United Leadership - A Message To The Leaders Of The Body Of Christ

United Leadership

A message to the Leaders of the Body of Christ.

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

Prelude: - My heart is concerned about somethings I saw happening within the Body of Christ of this past weekend. Governmental order has established social distancing forcing the closure of the doors of restaurants, bars, sport complexes, and to include churches. As a result many Pastors & Leaders have taken to the internet via Facebook and other outlets in order to feed the sheep. However; there have been some that have kept the doors of the church open and continued with packed congregations forgoing the social distancing orders and during the preach word have condemned those that have closed their church doors and even criticized their faith.

During this time of crisis, it is easy to become divided and accusatory of those that don’t operate the way someone else does. It’s easy to say someone isn’t operating in faith because they obey the laws of the land and adhere to social distancing. It is so easy to say they don’t have faith based upon one’s interpretation of faith. The devil desires nothing more than to divide the church during this time of crisis; however, this is not the time for division in the Body of Christ for a house divided cannot stand. It is time for us to come together in unity, to get past denominational differences, organizational habits and customs, worship style conflicts and become united as the body of Christ.

Opening: - Ezekiel 33 talks about the Watchman on the wall, the responsibility of the Watchman as well as the results of the Watchman performing or not performing their duties and the accountability they have.

As a Bishop and Watchman, I feel it is my appointed duty to sound the trumpet and those that have ears to hear please hear what the spirit saith unto the church, the Body of Christ.

The atmosphere is constantly changing, people are being ordered to shelter in place, social distancing is the new normal, personal protective equipment is limited, ventilators are being sold to the highest bidder. People are dying at a rapid pace while others are being told to show up for work or loose their jobs. Confusion, anxiety, uncertainty, and fear grips the world. Government is divided, some of the country believes this pandemic is serious and some feel it’s a hoax that will end in 15 days regardless of the evidence and fact that it has been here already for several months.

One of the effects the Covid-19 virus has is causing faith leaders to wonder about their spiritual and civil responsibilities. Currently we find ourselves trying to stand on faith yet be responsible and obedient to the laws and those that have rule over us. Yet there are some that believe they are standing in and on faith while blatantly disobeying laws and defying those that have rule over us. For to long much of the Body of Christ has been distracted by title and position instead of focusing on purpose and responsibility.

It is now more than ever the time to realize just how much the people of the world are connected. Every time we hear, see, or experience a case of the coronavirus we must understand that there is a person, a family, a community, and a state that is affected and suffering physically, emotionally, and spiritually. As the Body of Christ, the church, not the building but the people, not the different organizations or denominations, but the organism, the living, breathing people of God especially the LEADERS are called to pray without ceasing. We are to pray for those affected, those in leadership, those on the front lines, those who are desperately working trying to find a cure for this pandemic.

The Bible talks in Ephesians 4:11-13 about the 5-fold ministry. Eph 4:11-13 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: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

UNDERSTAND first and foremost that the responsibility of the 5-fold ministry will not end until we all come into the unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of fulness of Christ.

We know the 5fold ministry in a very generic explanation is made up of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor/Teacher.

Apostle is called to build, impart vision, discern the Will and Word of God.

Prophet is called to speak to present and future situations.