Let the Church Be the Church by Mills Bobby E.;

Author:Mills, Bobby E.;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Morgan James Publishing

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offends not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

James 3:1–2

The teaching and preaching of the gospel of Good News is not a job but a total commitment to God, a higher calling—a higher purpose!

CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP: SACREDNESS VS. PROFANENESS

What does the Bible say about Christian leadership? What does the Bible say about pastoral leadership? Church leadership has not changed very much from the first century to the twenty-first century. In the first century, Jesus chased the moneychangers out of the Temple. Today the capitalists/entrepreneurs (moneychangers) are back and stronger than ever. The book of 3 John was written as a personal letter of encouragement to Gaius concerning members of a local church beset with leadership problems, especially Diotrephes, the self-proclaimed church leader. The role of church leadership is to lead individuals to Christ through examples of godly living. How church leaders live and conduct themselves before others is of critical importance, because leaders’ behavior often influences the spiritual growth of believers and determines whether a church has a dynamic “Great Commission” ministry in Christ (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15–16).

Instead of embracing the Great Commission, many pastoral leaders embrace the “limited commission” and enslave church members to them in a local community. Ultimately these pastoral leaders make the church their church, rather than the church of Jesus Christ. Pastors have been instructed by Christ Jesus to teach parishioners to observe all things whatsoever He has commanded them. “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matt. 28:20).

How an individual treats others is a true reflection of their value system—that is a measurement of what is importance to an individual. Are people simply things or objects to be used? Or are they unique creations of a loving God? Gaius was an individual known for his Christian hospitality and generosity. He followed the teachings of Jesus and loved and served others. Diotrephes loved to take the preeminence of leadership over the church: I am the man. John said: “Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church” (3 John 1:10).

Unfortunately, in the twenty-first century too many pastoral leaders are following the same course of action as Diotrephes did, embracing the self-centered model of leadership rather than the servanthood model. This is precisely why we have so many self-serving storefront ministries in urban communities preying on the poor. Some of these individuals come out of physical prisons and end up creating spiritual prisons for themselves as well as others.

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