to a destitute widow, you don’t qualify. It’s time to move. Move toward the door marked “Service” or toward the one marked “Exit.” Standing still in the middle of our dining room of fellowship only frustrates the Waiters and angers the Words guys. So, with all pastoral courtesy: please make your choice and follow through with it. The Waiters would be glad if you joined their team, and the rest of us would appreciate enjoying our fellowship in peace without awkward people standing over our shoulders.
But I forget myself. Read Acts 6:1–7 and judge for yourself if this article is worthy of the issues that concern it. See the pattern: growth, grumbling, and a Spirit-led plan for organized service. It’s written for our instruction. And as we grow—slowly but surely—we feel the same pressures. All of the frustrations I hear in our church, and let me say, dear faithful Waiter, are legitimate. And the solution is right here in this article. Non-Waiters, stop looking elsewhere. The Pastor has spoken; it’s your responsibility to respond in a way that makes His oversight of your soul a “joyful” thing. What benefit is there to anyone with any other alternative? Join the team, accept the job, volunteer for service. This attitude has won wars, built great companies, inspired winning teams, so why not also a healthy church? Teach yourself that it is far batter to say yes instinctively, its buying into your future and that of your church. God, in the words of obedience to His will, and when He speaks, there is typically only one word that suffices: ‘yes’, o.k., maybe two: “Yes, Lord.”
No More Bad Table Service
Those of you already serving should be encouraged. This means more hands, more help, and fewer people sitting in the wrong seats. Don’t you want more tables added so more people can be cared for? That will require more Waiters. I’m asking you to lean in and join the effort and ask, “Why is our Pastor waiting tables at all? That’s weird because he’s supposed to be a Word guy.” I couldn’t agree more, and yes, it does feel weird, just so you know.
Oh No What Will We Do?
Next year we will either have a healthy rhythm of events, or none at all. The difference will be you—all of you actually, because remember we don’t permit passivity, and will probably become less tolerant of that in the future, or so I would guess. So start talking amongst yourselves; the Word guy has just done Acts 6:2, you have been summoned. What are you supposed to do? Just read Acts 3 and do it. Then let's have a Family Chat to recognize the leading Waiters among us while emphasizing a culture where everyone serves. Then let’s make some plans and execute them with excellence.