Struggle in
the
church-teachers
and tyrants
Jesus told
His
disciples,"
You know
that the
rulers of
the Gentiles
lord it over
them, and
those who
are great
exercise
authority
over them.
Yet it shall
not be so
among you;
but whoever
desires to
become great
among you,
let him be
your
servant. And
whoever
desires to
be first
among you,
let him be
your
slave–just
as the Son
of Man did
not come to
be served,
but to
serve, and
to give His
life a
ransom for
many."
Matthew
20:25-28
Every week
there are
between
50-60
churches
from various
denominations
in the U.S.
which
permanently
close their
doors.
Church
statistician,
George Barna,
estimates
that in less
than ten
years more
than 100,000
American
churches
will shut
down unless
there is
radical
change. That
will be more
than
one-quarter
of the
375,000
congregations
presently
existing.
This is a
shocking
prediction.
While New
Testament-revival
is sweeping
across other
nations and
thousands
are being
saved, here
in the U.S.
most of the
church is in
a
dangerously
languid
state.
The
Scripture
quoted above
explains
part of the
dilemma:
Instead of
seeing
themselves
as
feet-washing
servants
much of the
leadership
in the
western
Church sees
their role
as being
President or
CEO of the
Church’s
"corporation".
The
atmosphere
of
servanthood
in the
congregation
has been
replaced by
an
aristocratic
Officialdom.
That
destructive
attitude can
be in the
Pastor,
Elders,
Deacons–or
whichever
structure
the Church
has
established.
I personally
understand
the biblical
structure of
local Church
leadership
to be a
Presbytery
of Elders
with one
identified
as the
Pastor. But
a true
Church can
exist in a
prison cell
without the
full
structure of
New
Testament
criteria. My
concern,
however,
does not lie
in the
structure or
actions of
those in
authority
but in their
attitude.
I have
repeatedly
told
congregations
that it is
better to be
in a Church
with an
unscriptural
form of
government
with godly
leaders than
to be in a
scriptural
government
with ungodly
leaders. The
final test
of
leadership
is not in
the
denominational
rule-book
but in the
personal
integrity
and holiness
of those who
lead. You
are safe in
submitting
yourself
only to the
Christ-likeness
which you
know is in a
person.
Again, Paul
said,
"Follow me
as I follow
Christ." No
one was to
follow Paul
for Paul's
sake. He,
and everyone
else, is to
be followed
only in
proportion
to their
following
Jesus. When
Christians
have yielded
their hearts
to the Lord
there will
be no need
for one to
become a
despot and
another a
robot. The
Dove/Lamb
nature is
harmless,
submitted,
and loving.
That quality
absolutely
must exist
in the
leadership
as well as
the
congregation.
Never submit
yourself to
an arrogant,
selfish,
unyielded
man–whether
he is the
pastor or
some other
self-appointed-Lone
Ranger
"prophet"
who is
accountable
to no one.
This may
surprise you
but I
understand
that in some
cases the
New
Testament
Church’s
governmental
structure
depends on
circumstances
surrounding
it. In other
words, God
has given
flexibility
that fits
the existing
need. Let me
explain: The
Kingdom of
God flows
downward
like water,
passing into
every
cultural
area below
it, assuming
that
culture’s
size, shape,
and depth,
but without
altering the
purity of
its own
identity.
The Kingdom
does not
change;
cultures are
merely
imbued with
it,
producing
changes
inwardly and
automatically.
This
wonderful
feature has
provided
Christianity
with an
adaptability
that other
religions do
not have.
As an
example, a
Coptic
Christian
Priest in
Egypt,
Zakaria
Botros, has
become so
anointed
with the
Holy Spirit
that his
radio
sermons are
winning
millions of
Muslims to
Christ.
Botros
appears on
the
uncensored
Arabic
channel al-Hayat,
and is the
chief
instrument
in the
conversion
of 6,000,000
African
Muslims to
Christ each
year. Some
who call his
broadcast to
argue with
him end up
being
converted,
live,
on-air. I am
not Coptic,
do not
understand
that form of
Church
government,
but I do
understand
the Holy
Spirit’s
willingness
to flow into
every
culture’s
size, shape,
depth, and
fill it with
His
presence. As
to the
variety in
Christianity,
I have
expressed it
this way:
"God does
not read
Church
signs".
The
governmental-structure
of the
African
Church may
be as
different
from the
Church in
Scotland as
its’ choice
of musical
instruments.
Anglican
Christians
worship with
pipe organs
while
guitars and
tambourines
are the
selection of
others.
Africans and
Latin
Americans
choose bongo
drums. Some
may insist
on no
instrumental
music at
all. One is
not right
and the
other wrong.
It merely
means that
the Kingdom
of God has
filled the
size and
shape of
each culture
with the
Church’s
wonderful
individuality.
Each one is
free to
preach truth
in his own
tribal
dress.
This is a
difficult
point to
explain but
it is vital,
so please
study it
carefully:
When God
exercises
authority
through a
man–regardless
of
denominational
labels–the
man must
remain
passive
before God
even though
he becomes
active
before the
people. By
"passive", I
mean that he
is to be
utterly,
totally
submitted to
the Lord. If
he fails to
do this, he
will become
active in
his own
authority
and God's
protective
oversight
will be
driven from
the flock.
When that
happens,
Heaven pity
the people
who fall
under the
power of
such a
leader! But
how can
ordinary
people tell
the
difference?
Jesus said,
"By their
fruits you
shall know
them." Even
in the
exercise of
Godly
authority
you will
still be
able to
recognize
love, joy,
peace,
longsuffering,
kindness,
goodness,
faithfulness,
gentleness,
and
self-control
in the man.
If these are
absent and
he lapses
into rage,
anger,
manipulation,
intimidation,
or
mind-control,
in any form,
he is no
longer God's
instrument.
Do not
submit to
him. To do
so is
dangerous.
At the same
time
however, be
careful that
you do not
justify your
bad behavior
by unfairly
comparing
your's to
his. When
you do that,
you too have
become
active
before God,
lost your
passivity,
and are as
disqualified
as he.
During my
pastoral
years I
wanted
capable men
to surround
me, to check
my motives
and correct
my errors.
In
principle,
the Elders
and I were
in joint
submission
to each
other–even
though as
Pastor/Elder,
Shepherd/Teacher–I
held a
position
above them.
Did the
system
always work?
No. Why not?
Because we
became
active in
our own will
and did not
wait on the
will of God.
Decisions
were
sometimes
made
impulsively,
spontaneously,
and without
adequate
prayer.
Looking
back, I
realize how
costly those
errors
were–both on
my part and
their’s.
Hear this
point:
Submission
can never be
demanded by
leadership;
it must be
earned by
them and
grow out of
the respect
and love
which the
congregation
has for
their
integrity
and
holiness.
To
accomplish
this, Elders
must be
passive
before God
at the same
time they
are active
before the
congregation.
Confusing?
No. Read it
again. It is
essential
that you
grasp this
truth. God's
authority
will not be
active in a
leader until
he willingly
submits
himself to
God. For the
operation of
spiritual
authority to
be genuine,
the man or
woman must
become
passive
before the
Holy Spirit;
without that
passivity,
God’s power
will remain
inactive in
them. Do you
understand
it now? Be
sure you do!
But, be
forewarned:
Counterfeiting
also
imitates the
work of God.
For that
reason,
others who
minister in
teaching,
music,
counseling,
secretarial
work,
various
functions,
must also be
in
submission
to God and
then to the
leadership
over them.
Disunity in
any
capacity,
even if
carefully
hidden,
still
produces
spiritual
schism and
disrupts the
work of the
Holy Spirit.
How is a
congregation
to protect
itself from
wrongly-implemented
authority?
How was it
done in the
New
Testament
day? The
Apostle Paul
continually
pleaded with
the people
to pray for
him. He knew
the dangers
of
misdirected
authority in
himself,
other
leaders, and
the flock
"over which
the Holy
Spirit had
made them
overseers".
So it is
today. The
church which
prays for
its leaders,
instead of
criticizing
them, is the
only church
that is a
safe harbor.
But what
about
"congregational"
authority?
Aren't
people more
secure if
everyone
votes
equally on
issues
facing the
Church?
First of
all, that
practice is
not found in
the New
Testament.
It was
inconceivable
in apostolic
times that
someone
could join
the Church
today and
tomorrow
"vote" to
fire the
Pastor. Wise
leadership
will listen
carefully to
every
opinion in
the
congregation,
pray about
it, but
realize the
final
decision
rests upon
the
appointed
leadership.
Case in
point: In
Southern
Baptist
Churches,
where
congregational-rule
is
practiced,
the average
life-expectancy
of a pastor
and
congregation
is less than
18 months.
Good men are
fired by
Deacon
Boards and
forced out.
That cannot
be the will
of God. Have
I known
Pastors who
needed to be
forced out?
Absolutely!
Have I known
Deacon
Boards who
needed to be
forced out?
Absolutely.
But this
crisis-point
would not
exist if
those in
authority–and
those under
them–saw
themselves
as
feet-washing
servants
instead of
reigning
Kings. In
nearly 60
years of
preaching I
have
observed
that the
same people
who demand
congregational
government
are the same
ones who are
first to
abuse it.
God never
intended
that church
leaders be
appointed by
popularity
contests.
The worst
disasters I
have seen
churches
experience
came from
such carnal
practices.
The Apostle
John
describes
this scene
when
Diotrephes,
"who loved
to have
preeminence",
led
rebellion
against the
Apostles.
III John
9,10.
Probably
Diotrephes
tried to
impose
Scriptural
authority by
quoting the
"word" over
unwary sheep
but himself
being
totally
lacking in
the right to
exercise
that
authority.
Even today
sincere
believers
are
sometimes
brought
under the
bondage of
such
power-hungry
leaders. The
result is
deadly. The
Apostle Paul
warned of
this when he
said: "God
has made us
able
ministers of
the New
Testament,
not of the
letter but
of the
Spirit, for
the letter
kills, but
the Spirit
gives life."
Paul is
saying that
even the New
Testament
produces
destructive,
killing
doctrines
when it is
presented
apart from
the
revelation,
wisdom, and
love, of the
Holy Spirit.
In other
words, the
New
Testament
may be
preached
exactly by
the letter
of the law
and the end
result be
far from
what God
intended.
Regarding
those in
authority,
my criteria
is this: Do
they operate
in true,
fatherly
love? Are
they stern,
unloving
"disciplinarians"
or caring
parents? Is
love and
compassion
their
motivation?
Do they lead
the sheep or
do they
drive them?
Are they
more
concerned
about their
personal
position
than they
are the
provision
and
protection
of the
flock? If I
were a
Church
member under
the care of
egotistical
leadership
that was
more
impressed
with its’
self-importance
than with
the
well-being
of the
flock, I
would leave
as from a
burning
building.
Almost
weekly, I
receive
telephone
calls from
Church
members and
leaders
across the
nation who
are
undergoing
anguish and
pain. In
some cases
the injury
originates
in the
pulpit,
frequently
in the Board
Room, other
times in the
pew. But,
regardless
of the
origin, the
conflict can
demolish
fellowship
and paralyze
a
congregation.
While I do
not have all
the answers
I do have
some that
have been
helpful to
me. As I
understand
it, those
who hold
disciplinary
authority
over the
lives of
others are
qualified to
exercise it
only if:
1. Such
authority is
expressed in
Scripture.
2. Case by
case, it is
administered
under the
specific
direction of
the Holy
Spirit.
3. That
direction is
gained
through
prayer and
face-on-the-floor
intercession
by those
involved.
4. In every
instance,
the action
is
implemented
in love.
The bottom
line is
this: We
cannot
improve upon
God's method
of humility
and
feet-washing-reverence
for one
another.
Pray for
your
leadership.
If they are
Godly,
support
them. If
they are
ungodly,
exhort them.
If
necessary,
leave them.
But also
know this,
if they are
genuine and
sincere, and
you attack
and renounce
them, it is
your sin–not
their's–to
which you
are
accountable.
Read your
Bible. Pray
for your
leaders.
Don't be led
astray by
false
prophets.
Follow the
Lord. Above
all else,
remember
that those
who attack
the Bride of
Christ are
attacking
Christ
Himself.
John
Wesley's
words of two
and one-half
centuries
ago speak to
the American
problem of
dying
Churches. He
said,
"When the
Church gets
on fire,
people will
come for
miles to
watch it
burn."
Charles
I SALUTE my
Christian
grandson,
Benjamin
McGuire, on
achieving
Eagle Scout
status in
the Boy
Scouts of
America.
Benjamin
received
letters of
commendation
from his
local County
Commissioners,
the Governor
of the State
of Georgia,
and the
President
and First
Lady of the
United
States,
George and
Laura Bush.
The men and
women who
spoke at
Benjamin's
Court of
Honor
affirmed the
role of God
in America's
past,
present, and
future
well-being.
Our family
is grateful
to Benjamin
for his
commitment
to the
Kingdom of
God, the
Nation, and
society at
large. CC
Pity The
Evolutionist
Who Denies
"Intelligent
Design"!
The tiny
Bombardier
Beetle of
Europe and
America has
a unique
weapon of
self-defense.
When an
enemy
attacks,
this
half-inch
long insect
sprays them
with a
chemical
hotter than
boiling
water.
Separate
glands in
its body
produce
hydrogen
peroxide in
one chamber
and
hydroquinone
in the
other. When
ejected
together
they produce
a scalding
spray
exceeding
100 degrees
centigrade.
This
temperature
is as deadly
to the
attacker as
some weapons
of modern
warfare.
Without
"intelligent
design" no
insect could
originate
such a
system–or
survive its
cumbersome,
partially-developed
weight over
the millions
of years
evolutionists
say is
necessary.
Common sense
tells us
that
"intelligent
design" is
an absolute.
CC
SONS IN
MINISTRY
May
22,23,24,
2008, Boca
Raton,
Florida.
Teaching
sessions
will be held
at Christ
The Rock
Church and
sleep-in at
the near-by
Renaissance
Hotel. $200
covers meals
and hotel (2
men to the
room).
Contact us
immediately
by e-mail at
CarrinMin1@aol.com.,
or by
telephone at
561-364-8335.
CC
