WHEN IT COMES TO SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE CHURCH IT CAN BE SAID WITH ASSURANCE THAT MORE FAILURE COMES FROM AN EXCESS OF CAUTION THAN FROM THE BOLD EXPERIMENTS WITH NEW IDEAS.
WE NEED BOLD AND DARING LEADERS TO HELP GUIDE CHRIST’S CHURCH UNASHAMEDLY INTO THE UNCHARTED AREAS OF GOD’S KINGDOM. THE LAST THING WE NEED ARE THOSE WHO WOULD RATHER ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION.
OUR FREE METHODIST "BOOK OF DISCIPLINE" STATES IN PARAGRAPH A/352.2, "THE CHURCH EARNESTLY ENGAGES IN EVANGELIZATION AND DISCIPLE-MAKING. WE ARE NOT CASUAL ABOUT POINTING OUT THE WAY OF LIFE AND HOLINESS. WE ARE CONCERNED FOR THE SPIRITUAL GROWTH OF ALL THOSE IN OUR CHARGE, WHETHER PRE-CHRISTIANS, NEW CHRISTIANS OR LONG-TIME CHRISTIANS."
THIS WAS THE POINT THAT JETHRO WAS TRYING TO GET ACROSS TO MOSES. MOSES WAS TRYING TO LEAD AND TEACH AN ENTIRE NATION, WITH MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, ALL BY HIMSELF. ALL THAT RESULTED FROM THIS MONOPOLY OF LEADERSHIP WAS MOSES’ EXHAUSTION AND THE PEOPLES’ GROWING WEARINESS FROM WAITING SO LONG FOR HELP.
JETHRO, WHO JUST SO HAPPENED TO BE MOSES’ FATHER-IN-LAW, GAVE WISE COUNSEL BY URGING MOSES TO START DELEGATING SOME OF HIS RESPONSIBILITIES.
JETHRO SUGGESTS THAT MOSES SPECIFICALLY CHOOSE ONLY THOSE PEOPLE WHO FEARED GOD AND WERE OF UPSTANDING CHARACTER, MORAL INTEGRITY, TRUSTWORTHY AND HATERS OF ALL FORMS OF DISHONEST GAIN.
ONCE THE LEADERSHIP WAS SELECTED, GIVEN THEIR DUTIES AND THEN SET WITHIN THEIR SPECIFIC JURISDICTION, THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO WORK WITH MOSES ON SEVERAL KEY ISSUES OF LEADERSHIP. THOSE AREAS OF FOCUS FOR LEADERSHIP WERE THE: DECREES; LAWS; WAY TO LIVE; AND THEIR DUTIES.
THE FIRST AREA OF LEADERSHIP WAS TEACHING THE DECREES. THE HEBREW WORD FOR "DECREE" IS REFERRING TO "SPECIFIC ENACTMENTS" SUCH AS DOCTRINE AND THE BIBLE.
AS SPIRITUAL LEADERS OF THE CHURCH WE MUST TEACH OTHERS THE PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF OUR CORE BELIEFS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. WE MUST BE TEACHING THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD, THE SCRIPTURES, HUMANITY, SALVATION, THE CHURCH, AND THE END TIMES.
THESE BASIC TENANTS OF OUR FAITH MUST BE ARRESTED AND KEPT DEEP WITHIN OUR HEART AND SOUL. WE SHOULD KNOW THEM SO WELL THAT THERE WILL BE ABSOLUTELY NO CONFUSION AS TO THEIR MEANING NOR WILL WE BE EASILY SWAYED OR MISGUIDED BY CHALLENGING BELIEFS.
IF LEADERS ARE TO BE LEADING THE WAY, THEN THEY MUST LEAD THE WAY WITH TEACHING SOUND DOCTRINE. THE FIRST AREA OF LEADERSHIP IS TEACHING THE DECREES.
THE SECOND AREA OF LEADERSHIP IS TEACHING THE LAWS. THE HEBREW WORD FOR "LAW" IS REFERRING TO "GENERAL ENACTMENTS" SUCH AS CIVIL AND SOCIAL LAWS AS WELL AS DENOMINATIONAL LAWS.
THIS IS REFERRING TO THOSE LAWS ESTABLISHED BY ALL GOVERNMENTS WHETHER IT BE CHURCH, COUNTRY, STATE, COUNTY, CITY OR TOWN. REGARDLESS AT WHAT "LEVEL" THE LAW IS ESTABLISHED, LEADERS TEACH THAT THEY MUST ALL BE OBEYED.
AS SPIRITUAL LEADERS OF THE CHURCH, THAT MEANS WE TEACH THE CHURCH TO COME UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF OUR DENOMINATIONAL BELIEFS, STANDARDS, AND PRACTICES.
A CHURCH SHOULD NEVER BE CONDUCTING HER BUSINESS OR HER MINISTRY HOWEVER SHE FEELS LIKE IT. WHETHER A "BIG" OR A "LITTLE" CHURCH, LEADERSHIP TEACHES THAT EVERYTHING IS TO BE DONE RIGHT, TO THE STANDARD, AND AS EXPECTED OF US AS A DENOMINATIONAL RELATED CHURCH. PERIOD. THE SECOND AREA OF LEADERSHIP IS TEACHING THE LAW.
THE THIRD AREA OF LEADERSHIP IS TEACHING THE WAY TO LIVE. THE HEBREW WORD FOR "WAY TO LIVE" IS REFERRING TO "LIFE STYLES" AND "PATH OF DUTY" SUCH AS RULES OF CONDUCT.
EVEN THE SIMPLE "GOLDEN RULE" TO DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU" WOULD APPLY HERE. LEADERS LEAD BY TEACHING OTHERS TO LIVE RIGHT. THIS MEANS THE CHURCH HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TEACHING YOU HOW YOU ARE TO LIVE.
SOME MAY DISAGREE THAT THE CHURCH HAS NO RIGHT TO BE THE "MORAL POLICE" OR HAVE ANY JURISDICTION ON HOW THEY LIVE THEIR LIFE IN "PRIVACY."
BUT THE CHURCH DOES! IF WE MUST ADDRESS HOT TOPICS SUCH AS ABORTION, HOMOSEXUALITY, OR FINANCES THEN WE WILL. IF WE NEED TO LECTURE ON THE DANGERS OF EVERYTHING FROM SMOKING AND DRINKING TO WATCHING SOAP OPERAS, WE WILL LECTURE. IF WE MUST SUMMON WAYWARD MEMBERS WHO DO NOT ATTEND CHURCH AS THEY SHOULD OR LEADERS WHO CONSISTENTLY NEGLECT THEIR DUTIES, THEN WE’LL SUMMON.
AS WE HAVE HEARD IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN, OUR WALK TALKS LOUDER THAN OUR TALK, TALKS. IT’S NOT SO MUCH WHAT YOU SAY THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE…IT IS HOW YOU LIVE OUT WHAT YOU SAY THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE.
LIVING OUR LIVES IS SUPPOSED TO BE, AS ROMANS 12:1, SAYS, "A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD…." WE ARE NOT OUR OWN. WE WERE ADOPTED BY GOD AND PURCHASED WITH HIS SON’S BLOOD ON THE CROSS. WE BELONG TO GOD. THEREFORE, WE LIVE LIKE WE ARE HIS. THE THIRD AREA OF LEADERSHIP IS TEACHING THE WAY TO LIVE.
THE FOURTH AND FINAL AREA OF LEADERSHIP IS TEACHING THE DUTIES. THE HEBREW WORD FOR "DUTY" IS REFERRING TO "JOBS." EACH PERSON WAS TO HAVE THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY.
NONE OF US CAN DO EVERYTHING, BUT WE CAN ALL DO SOME THINGS. EPHESIANS 4:10-11, " AND HE GAVE SOME, APOSTLES; AND SOME, PROPHETS; AND SOME, EVANGELISTS; AND SOME, PASTORS AND TEACHERS; FOR THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS, FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY, FOR THE EDIFYING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST."
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IS NOT A PARADE WHERE WE SIT ON THE SIDEWALK AND WATCH IT GO BY. WE MUST ALL BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH.
THERE ARE CLASSES TO TEACH; FACILITIES TO BE CLEANED, REPAIRED, AND ENHANCED; PEOPLE TO VISIT; PAPERWORK TO BE COMPLETED, FOOD TO BE DISTRIBUTED, SONGS TO BE SUNG, AND MESSAGES TO BE PREACHED.
ALL OF THE CHURCH’S WORK, IN ITS OWN WAY, IS TO BE COUNTED SACRED AND SEEN TO ITS CARE AND COMPLETION. THE FOURTH AREA OF LEADERSHIP IS TEACHING THE DUTIES.
LEADERS LEADING THE WAY IN THE AREAS OF THE DECREES, LAWS, WAY OF LIFE, AND DUTIES WILL NOT ONLY BE OBEDIENTLY FULFILLING THEIR ROLE, BUT WILL BE HELPING OTHERS TO UNDERSTAND ALL THAT GOD HAS EXPECTED FROM HIS CHILDREN AND FROM HIS SON’S CHURCH.
AS WE HAVE LEARNED THESE NEW TRUTHS TODAY, MAY WE DETERMINE TO BE A CHURCH OF DUTY. DUTY IS DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AT THE RIGHT TIME, DESPITE DIFFICULTY OR DANGER; IT IS OBEDIENCE AND DISCIPLINED PERFORMANCE. DUTY!
MAY WE ALSO BE A CHURCH OF INTEGRITY. INTEGRITY MEANS A STEADFAST ADHERENCE TO A STANDARD OF HONESTY, UPRIGHTNESS, AND PARTICULARLY TO THE AVOIDANCE OF DECEPTION. INTEGRITY!
WITH DUTY AND INTEGRITY, WE ARE ALSO GOING FOR LOYALTY. LOYALTY TO OUR NATION, TO THE SCRIPTURES, THE CHURCH AND HER DENOMINATION IS ESSENTIAL. AS AESOP SAID, "UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL." LOYALTY!
NEXT COMES SELFLESS SERVICE WHERE WE PUT THE WELFARE OF OTHERS, THE DUTY TO THE GREAT COMMISSION, AND OUR CHURCH’S MISSION AHEAD OF OUR INDIVIDUAL DESIRES. MATTHEW 16:24, JESUS SAID, " …IF ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME." SELFLESS SERVICE.
IT GETS EVEN DEEPER AS WE MOVE ONTO COMPETENCE. COMPETENCE IS FINE-TUNED PROFICIENCY AND A REQUIRED ELEMENT OF OBTAINING A FRUITFUL HARVEST IN MINISTRY.
THIS IS KNOWING WHAT WE BELIEVE, BUT BEING ABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY WE BELIEVE IT. COMPETENCE IS A STATE OF MIND THAT SAYS, "I CAN’T AFFORD TO JUST THROW THIS TOGETHER IN ORDER TO GET IT DONE AND OVER WITH. I MUST GIVE IT MY BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS OF PROFESSIONALISM FOR GOD’S GLORY." COMPETENCE!
NOW THAT WE HAVE DUTY, INTEGRITY, LOYALTY, SELFLESS SERVICE, AND COMPETENCE WE WRAP THEM UP AND TIE IT TOGETHER WITH COURAGE.
COURAGE IS THE ABILITY TO OVERCOME FEAR AND CARRY ON WITH OUR MINISTRY. COURAGE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF FEAR; IT IS THE DECISIVE ACTION IN THE FACE OF FEAR!
COURAGE DOES NOT CATER TO OPPOSITION OR TREMBLE IN THE MIDST OF CHRONIC COMPLAINERS OR THOSE WHO THREATEN TO QUIT AND LEAVE THE CHURCH. COURAGE.
METHODS ARE NECESSARY. RULES, REGULATIONS, AND REQUIREMENTS IN BOTH CHURCH AND SOCIETY ARE ORDAINED BY GOD TO TEACH US HOW TO STEER-CLEAR OF THE DESTRUCTIVENESS OF EVIL SO THAT WE CAN LIVE ABUNDANT LIVES OF JOY, PEACE, AND FRUITFULNESS.
GALATIANS 6:6-9, " DON’T BE MISLED. REMEMBER THAT YOU CAN’T IGNORE GOD AND GET AWAY WITH IT. YOU WILL ALWAYS REAP WHAT YOU SOW! THOSE WHO LIVE ONLY TO SATISFY THEIR OWN SINFUL DESIRES WILL HARVEST THE CONSEQUENCES OF DECAY AND DEATH. BUT THOSE WHO LIVE TO PLEASE THE SPIRIT WILL HARVEST EVERLASTING LIFE FROM THE SPIRIT. SO DON’T GET TIRED OF DOING WHAT IS GOOD. DON’T GET DISCOURAGED AND GIVE UP, FOR WE WILL REAP A HARVEST OF BLESSING AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME."
LET US ALWAYS BE STRIVING TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN THE CORRECT WAY. NO COMPROMISE, NO LEANING TO OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING, BUT SEEKING THE WILL OF GOD IN ALL THAT WE DO. "ONWARD AND UPWARD!"
