“Jazzland”, a New Orleans-themed park, was built on acres of swamp-land outside of the city in 2000, was purchased by Six Flags and changed names in 2002. During Hurricane Katrina, Six Flags was completely flooded and an estimated 70-80% of the park was destroyed, leaving it much too expensive to fix. The park has been slowly rotting, decaying, and sinking into the swamp for the past five years since disaster struck. Churches decay without godly church leadership.
The diversity of American church leaders can even be seen in some of the more famous sermons in American history.
1. Massachusetts colony Governor John Winthrop’s “City Upon a Hill” (1630) sermon – actually about “Christian charity” – is seen by many as a charter for the founding of America.
2. A century later, Jonathan Edwards’s “Sinners” sermon is viewed as the most eloquent of all Calvinist arguments (and Calvinism played an immense role in U.S. mental culture until the Civil War).
3. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream,” which spurred a great social change and, by being on television, first introduced Americans broadly to the cadences of black preaching.
The importance of the church’s leadership is incalculable.
The famous skeptic philosopher David Hume was once observed on his way to hear George Whitefield preach one of his five o’clock morning messages on Christ. The observer chided Hume: “I didn’t think you believed in God.” Hume replied, and referred to Whitefield: “I don’t. But I am convinced this man does.”
If the church is strong, it must have strong leaders. There is an increasing need for godly leaders. Christian leaders are pastors, Bible study leaders, and deacons among others. Some of these leaders were apostles and others were, apparently, local leaders, of varying degrees of effectiveness, which had risen to prominence following Paul's departure.
In this letter, Paul has been doing two main things. First, he has been responding to some problems that are troubling the Corinthian church. He is fixing a number of problems that arise in the life of the church. This is the work of the church leader. We are to untie the knots in the church and provide the church with a better future. Leadership is paramount in the life of the church. Second, he is responding to some questions that they have asked him. In responding to the problems in the church he has first tackled the problem of division, i.e., the way that they were forming cliques and factions which were, for the most part, gathered around various leaders.
Today’s Scripture
“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. 7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! 9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things” (1 Corinthians 4:1-13).
There are three dangers that threaten the building of God’s church. Two weeks ago, we saw the first danger: defective builders: Church leaders who build with inferior materials on the foundation of the cross. There we said that there is only one foundation for the church: the cross of Jesus Christ. Yet, some church leaders build with inferior materials, shortcuts if you will. The second dangers to God’s church is deceived believers (last week). There we identified two ways in which we are commonly deceived: self-sufficiency and insecurity.
The self-sufficient and the insecure look the foundation of the church as insufficient. The self-sufficient say that they do not need the cross… …and… …the insecure is so fearful that they do not believe the cross is sufficient to deal with their fears. So the self-sufficient are cynical toward the church …and… the insecure are hopeless toward the church.
Today, we see the third danger the church faces is the destructive leader.
1. A Church’s Leaders Are Servants and Stewards
“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Corinthians 4:1). Paul shows the positive example of a godly church leader and its antithesis, the destructive leader. Remember the stakes are high for the Gospel and its leadership in Corinth. For Corinth is a world-class city. What is done in this city wasn’t done in an out of the way broom closet. If the leadership was wrong in the church of Corinth, a lot of people would be duped.
Let’s look at two words in 1 Corinthians 4:1. When Paul mentions “servants” in 1 Corinthians 4:1 he used the word that refers to an under rower. It derives its meaning from the military life of the Roman Empire, notably the warships, the war galleys of the Romans. This ships had a low deck just a foot or so above the water, and there were the seats of the rowers, the slaves, who were for the most part chained to their seats. They were impressed into servitude; many of them educated people, captives who had been taken by the Roman armies. Everyone in Corinth understood what that word meant. Corinth was where the war galleys of the Roman Empire crossed through the isthmus that separated the Ionian Sea from the Aegean Sea. The Corinthians knew that the lowest deck of a war galley was made of single rows of benches on both sides of the ship where the rowers sat. Then on a little deck raised up above them all, so that each rower could see him, was the captain of the ship. It was the rowers’ task to row according to what he said. If he wanted the ship to move then they were to row; if he wanted them to stop they had to stop instantly. Their whole business was to obey his orders. The word progressed to mean an assistant, one who receives orders or directions. That is the word that Paul chooses to describe those who are teachers, preachers and ministers of the Word of God within the congregation of the Church. They are “under-rowers” of Christ.
God’s kingdom is where leaders are servants and the poor are exalted. The Bible sees leaders of the church as inverted pyramid where leaders are enslaved, belong to the church (1 Corinthians 3:22), and must serve it from below. While the world sees its leaders as a person of high-status who bestows favors to those of lesser status.
Yet, there is a second word Paul uses to describe godly church leaders – “stewards of the mysteries of God” at the end of verse one. A steward is not an owner but a person who is entrusted with someone else’s property. God has entrusted His servants with the message of the Gospel. “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy” (1 Corinthians 4:3).
Trustworthy isn’t for wimps. We tend to think of this as boring. We tend to think of church leaders as the fabric softener of the church. They make us warm and cozy. Yet, being trustworthy with the entire church pulls away from Christ as the gravitational pull of the earth weighs us down. Church leaders are like a banker, we are entrusted with a great deposit.
If you think the primary role of a leader is to be an ENTREPRENEUR or a CEO, then the criteria you will use for evaluating him would be his creativity and productivity and, ultimately, the bottom line - whether his work gets results. His concern is not to be creative but reliable. Or, alternatively, if you think that the primary role of a leader is to be something like a CRUISE DIRECTOR, then the criteria for evaluating him will be whether the passengers are enjoying the trip, whether they are happy, not getting bored, being entertained.
2. Be Discerning but Not Judgmental
“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God” (1 Corinthians 4:3-5).
Paul is not bothered that the Corinthians are scrutinizing him (1 Corinthian 4:3). The verb in verse three “judge” is used to critically examine something or to find fault. An arrogant person’s own craftiness sets the trap that God pulls in order to execute judgment (1 Corinthians 3:19). If a church is going to be successful then God must be big and people must be small: “So let no one boast in men” (1 Corinthians 3:21a).
We always fail when we make people big and God small. Jesus took Peter, James and John up on a mountain by themselves. In Matthew 17, the Bible states that Jesus’ appearance changes where His clothes became white as light and His face shone like the sun. Jesus was transfigured. Similarly to people in the Corinthian church, Peter made a critical misstep in Matthew 17:4; he wanted to make three tents for worship of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. We always fail when we make people big and God small. Paul must answer to only one person: Jesus Christ. He gives us two reasons we should suspend judgment:
2.1 You Don’t Know the End of the Story
Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness …”
(1 Corinthians 4:5a).
2.2 You Don’t Know Another Person’s Motives
“Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will … disclose the purposes of the heart” (1 Corinthians 4:5). Church leaders must ignore constant praise, boot kissing, and “support” no matter who brings it their way. People cannot ultimately have the allegiance of the church leader. Church Leaders must master the art of strategically ignoring their critics and supporters or even their own personal performance review. All of this is done in light of the ultimate review on the Day of Judgment. If the church leader has served well, then they will receive a reward. Notice the balance: be Discerning but Not Judgmental. Remember 1 Corinthians 3:5-17 says a lot about the value of church leaders. Don’t suspend all judgment. Only let your judgment be discernment.
“Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear” (1 Timothy 5:19-20).
One minister’s wife had a small business on the side in order to supplement their income. In the process, she sold items to members of the church. They, in turn, gave their credit card numbers to the wife in order to pay for the products. No problem so far. Only she used the credit cards to pay for other items the family needed sometime later. Yet, no one told the church’s leadership.
3. Church Leaders are Sustained by God’s Word and God’s Grace
“I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another” (1 Corinthians 4:6).
“I am certainly supposed to be a mouthpiece for Scripture, a human instrument through which the Scripture is heard and received by God’s people. But the human preacher’s authority only reaches the human ear. It is only God himself who can take his word from the human ear to the human heart.”
Paul poses three of the most important questions you’ll face: “For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it” (1 Corinthians 4:7)?
“For who sees anything different in you?” (1 Corinthians 4:7a)
We might say, “What differentiates you from anyone else?” All three questions cause us to face our pride. I’ve found that pride comes in at least two ways: 1) Presumption and 2) Despair. Presumption finds itself waiting on God to provide what we need but lacking the patience to do so.
I am reminded of King Saul, the leader of the nation of Israel. Saul was engaged in a battle against the hated Philistines where they saw thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops like sand on the seashore (1 Samuel 13:5). Saul observed that his troops were “hard pressed” by the sight. The people hid anywhere they could find a place to hide, “in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns, 7 and some Hebrews crossed the fords of the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. (1 Samuel 13:6b-7).
“He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 9 So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. 10 As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. 11 Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, 12 I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” 13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you” (1 Samuel 8-13).
That’s presumption. Presumption says God’s timing or His knowledge is insufficient and I’ve got to do something to fix the problem. But there is another form of pride… DESPAIR. Despair says waiting on God is a fool’s wait. God will not fulfill His promises. Our hope in God is useless. Church leaders cannot suffer either form of pride. When despair tells you to stay in bed, you must preach to your feelings. Tell despair how foolish it is for there is nothing you do not have that is not from the grace of God.
4. Church Leaders Often Suffer.
Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! 9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things” (1 Corinthians 4:8-13).
There is a high cost to ministry. The Corinthian picture of leadership was far more like the fairy tale of Christian television. “Where ministry means you look rich, sit on a gold throne and have a big-haired wife who looks like she lost a paintball war” (Mark Driscoll).
I hesitate to say that last point because I really don’t suffer. As I reflect on this, I wonder if I am sinning because I suffer so little. Not that anyone should desire to intentionally suffer.But I wonder if like so many American Christians, I’ve chose the path of least resistance.
Ministry is about constant disruption, seasons of poverty, being hated, long hours of work, people calling you a fool, exhaustion, fear, temptation to give up, weakness, constant temptations to stop being holy like Jesus, being patient like Jesus, and being loving like Jesus. One of the greatest problems I continually face is patience.
Carrie Underwood has a hit entitled, Jesus Take the Wheel. In the song, a young lady realizes after a near fatal accident that she must change her life. When she sees her young child steel asleep in the backset of her car after her run off the road, she thanks God and makes this change. The only problem I have with the song is that Jesus needs both the wheel and the gas pedal.
