"layman" vs. ministry...long(was Re: Women in the Bible)

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Bro. Tyler wrote:
>>>
Also..... where did the term *layman* come about?  Wasn't it the Roman
Catholic church (or some kind of organized religion) that elevated the
platform, raised the pulpit, put them up higher to look *down* on the
congregation?  The annointed/exhaulted ones remain on the platform, while
the laymen remained in their seats.  Doesn't scripture say *We are a 
peculiar people, a royal priesthood."  It doesn't say "We are a peculiar
people,  Men are a royal priesthood and women are lessor."
<<<

Disclaimer:  As always, the tone of this post is not angry or berating,
please forgive me if it seems that way.  As always, If anyone can refute
any of this with solid scriptural backing, I'm all ears (eyes?).  And as
always, forgive the length of this post, I just like to be thorough.:)

First of all, in the early days of Christianity, there was no such thing as
"going to church".  People met in homes to hear the word.  

For example:
"And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking
bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness
of heart," (Acts 2:46)

"And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth
God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from
God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of
thee," (Acts 10:22)

"And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed
you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Testifying
both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith
toward our Lord Jesus Christ," (Acts 20:20-21)

And most pointedly...
"Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:...Likewise greet
the church that is in their house. ..." (Romans 16:3, 5)

And regarding women...
"For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are
of the house of Chloe**, that there are contentions among you," (I Cor.
1:11)

**"Chloe" (khlo-ay)--fem. of appar. a prim. word; "green"; a Christian
female--Chloe.

(It appears that it was the "congregation" of the house of Chloe (a woman)
who reported the dissentions to Paul in the first place.)

"I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the
firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the
ministry of the saints,)" 
(I Cor. 16:15)

"And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the
church in thy house:" (Philem. 2)

**
It appears that the pattern of ministry in Acts was that the evangelist
(like Paul or Philip) would go from house to house (generally), and from
there, the converts would in turn go from house to house ministering to
each other.  The only "ministers" listed are the heads of household.  


Now, about other things...

"This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop**, he
desireth a good work," (I Timothy 3:1)

**bishop (episkopos--and forms)--A superintendent, I.E. Chr. officer in
gen. charge of a (or the) church (lit. or fig.):--bishop, overseer.

**church--(ekklesia)--a calling out, I.E. (concr.) a popular meeting,
espec. a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Chr. community of
members on earth or saints in heaven or both):--assembly, church.
As in I Tim. 3:5--This is the only word used for church in the NT.

Contrast this with "minister" and "pastor"...
a.  "minister"--diakonos--an attendant, I.E. a waiter; spec. a Chr. 
teacher and pastor (techn. a deacon or deaconess)--deacon, minister,
servant.
As in Rom. 13:4

b.  "pastor"--(poimen)--of uncertain affin.; a shepherd (lit. or
fig.):--shepherd, pastor.
As in Eph. 4:11--pastor, and Matt. 25:32

Finally, contrast these with "witness".
**witness--(martus)--of uncert. affin.: a witness (lit. judicially, or fig.
generally); by anal. a martyr:--martyr, record, witness.
As in Acts 1:8--this is the only word used for witness in the NT.

****
Ok.....
So, the role of the pastor is guidance or teaching, like (exactly like) a
shepherd.

The role of the bishop is to oversee or superintend a/the church, which
could mean anything from a congregation to an entire Christian community. 
(I think we call them presbyters.)

The role of the minister is to be a servant (of God).

The role of the witness to bear the record--no matter what the consequenses
apparently (martyr aspect of the word).  

***
It is not the job of the pastor to win souls, his/her (Paul certainly is
not specific) job is to teach and guide the souls that have been won.

It is not the job of the bishop to win souls, his job is to oversee the
organization to make sure there is order.  This is the *only* role/job
where gender is specifically mentioned.

It *is* the job of the witness to win souls, by bringing the record
(gospel, personal testimony) to lost souls.

**ALL THREE are to be ministers or servants of God.

SO, in conclusion, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS LAYMEN IN THE BIBLICAL
PATTERN.

Maybe the Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons have a better idea of what the
role of witnessing in ALL of us should be.  At least they are willing to
suffer (cold, rain, rejection, meeting total strangers, not to mention
being the back-end of truly cruel jokes) and sacrifice (walking, riding
bikes instead of driving) to share their message with and try to save who
they consider "lost".

Maybe if we want to increase our numbers we need to get off the pew and out
of our comfort zone and start knocking on doors ourselves.  (Saying this
with a huge tree trunk in my own eye.)  Why is it we only get inspired to
invite when there is a special program or speaker?  Why is it that we
expect these speakers to introduce the salvation message to our guests when
they should know it by heart from us already and seen it at work in our
lives???

Please pray for me.  I've felt a strong burden this way for a long time,
which might explain some harsh sounding tones in this post (forgive me). 
Maybe this kind of ministry is where my writing skills will be used of God.
 The more internal resources we can use, the less of an issue finances
becomes.

Any comments are welcome as long as they can prove the above wrong with
scripture.  
Anneliese
PS--I do give credit where it is due.  There are many UPC/Apostolic
churches I know of who have very strong home-ministry and "cold" witnessing
(door-to-door) programs.  One of them is one of the largest congregations
in the Greater Dayton, Ohio area.