Leadership
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Christian Church Leadership
How can we assess church leadership today? Do we look to the church corporation? Do we look to the leaders of individual churches? Do we generalize and comment on the leadership of the hundreds of thousands of churches currently operating in the U.S. and around the world? One could say it is a subjective subject belonging only to the congregant and the spiritual benefit he/she is receiving from their church. Yet church leadership is a subject that must be addressed and there are certain guidelines that should be true of all churches but rarely found.
To do so we must start at the beginning. The Apostle Paul wrote the majority of the New Testament and hidden within his writings are keys to developing a New Testament church. First the word church is not found in either section of the Bible. The Greek word used was “ekklesia” which means “an assembly of people.” The term is derived from two Greek words, ek meaning “out from,” and kaleo which means “to call.” Originally, “the ones called out” had reference to the legislative body of citizens of the Greek republic called from their communities to serve the country. But for our purposes an Ekklesia is “an assembly of called out persons, called out to serve the Lord”. It is not a building or a place. It is an assembly, a group “called out”. Called out of the world to participate in the forming of the Kingdom of God on the earth (Mt 6:10) (“in the world but not of it”).
Paul wrote the basic leadership guidelines for a NT church. “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism,one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift… And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love” (Eph 4:4-7, 11-16). This does not describe a church as we know them but a living, breathing Body of people with one focus. The leadership of any church should have this as a goal.
In today’s churches there is no or little follow up on the newly saved. There is the altar call where the congregant is saved but no continuing with them to see that they grow and mature in Christ. The church takes credit for the ones saved and, feeling their job is done, moves on. There is much more to salvation than just initial salvation. Christ is able to save to the uttermost. ‘Uttermost’ signifies to the outside, to the end, to the last, to the furthest part. “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
Paul notes in Ephesians (above): “equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. Maturity takes time and specific work with the assembly. The goal is to bring the entire Body into a “unity of the faith”. Paul would spend years in a church (Ekklesia) he started doing just that. Bringing members to a unity in the knowledge of Christ to a mature man is a big job.
Paul was careful to establish an eldership who could oversee the church when he was gone. In the Books of 1&2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon and 1&2 Corinthians he reveals the details of church leadership. In 1 Timothy 3:1-7 he details the requirements for an elder: “if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?); and not a new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil”.
He further outlines the qualities to be possessed by a Deacon: “Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach…Let deacons be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 3:8-10, 12-13).
Paul explains his purpose in writing to Timothy: “I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Ti 3:15). He goes on to refine what Timothy is to do: “In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things” (1 Ti 4:6-11).
Paul was the Father to the churches. In 1 Corinthians he said: “For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. I exhort you therefore, be imitators of me. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church” (1 Co 4:15-17). To the congregation of Christians in Corinth, Paul invoked what they sorely needed, the continued grace of the Lord Jesus (cf. 1:4). He assured them of what they hardly deserved, his fervent though unrequited (cf. 2 Cor. 6:11–13; 12:15) love (agapç). He embraced the disunited lot of them (cf. 1 Cor. 1:10) as their spiritual father in Christ Jesus (4:15). And he sent them Timothy because Timothy had been so fathered by Paul that he was able to remind the Corinthians of “Paul’s ways” as he had learned them from Paul. This is true and loving leadership.
The New Testament church should also have the gifts of the Holy Spirit operating in the body. These are discussed in 1 Corinthians 12. “NOW concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Co 12:4-7). This scripture is speaking generally about the gifts of the Spirit. There is a deeper meaning in these three passages. These verses speak of our progression from salvation to perfection (see my article “Three Steps to the Perfection of the Church”).
The spiritual gifts are: “For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills” (1 Co 12:8-11).
The New Testament church should have all these gifts in operation but few if any modern churches actually study or exercise the gifts. Many churches do not even recognize the spiritual side of a walk with God. Imagine a church with fully operational gifts of healings, miracles, word of wisdom and knowledge and the gift of faith. These are the gifts Jesus walked in. And with adequate leadership directing, anyone can have these gifts that are provided to us by God. As Jesus said: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father” (John 14:2).
Modern church leadership does not approach the leadership exercised by St. Paul. We all know about the focus of modern churches on money. We’re aware of the ministers who have misused church funds for creation of an opulent lifestyle. We know of the sexual abuses committed by ministers and priests. Unfortunately these types of leadership breaches are no longer in the minority. What about the leadership failures committed by the Catholic Church who have as their membership the majority of Christians in their ranks. But what of the leadership’s abject failure to follow the blueprint of New Testament churches as initiated by Paul.
Take the doctrine of salvation for instance. The organization Founders has addressed this issue and found salvation as practiced by the majority to be inadequate (Diagnosis and the Modern Church, Tom Ascol, founders.org/fj10/diagnosis-and-the-modern-church). He points out the meaningless church membership to be a paper formality with the members inactive in advancing the Christian faith. He says: “A whole new, unbiblical theological category has been constructed to justify this type of attitude. I am referring to the “Carnal Christian” theory as it has been popularized in booklets and tracts. This theory teaches that some Christians simply are not “spiritual” and therefore cannot be expected to do “spiritual” things like attend church, pray, give, fellowship with believers, or grow in grace. Sure, they may miss out on a few rewards in heaven, but “at least they are saved! “This theory soothes the conscience of a church and its leaders by viewing its “paper members” as on the road to heaven. They should, no doubt, be encouraged to become “spiritual,” but even if they never do (the reasoning goes) at least their destiny is secured” they say.
If these questions are taken to the Scriptures and the full impact of the answer is allowed to inform one’s doctrine of salvation, a new assessment of completely inactive church members will necessarily emerge. It becomes impossible to deny the strong probability that many of those who are mere paper members have never been truly converted. Such a conclusion calls for a reevaluation of the evangelistic strategies which initially placed such people on the rolls. A biblical renovation of evangelism–both in its content and methodology–will be in order (Ascol, above).
Paul was not a meaningless, non-active leader in His churches. He said this: “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I PRESS ON in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:8-12).
Paul speaks of his care for God’s churches. In only one sense was Paul different from other true apostles: he was self-supporting and took no remuneration from the Corinthians. And he would not change his way, for he refused to be a burden to them (2 Co 13:14, 16). Like a father with his spiritual children Paul wanted to care for the church without cost to them. While he refused remuneration for different reasons (cf. 11:10; 1 Cor. 9:17) not the least among them was his love for the Corinthians. And he would gladly have received the same “coinage” from them (cf. 2 Cor. 6:11–13).
In comparison modern churches have a crisis in leadership that has resulted in the points raised above. They have the same scriptures we all do but they adamantly refuse to bring their churches into a spiritual relationship with God.
Finally the church leadership has failed to assure that the Word of God is preached in their churches. From our experience with churches is that in few of the churches convey the real voice of the Lord. Paul not only spoke the Word of God but his letters have become the basis of what a church should be. And membership in his churches were not passive but became like Paul they were exercising the active seeking of the Lord required. Non participators were weeded out from among the Body. Paul brought these churches to a level that functioned in his absence.
Consider this scripture describing conditions after the day of Pentecost following Christ’ resurrection. “And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together, and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42-47). Are you in awe as to what your church does? Are signs and wonders taking place? Is the day of miracles past as some assert?
We have a guideline in the scriptures as to what a church should be. It is not that way today. Is this because of the lack of vision of the leadership? Could the leadership turn things around? It would be a monumental task but it only takes a handful to make a real difference.
©Kenneth B. Alexander
Scriptures from the New American Standard Bible,”78&’86 editions
New American Standard Bible. (1986). (electronic edition., Ac 2:42–47). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
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