I have a friend who is a Jehovah's Witness. We have spent time discussing whether there is a class distinction in the Kingdom of God. As a Witness, he believes that there is a special group of 144,000 people who will make it to heaven. The rest of those who believe, have a hope to live in paradise on earth. This larger multitude will not see God, nor come to know Him personally, but will be ruled by the "Anointed Class" during Christ's millennial reign over the earth.

I do not see such class separation in the scriptures. The very thought of this doctrine runs contrary to the core tenets of my faith: That all men are fallen and in need of the same salvation, that man was created for the purpose of fellowship with God, that by faith we may all receive the same Spirit and become members of the family of God, and that the problem of class and ethnic divisions are solved through the cross of Christ.

Strangely, I do not have to go to the Kingdom Hall to find class distinctions. The very Church I love (all true believers in Christ) has this problem. It is not to the same degree, nor is it based upon a faulty interpretation of scripture, but it exists nonetheless. You see, we too have crowned an anointed class, and honor them undeservedly.

Our anointed class is just that - anointed. They have been empowered by God to perform certain tasks for the growth of His Kingdom. Some heal. Some teach. Some preach the simple Gospel, and lead people to Christ. Some administrate large organizations, and church bodies. Some prophesy. Some plant churches. Some sing. Some write books.

I do believe that we should honor those who labor among us. But, often the degree of our honor is undeserved. None of "the anointed" is special because they are skilled, or talented. It is God, Who gave them the skills, Who is special. He deserves the greatest degree of the honor. Do you think for a moment that God is impressed with the power in the life of a believer? Of course not! He gave that power as a gift, and the empowered individual did nothing but believe, and receive that gift.

What then, is the value in the life of the believer which is impressive to the Lord?Holiness is the value God seeks the most.

We revere numbers, accomplishments, personal charisma, intelligence, beautiful buildings, learned skills, performances, and sound leadership decisions. These often take precedence over personal relationships, and a careful examination of the soul. The larger our programs, the greater these tendencies. (Someone has to keep those wheels turning!)

God honors the submitted souls who walk the way of the cross, and surrender their personal ambition in order to die to self, and live unselfishly. He adores the restoration of broken relationships, the difficult choices to do right, even when it is inconvenient, and the sacrifice of personal comforts for the sake of another.

In the small gathering, we are faced with each others' flaws. We know each other intimately, and we quickly come to the conclusion that there is really no anointed class after all. There is only one group of "bozos," all chosen to be participants in the work of God's kingdom. Some are honest. Some are not. Some are giving. Some take, take, take. Some are doing their best to walk the way of the cross, and some are walking the fence. Some are not really the Lord's at all, and we may not even know it.

The longer I walk with God, the less impressed I am with the accomplishments of the "anointed class," and the more impressed I am with those who live a surrendered life. I would gladly give up every ounce of anointing I have been given, to simply be more like Jesus in holiness.

Those with the character of holiness have developed it in loneliness, trial, struggle, and pain. Those who simply do great things apart from this trait of holiness, have done so to the applause of the adoring crowds. They honor anointing over character, doing over being, accomplishments over relationships, and power over love. Like King Saul, they are anointed to rule, but rejected of God.

There are only two places we can "work out our salvation with fear and trembling:" 1) Alone before God Almighty, and 2) In the intimacy of the fellowship of small groups.

Here enters the power of a small church, a home cell group, or other close relationships of accountability. In these settings, we can work on the values which God most desires: Holiness, faithfulness, surrender, and selflessness . Here in these settings, we can begin to realize that there truly is no "anointed class," but that we are all a "peculiar people" with the same need: To be restored to the glory which was intended for man. That glory is the image and likeness of a holy God.