Priorities for Church Leaders
There are today so many conflicting pressures on church leaders that it is easy understand how they can take their eyes off the direction they should be fixed on.
The Corinthian church was having major problems as early as 55AD. Teachers had infiltrated the church and were influencing members to move away from apostolic priorities. The new emphasis was in encouraging people to experience God instead of obeying him.
Paul writes to the church to remind them that they have been entrusted with ‘the secret things of God’ (1 Corinthians 4:1). Although all churches formally acknowledge the Scriptures as the Word of God, many only give the lip service. They are selective in how they use the Scriptures. Many churches no longer see their role as being to teach God’s word to the world. They have what to them are more important priorities. Yet Paul reminds them,
“Do not go beyond what is written.” 1 Corinthians 4:1
To be an apostolic church means to remain true to what God has given us in all his word.
Personal Priorities
The Christian life has been compared to a young seedling.
The root is Scripture. This is how we obtain our nourishment and is the source of all our teaching. This is why it is vital for each of us to have a personal quiet time with our Lord. We need to spend some time everyday feeding on His Word. If the root is not working the plant will soon die.
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught . . .” Colossians 2:6
Bible teaching is the core function of the church. It is fulfilled through preaching the word, through small Bible study groups and through personal study. We all need to keep learning Bible verses so that we can encourage both ourselves and others with them.
The stem is our relationship with Jesus. As people become more senior in the church it is all too easy for this relationship to drift.
Erica Sabiti was a godly Archbishop of Uganda. One day he went to meet the Archbishop of Canterbury who had flown into Entebbe airport on a formal visit. As they walked from the plane Erica Sabiti asked the Archbishop,
“Tell me Archbishop, how are you getting on with Jesus.”
He clearly recognised how easy it is for Christians to drift in our relationship with the Lord Jesus.
The leaflets or cotyledons of the seedling represent the purpose of being Christians. There are just two. The first leaflet reminds us of the importance of developing a ‘Christ-like character’. This is hard for many of us as it involves developing a new mind-set, a new way of thinking. Paul wrote,
“Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:1-2
Jesus was the Good Shepherd who gave himself for his sheep as should his pastors today. A pastor can so easily be tempted to use church facilities and status for his own advantage or even for financial gain. Those following the apostolic model will not teach the Bible for their own benefit although it has always been a temptation. Paul wrote,
“Unlike so many, we do not peddle the Word of God for profit.”
Dr Tesfaye was a Consultant Physician who gave up his medical post to become President of the Kale Heywet church in Ethiopia. Some church members advised him that he should now have a new expensive car in view of his new status. He had a very old battered car. He replied,
“How can we spend so much on such a luxury when our evangelists are paid so little?”
Systems can be established that mean that the expenses of a church are checked by elders and we all need such checks on us.
We are told in the gospels that ‘Jesus grew in grace’. Gracious people are so attractive. Paul repeatedly urges that ‘grace’ should be a feature of Christians. We must aspire to develop a Christ-like character.
The other leaflet represents the Christ-like purpose that we have been commissioned with. All Christians are to be Christ’s representatives in society. We, like Jesus and his apostles, are all to be focused on sharing the gospel. We do not become Christians and then choose whether to share the gospel with others. We have been chosen by God to be involved in this. Few will be preachers but all Christians are commissioned to be involved in sharing the gospel. Sometimes this will be by supporting others but we all should be praying for opportunities to talk about the Lord Jesus or invite outsiders to hear about him.
This is not a question of character, it is a question of prayer. I have yet to meet a Christian who is praying regularly for opportunities to point people to Jesus who is not given them. The problem is our mind-set, not our personality. Jesus was clear about the necessity of passing on the way of salvation.
“. . . he who does not gather with me scatters.” Matthew 12:30
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations . . . and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20
The apostles recognised this necessity. Peter wrote,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to god, that you may declarethe praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 2 Peter 2:9
“Thanks be to God who . . . through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” 2 Corinthians 2:14-15
Oscar Wilde was a famous English play writer. After the first performance of his play, ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ he was in the foyer of the theatre being congratulated by a queue of well-wishers who gave him bunches of flowers. One man in the queue was not a fan. Behind his back he held a rotten cabbage. When his time came, he presented this to Mr Wilde.
“This is what I think of you,” he said.
Oscar Wilde looked down at the foul smelling cabbage and astutely replied.
“Thank you. Every time I look at this, I shall think of you.”
All Christians give off an ‘aroma’, either this is of Christ or it is of the world.
It is so easy to forget that those of us in roles of Christian leadership are no different in this regard to any humble Christian. We have all been called to be filled with the Spirit of Jesus Christ and so show him to the world both by the way we behave and by what we say.
A patient came to see me who was the lay leader of her local parish church in a village. After the medical issues had been dealt with, I asked her how the church was going.
“It is not easy. We are getting smaller and older,” she replied.
“Oh dear,” I responded, “Tell me, do the church people talk about the Lord Jesus with others in the village?”
“Oh good gracious me, no! We don’t even talk about him amongst ourselves.”
If local pastors abuse their position they can do immense harm to the gospel. It is therefore particularly important that they model these four characteristics, feeding on the word of God, living closely with Christ and so developing the character and purpose of the Lord Jesus. If we do not work hard at preparing talks that teach the Bible well the congregations will stop bringing their Bibles to Christian gatherings and will stop feeding themselves on the Word of God privately. If we are not learning Scriptural verses by heart, neither will their flock. If we are not seen to be chatting about Jesus with non-Christians, the congregation will think that evangelism is just emotional preaching and not their responsibility. Paul recognised this and it was a great incentive for him to be Christ-like.
“I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 10:33-11:1
There are so many demands on church leaders’ time. There are so many worthy social needs within their community. Furthermore the civic authorities will be pleased if the churches take a large role in this. The danger is that the pastors can then take their eyes off their main purpose, to teach the word of God and to model Christ. Jesus faced similar pressures. Larger and larger numbers of people were coming to him to be healed. He was getting literally ‘crowded out’. What was he to do?
“That evening after sunset, the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon possessed. The whole town gathered at the door and Jesus healed many . . .
Very early the next morning, while it was still dark Jesus . . . went off to a solitary place where he prayed. . . . ‘Everyone is looking for you!’
Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else – to the nearby villages – so that I can preach there also. That is why I have come. So he travelled throughout Galilee preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.” Mark 1:33-38
Jesus clearly prayed about this conflict of interests and then decided to make time for his prime purpose, the proclamation of God’s Word. So shouldn’t church leaders do the same today? Good sermons that expound God’s word take a lot of time to prepare. Many pastors set aside every morning for sermon preparation. We told a new pastor to our church that we only wanted him to give one major talk a week but that this must expound Scripture and be very well prepared and applied.
Possibly church organisations should provide well-prepared sermons for those who find this task of preparation difficult. In English history there have been times when church ministers were not able to teach the Bible. Thus Archbishop Cranmer arranged for ‘Homilies’, or prepared sermons, to be published to help such pastors.
The churches priority is to preach the Word of God fearlessly. This may be costly. Sometimes our politicians need to hear what God says about the abuse of their status, the corruption and injustice that is occurring. They need to know that God will judge us all, regardless of rank. However such criticisms must always be associated with the good news of the gospel. Anyone can return to fellowship with our loving heavenly Father if they repent and commit themselves to live under the authority of the Lord Jesus. This is the churches message. It will inevitably be unpopular in some quarters. Politicians will be pleased if churches stick to helping with social issues but may become very concerned to hear God’s message that submission to Jesus is the only way to obtain personal and national salvation.
The temptation has always been for weak pastors to comply with what their political masters’ desire and even reward, instead of fulfilling the commission of the Lord Jesus. If a choice has to be made then the teaching of the Word of God has to be our priority.
The Corinthian church had lost this priority. They were more interested in chasing religious experiences. Doubtless this was imported from the secular religions that existed in Corinth at the time. Churches will be full of religious people in it to satisfy themselves,
“. . . having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” 2 Timothy 3:5
Our power comes from obedience to the Christ of Scripture. The decision to remain true to the Lord and fulfil his commission will be costly. Paul knew this only too well but was willing to pay the price.
“You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings . . . yet the Lord rescued us from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life will be persecuted while evil men and imposters (false pastors) will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” 2 Timothy 3:10-13
Paul then moves on to encourage the true Christ-like pastor to remain true to his commission given in Scripture.
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and become convinced of . . . and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:14-17
Paul finishes this his final letter with an awesome charge which is just as relevant to all of us, wherever we serve.
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hard, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:1-5
Sharing the gospel is a Scriptural priority. Some years ago there was a Bible Reading in the Union of Cambridge University. It was a missionary weekend and there were two speakers booked, each having half an hour to speak. Unfortunately the first speaker went on and on, so that the second speaker, Jim Broomhall had only three minutes left. He stood and read his text.
“There are some who are ignorant of God, and I say this to your shame. 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 34.”
He looked at the clock and then said,
“I have just got time to read this to you again, “There are some who are ignorant of God, and I say this to your shame”.”
He then sat down.
One young man listening was so struck by the words of that verse that he committed his life to telling others about Jesus. His name was David Wheatley-Price. He eventually went to Kenya as a missionary. Some ten years later David was back in that same Union and he recounted this story, reading out the same verse. Another student, Peter Pattison who had been converted in his first year was very much impressed by the same verse. He likewise committed his life to sharing the Christian gospel with others.
Will you join me in recommissioning yourself to being obedient to the call of Christ? Will you determine to be a Bible teaching Christian leader and not to be distracted by other siren voices? Will you determine to live closely with the Lord Jesus, keeping in close contact day by day? We will model those twp leaflets of Christ-like character and purpose. How we need the supernatural power of God’s Spirit to fulfil this awesome responsibility.
BVP
April 2014
