Godly Leadership

A big problem with leadership in the church today are the perceptions of it either by leaders or congregants.  Since the formation of the church men have been drawn to follow men.  This is nothing new.  The children of Israel wanted a king so they could be like the other nations.  I have heard it said that a pastor cannot lead a man further than he has traveled himself in spiritual maturity.  I agree to a point.  A pastor's role is to lead a man to follow Christ, take heed to all the flock of God, and equip the saints for the work of the ministry.  IF you follow the pastor, you willingly limit yourself to your leader.  God has placed pastors within the Body of Christ that they might point to Christ the Messiah as John the Baptist did.  As a pastor, my role is to lead by example in following Christ, not by making myself the standard, but serving as a fellow-laborer still growing in maturity.  Even Paul said in Philippians 3:12:  "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me."  He continued to press on, seeing his need for greater maturity and submission to God.

There are few things more common than criticizing or judging those in leadership positions in the church by others.  But no matter how poor the leadership may be, it gives us no excuse not to grow in grace and faith in Christ.  If we are filled with complaints, it may be that we are seeking to follow a person rather than Christ.  In following a man or woman we will always become disillusioned with their leadership.  When we see people not walking in the authority God has given them as children of God, we can stand in judgment of them OR take the lead ourselves in following Jesus.  Should not all true leaders be the servants of all?  We do not need to have a ministerial title within the church to take the lead in loving others, prayer, growth in grace, and being strong in faith.  The pastor, elders, and congregation will all answer to God alone, and those who teach will be held under stricter judgment.

A pastor is always on duty.  It does not matter whether he drives on the motorway, stops for a coffee, or makes a visit to a hospital.  His life will be scrutinized and examined by both Christians and non-Christians to see if his actions affirms his words.  In the same way, all Christians are always on duty!  It is not only the pastor who is called to walk in faithful service to Jesus, but every person who is born again of the Holy Spirit's power.  Martin Luther desired only to be known as a Christian, because following Jesus is the highest calling and privilege of any human being.  Instead of confining our influence and service to Christ within a building on Sunday mornings, let us seek to live for God continually.  All Christians have equal responsibility to live as such!  Never forget Who lives in you, Who daily makes intercession for you, and Who loves the world enough to freely give His only begotten Son.

Let us make the words of the psalmist our prayer:  Psalm 139:23-24 says, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; ²⁴ and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."  If we are faithful to do this, we will never lack godly leadership!