What do we make of Korah's rebellion? What does it have to do with life today in Christ's Church? Quite bluntly, our Lord has appointed different people to different roles in His kingdom. Korah was right in saying (Numbers 16.3) "...all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them" (ESV). But he was not right in saying that Moses and Aaron had "gone too far" and that they exalted themselves unduly. In fact, Moses and Aaron were acting in accord with God's calling to them. Korah and his associates were choosing not to act in accord with God's calling. They were leaders, "chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men" (Num. 16.2, ESV). But leaders or not, they were to lead in the area of life where the Lord placed them to lead, not in some other area of life.
So back to today's Church. What role has the Lord appointed for specific people? Are there certain qualifications for elders? No doubt. Are they all to be able to serve in the pastoral ministry? It's my strong opinion, biblically, that they are to be so qualified. Is there a time and place for a duly appointed elder who is not paid as the pastor of a congregation to minister in Word and Sacraments? Yes. But in every congregation there is order. Someone has the primary responsibility to shepherd the flock. This is right and good. It is part of making sure God's flock has good pasture. What about those people who are natural leaders but are not called to be elders? Are they to carry on a pastoral role? Maybe in some situations, but only according to God's plan and provision for them. For instance, by his office as the head of a household, each husband is called to be the primary "pastor" for his flock at home. But if that role has not been extended to the greater congregation, he is free to be shepherded within the context of the Church as a whole while he does the work of a shepherd at home. What about those with other gifts? A gifted administrator, negotiator, public relations person, or teacher may in fact not have the gifts and calling of a pastor. It may well be that those people, who may be very good leaders in their careers, may need to limit their desires for leadership when they are in the specific congregational context.
Let's look at the big picture. Moses and Aaron were called by God to lead the people of Israel, to shepherd them from Egypt to the land of promise. They were not naturally qualified. They were called and were given the gifts they needed to do the job. Likewise, each of us is called and gifted to do some job that our Lord has appointed. May we be faithful to that calling.
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