In general, many have the understanding that laity refers to the “general, non-professional” nature of the members in the church. By extension, laity refer to most unordained believers as opposed to the clergy.
How does the Bible define a laity?
The word Laity comes from Clement’s epistle to the Corinthians. The Corinthian church was divided when a young congregation unjustly dismissed its pastor. Clement, as the fourth Bishop of Rome, wrote a letter to address the situation and coined the word Lay. Clement used Lay to refer to believers who were not members of the clergy, and the original word Lay, laikos, is derived from laos, meaning people. Just as in the Old Testament God chose Israel to be His people, so in the New Testament God chose whoever believed in Him to be His people. When the word is used to distinguish between the people and the clergy, it means “unofficial”. Clement used this word to counsel laymen not to participate in sacraments that only clergy could perform.
I doubt that such a distinction is necessary. Romans 9:25-26 refers to God’s people as all who believe in Jesus Christ, whether Jew or Gentile. The Gentiles have already received the spiritual blessings God promised to Israel in the covenant of salvation as well, but they have not replaced the nation of Israel in God’s plan. Their election, salvation, and participation in God’s covenant of grace is parallel to Israel. Therefore, the church is composed of God’s people, which includes all Jews and Gentiles who have received God’s salvation. Being the same people of God, there should be no division of class, nobility, or some being regarded as more spiritual than others. All of God’s people are members in the church, and they all share the same mission to be God’s witnesses.
We should not view pastors as a professional class to separate them from believers. Such a distinction only creates unrealistic expectations for pastors and blurs the role of laity in the church. There is no difference between a pastor and a believer in essence, only a difference in their duties. The pastor is an office established by God in the church, primarily to “equip the saints for the work of service, for building up the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12).