Do You See What I See?
Well, hello. I’m back from a bit of a break as we moved out and then back into our house this past summer. In January, we noticed a leak under the refrigerator. Ultimately it popped the wood floors in the kitchen. So, nine months later we finally finished what turned out to be a HUGE project. Bigger than I anticipated. And thus, no newsletters of late.
But that’s enough about our woe du jour.
While plodding up and down the stairs carrying life’s accumulations (multiple times), I began thinking (and praying) about godly leadership. I’ve been wondering of late if the small “c” (local) church reflects what Christ intended. You may have noticed when I write about the “Church” I use a capital “C.” That’s intentional. I’m referring to the broader, kingdom idea. It’s intentional because I’m not convinced that the authoritative structures in the big box (or even little box) churches dotted across the American landscape are what Jesus instituted when He was here on earth. To be honest, I believe what we see more often reflects the type of leadership Christ railed against rather than fought evil and principalities for.
One of the incidents of excessive leadership authority that prompted my contemplation happened while I was in the process of leaving our previous church. When I asked to be removed from the membership roll, my request was denied. Our leadership believed they had the authority to refuse. In fact, all North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC) churches share this same belief. The “permission” they’ll give a member who wants to leave is if they transfer to another, “approved” church. This is not only an inappropriate, far-reaching abuse of authority, it’s against the law. In America, freedom of religion guarantees our privilege of choosing the religious institution in which to become a member and choosing when to resign. By requiring me to remain in their membership, my church leadership came perilously close to violating my constitutional rights. So, I wrote a letter using strong language to remind my elders [1] they were in danger of illegal behavior. [2]
Now, arguably, I made those “membership vows” [3] in an “official” service in front of the congregation. One might challenge that my request to remove was a failure in fulfilling my commitment. However, in 2008, when I verbalized those vows, our church was staffed by an almost entirely different senior leadership team. I knew very little about the men replacing my former pastors and, knowing what I know about them now, I would never have taken a vow to submit to their type of authority. [4]
Pondering this situation led me to investigate Scripture for what it says about leadership. What, exactly, does God say the “authority” of a leader encompasses? Who and what are we (as church members) required to submit to (Hebrews 13:17)? Similar to the question I have about marital submission, are we required to do everything a leader says? Imitate everything they do? Do whatever they ask? Is blanket trust required simply because these men have been ordained? Since the Bible has much to say about leadership, perhaps it would be a helpful organizing structure for understanding church membership submission. If you think about it, if we can comprehend the “how” of leadership, we may better understand the “what” of submission. Consider this list, derived from Scripture, specifically related to the characteristics of leaders,
Exodus
Able
Fear God
Trustworthy
Hate a bribe
Jeremiah
Have God’s own heart
Feed with knowledge and understanding
Ezekiel
Prophesy against shepherds who only feed themselves
Feed the flock
Strengthen sickly
Heal the diseased
Bind broken
Bring back scattered
Seek lost
Do not severely dominate the sheep
Don’t be absent
Protect the flock
Care for the herd
Deliver them from where they were scattered
Gather them to their own land
Feed the flock
Provide them with rest
Remove the harmful beasts
Provide a secure place for the flock
Shower them with blessing
Break the bars of their yokes
Deliver them from slavery
Protect the flock from fear
Provide sustenance
Protect the flock from the insults of the culture
Matthew
Be a servant
Beware of falsely prophesying
Mark
Do not lord over
Do not exercise authority over
Become a slave of all
Serve
Give life
Acts (of the Apostles)
Pay careful attention to yourself
Pay careful attention to the flock
Care for the church of God
Romans
Pay honor to whom honor is owed
Pay respect to whom respect is owed
1 Corinthians
Imitate Christ
Remember Christ
Maintain the traditions
Pursue love
Desire spiritual gifts
Desire higher gifts
Teach/preach
Prophecy
Heal
Help
Administrate
Be worthy of imitation
Ephesians
Walk in a manner worthy of the calling
Don’t provoke children
Bring up children with the discipline and instruction of the Lord
Love wife
Give self up for wife
Equip the saints
Build up the body
Speak the truth in love
1 Timothy
Set an example in speech
Set an example in conduct
Set an example in love
Set an example in purity
Set an example in faith
Pray
Lift holy hands without anger or quarreling
Desires a noble task
Above reproach
Husband of one wife
Soberminded
Self-controlled
Respectable
Hospitable
Able to teach
Not a drunkard
Not violent
Gentle
Not quarrelsome
Not a lover of money
Manage a household well
Accomplish all with all dignity
Keep children submissive
Don’t hastily lay hands on one another
Don’t take part in the sins of others
Keep yourself pure
Rule well to be considered worthy of double honor
Watch yourself closely
Watch your teaching closely
Persist in these things
2 Timothy
Present oneself as approved
Have no need for shame
Handle the word of truth rightly
Remember Christ
Endure for the sake of the elect
Titus
Teach what accords with sound doctrine
Above reproach
Not arrogant
Not quick tempered
Not drunk
Not violent
Not greedy for gain
Hospitable
Lover of good
Self-controlled
Upright
Holy
Disciplined
Hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught to him
Give instruction in sound doctrine
Rebuke those who contradict sound doctrine
Be sober minded
Be dignified
Sound in faith
Sound in love
Sound in steadfastness
Model good works
Teach with integrity
Teach with dignity
Hebrews
Obey leaders
Submit to leaders
Watch over people’s soul
Have joy
Don’t groan
Consider leaders outcome of life
Imitate leaders’ faith
James
Teach carefully
1 Peter
Live with wife in understanding way
Show honor to the woman
There’s likely a whole lot more that might be added to this list, but the point is, to the degree a leader is not exhibiting these characteristics, a member is not required to submit. We are not obliged to submit to sinful behavior. Of course, everybody sins. But do we truly believe that just because men are ordained as leaders, we must imitate them in everything?
Authority, in Scripture, is limited. Only Christ has ultimate authority, all other authority is derived (Matt. 28:18). And, as we can see from the list above, authority is purposed for human flourishing over those whom leadership serves. Evidence of the value in implementing leadership authority in these ways will be manifest in the fruit. What fruit is your church authoritative structure producing in your church membership?
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
(Galatians 5:13-25 NIV).
- I was (foolishly?) under the impression that, yes, my leaders will give an account for my soul…however, as a member, I also have authority. Consider this mutuality as Jonathan Leeman articulates member’s responsibility in his book on Church Membership, [Members] “should not allow an elder who has disqualified himself to continue serving.” Leeman, Jonathan. Church Membership (9Marks: Building Healthy Churches) (pp. 105-106). Crossway. Kindle Edition.
- What happened next defies comprehension. I was accused of threatening a lawsuit. Basically, I was slandered by someone who, by the very nature of his profession, knew better. See these posts here and here for more information regarding church membership rights and restrictions. If your church refuses to “let you leave,” (in what other context does that even happen?) you, as a US citizen, have the freedom to remind your leadership they are violating your constitutional rights and may even be violating the laws of your state by requiring your membership in a non-profit that requests donations. Additionally, Scripture supports deference to the civil magistrate for protection of the rights of a citizen (Acts 22:22-29).
- I’m struck by how quickly people join churches. If we were talking about marriage, we’d advise taking a lot more time getting to know the person we are making vows to.
- Truth be told, if I knew most of what I now know about the previous leadership I shouldn’t have ever taken those vows.
