Tag Archives: leadership

DEPART FROM THE FAITH (1)

09 Friday Feb 2018

Posted by in history

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , ,

The other day I was reading from a book that gave attention to the history of the church through the first five hundred years. As I was reflecting on that which I was reading, I took notice of what the book said about the church and compared it with what the New Testament said about the church. The two were different. That brings to mind the words of the Holy Spirit in 2 Timothy 4:3-4: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (KJV). Paul wrote to Timothy these words also, Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth (1 Timothy 4:1-3).

I want you to notice the two passages again. First, people will not endure sound doctrine; that means there will be some who will not want to hear a “thus saith the Lord” from the pulpit or in the Bible class setting. Yet, the Holy Spirit said that if any man speaks, let him speak the very oracles (words) of God (1 Peter 4:11). Second, these same people who will not endure sound doctrine (words) are people who have ears to hear, but will only hear what they want to hear (they have itching ears). If/When something new is being done elsewhere, there is a tendency to give thought to “Why can’t we do that here?” which then translates into “We need to do that here!” Third, the “itching-ear-person” then turns to a preacher who gives an ointment that sooths the ear, and this is not a good thing! The Lord said this is a turning away from the truth unto things that are not true, but instead are fables in relation to God’s will. Fourth, this turning away results in departing from the faith, buying into the teachings of man so one does not look out of place in the religious world.

The church in the New Testament and the church in church history are not the same. They may have started out the same, but they turned into something different from one another. The church in the New Testament is a church with Jesus at its head, the foundation being Jesus and the words of the apostles. This means that the teachings of the church are to be, and only be, the teachings of the Lord and His designated servants. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11). Again, …. the household of God…built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone… (cf. Eph. 2:19-22).

Because of such dangers, leadership in the New Testament church is a crucial issue. Leadership that respects and insists on the Lord’s way, and only His way, is in prime position to promote the Lord’s way in a dark world. the leadership of which I speak is not a reference to preachers or elders, but to each New Testament saint who love the Lord. They must exercise leadership in this dark world, for many who are lost are looking to them for guidance.

A failure of leadership is disastrous. RT

We Need Joshua

26 Sunday Nov 2017

Posted by in Bulletin Article, Leadership, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , ,

Men Like Joshua

When the Lord told Joshua to prepare himself for the duties in front of him, the Lord knew well that Joshua could not appreciate the difficult task he had. Joshua, however, was in better position than any other person, but even with that being the case, there was (and is) something different between being by the side of a great leader and being the leader yourself. When you are by the side of a great leader (or any leader), decision consequences don’t fall on you, but on the one who made them. When the Lord told Joshua to prepare himself, He said, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (1:9, ESV). The Lord told Joshua to be courageous, but it was not in military matters He was speaking. What the Lord had in mind was for Joshua to be courageous in allegiance and obedience to the Lord’s Word and purpose. The Lord knew well that Joshua would face much resistance of one sort or another.

It takes a great deal of commitment and courage to stand firm in the Lord’s way when most of those around you are not doing so, or waffling in doing so. Joshua was leading a complex nation. No doubt there were many who loved the Lord as much as Joshua, but how many were confused in their loyalties. Perhaps many of them desired to hear and obey the Lord, but for one reason or another, they allowed distractions to get in the way. Some of those distractions could have been family issues, self-esteem, hardships and heartaches. Whatever it was, those so struggling, the Lord called upon them to set it aside and consider what was in front of them (cf. Hebrews 12:1-3).

Those called upon to lead either understand this already, or need to!

In Joshua 1:6-9, the Lord gave Joshua guidance as to how to stay courageous. First, he had a definite work to do; without an assigned task, one does not know what needs to be done, much less how to accomplish it. Second, to have a task at hand, means a directive must be in place to get the work completed. This complements the first point. At a practical level, a plan is most helpful to see where one needs to go; trying to “wing-it” brings confusion and directionless movements. As with the practical, so with the spiritual. Third, in Joshua’s case (as well as our own), divine help is a must; without the Lord, we can only hope to accomplish, but never really know whether we accomplished the task or arrived at the Lord’s destination. With the Lord’s plan in front of us, with the Lord’s plan faithfully executed, we will certainly accomplish the work required. Fourth, a determination to accomplish what is ahead means one must adopt courage, have a brave and determined heart to see it through to the end.

In the Lord’s church, godly men who serve as elders are crucial to the local congregation. Horror stories abound of men serving as elders who do not employ each the Lord’s principled guidelines given to Joshua. They are nice, courteous, financially astute, benevolent in spirit and means, but not very strong in the Lord; thus, mean/leaders like this are not godly from the Lord’s perspective, only from man’s. In fact, the Lord would not use them to lead His people. The Lord’s church need men like Joshua. RT

Stand in the Gap

22 Wednesday Jun 2016

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

“And I sought for a man among them, that should build up the wall, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none” (Ezekiel 22:30, ASV).

This does not refer to any type of clothing store, as some might understand the word “gap” to refer. It does, however, refer to men and women and their dedication to the Lord. Are you a person who will stand in the gap when called upon by the Lord to do so? No doubt you consider yourself to be of that type, yet do you know what this requires?

It requires you, potentially, to stand all alone. It requires you to stand and take all sorts of verbal abuse from those who consider your thoughts and actions out of touch with reality. It requires of you, potentially, to lose all that belongs to you, even including your family.

The Lord looked out over His people and He saw no one willing to stand in the gap; the spiritual wall of protection/defense had a hole in it that allowed the forces of evil to penetrate into the souls of the people set apart by God. Even though there may have been much resistance, it was but a matter of time before the individual saint, then the collective saints were worn down by the onslaught hurled against them.

Did not the Lord send prophets to stop the bleeding (so to speak)? He certainly did, but those in position of authority, those in position of leadership seemed not to care as much as they feigned themselves and the people they did. It was their responsibility to stop the “life-source” of God from exiting the body. But, they did not, in Ezekiel 23, the Lord spoke to how bad it actually was. Two nations loved by the Lord. One nation refused the Lord’s love and was carted off into a physical and abusive captivity (Ezekiel 23:29). The other nation saw this and learned nothing from it.

Many of the Lord’s prophets did indeed stand in the gap. It was the leaders of the nation of Israel, however, who truly failed the people. The people wanted their own way of thinking to hold “sway for the day,” and a great many kings gave it to them.

The Lord needs and wants you; be sure to do what you can, and even more, to stand in the gap. RT

Coherence and Morality (Word to the Wise)

20 Friday May 2016

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness (Proverbs 16:12, NKJV). Any institution that desires longevity has to have two things in place: a) a coherent structure, b) a moral foundation upon which it is founded. Without a coherent structure (such as community government or school administrators, etc.), it is not long before confusion then chaos begins to rule the day. Without a moral foundation, or an ethical policy, the structure will soon come tumbling down. People within the structure won’t know what needs to be done, how it is to be done or even why it needs to be done. If the structure is in place with a moral foundation, then the institution is strengthened. But if the leadership at top is committed to self-service rather than service to the community, then the community suffers. In time, the community breaks down, falling apart. How much more so with regard to a nation? RT

 

 

A Different Path from a Vantage Point

21 Wednesday Oct 2015

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

There is an old saying that goes something like this: “The apple does not fall far from the tree.” This proverb addresses that which the son is like – the father already was. Of course, this is not always the case. Not only does experience teach us this, but the Scripture addresses it also (cf. Ezekiel 18). In my reading of 1 Samuel, I seem to continually think about this. Why did Samuel’s sons not follow the great prophet’s path (1 Samuel 8:3)? No way to know, of course, except to say they did not want to. One can hardly speculate with justification anything about Samuel’s parenting, for nothing is known. It could be, simply, that Samuel’s sons chose a different path than that which their father took.

From our vantage point we can see that the path chosen by Samuel’s sons was a path of destruction. I am confident that as Samuel reflected on his own experience with his sons, he remembered that which the Lord said to him in the long ago (1 Samuel 3) concerning Eli and how Eli addressed the sinfulness of his sons. We learn nothing of what Samuel did in regard to his sons, but we do learn what Eli did with regard to his sons. In fact, that which he did amounted to doing nothing. I would like to think that Samuel addressed his sons with force. Perhaps when he mentioned them in 1 Samuel 12:2 things were much better.

From the vantage point of Samuel’s sons, however, they saw things much differently than their father. The sons were a self-serving team of religious leaders who greatest interest was not the Lord’s but their own. From the vantage point of the people led, they looked upon the sons of Samuel and wanted something different than they had. In fact they wanted a king to be just like the nations around them.

The apple does not fall far from the tree, but the apple that fell might be a rotten apple. When one comes along and sees a rotten apple, then it is discarded quickly. The people of Israel saw rotten apples; not only did they discard the apples, but they went further and insisted on discarding the Lord’s method of guidance (1 Samuel 8:1-7).

The Lord allowed them, but before He granted their request, He made known the practical heartaches that were to come.

Some decisions in life have grave consequences; many never learn, but for those who do, remember that though the apple does not fall far from the tree; the fruit produced is the one of choice. Be sure the fruit you produce is the Lord’s holy fruit. RT

Leadership is tough!

21 Monday Sep 2015

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , ,

My devotional reading this week took me from Deuteronomy to Joshua. In Deuteronomy, the Lord’s national leader was Moses. He was a great man by any measurement (unless one uses evil as the measuring stick!), but he was a man who chaffed on occasion at people because of their continued resistance to the Lord’s way. Of course, not all of the people of Israel were guilty of such, but those relatively few that were guilty….they made life difficult.

Leadership is tough.

Joshua was Moses’ personal assistant, and it was Joshua the Lord called to follow the path of Moses in leadership. Think for a moment the daunting challenge Joshua had in following Moses. Leadership is tough, but following a great leader like Moses makes that “tough” a double dose!

Joshua learned a great deal from Moses, but no amount of observant learning gained is going to be as beneficial to a person as the amount of learning gained while in position! This is just the way it is. Learning by observation is great, but learning by personal experience is greater. Any leader who takes seriously the idea of leadership will say as much.

For Joshua, the key to a successful leadership work was the standard applied in the exercise of that leadership. He learned this from Moses, and he gained this from a firsthand account with the Lord. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success (Joshua 1:8, ESV).

In a New Testament context, the elders of the local church must be men of sound spiritual characteristics, for without that the effectiveness of their leadership, from the Lord’s perspective is lost. In addition to this, they must be men of the book, that is, they must know the holy will of God, allowing no other teaching but His. RT

 

 

Leadership is power (A Word to the Wise)

13 Friday Mar 2015

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

 In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined (Proverbs 14:28, ESV). It has been said that the common denominator of world empires is the single word power. In other words, some are so interested in power that the thought of exerting leadership that is beneficial to the people is…well…not thought of. When the people are behind leadership, willing to follow the example given, then there is much that can and will be accomplished. On the other hand, when that same leadership is in it only for self, then the power exerted is empty on those who are subject. In the political realm we can see how obvious this is, how much more so the church!

Past their noses!

26 Monday Jan 2015

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, ,

God’s standard of holiness is taken for granted and not understood by a great many people. It was this way in the days of Moses and it is this way still in our day. Why the disrespect? Any number of reasons could be given, but it boils down to the simple “I want.” Someone might say, “I am not all that interested in taking time to learn. Therefore, I won’t!” This was a catastrophic approach of the people then, and it is today also.

In Exodus 32, the people failed to really appreciate what God had done for them and what He demanded of the them. The scene is Aaron in God-ordained leadership over the people as Moses went up the mountain to speak with God. While the chapter is noted for the failure of the people, it is the failure of leadership that gets overlooked. This failure in leadership was a failure to adhere to God’s demands.

Think about this. It was but a short time earlier that God’s people walked on the sea floor, a dry sea floor, to escape the Egyptians. They willingly put this behind them as they put before them a complaint that Moses was not in their presence taking them to the land of promise. The short-sightedness of the people is plain remarkable! The refused to look any further past their noses because they wanted to receive God’s promise yesterday!

Aaron, evidently, was not as spiritually strong as he should have been. When Moses went up the mountain the people saw an opportunity and led Aaron into sin. So serious was Aaron’s sin, the Lord was determined to punish him with his life (Deuteronomy 9:20). From the Lord’s perspective, there was no excuse for him in this failure of leadership (Exodus 32:18-25).

A few quick lessons can be gleaned from this. First, God’s demand concerning holiness is never to be taken for granted. When it is, catastrophe is invited. Second, seeing one’s future only in one’s immediate environment is not seeing life as it needs to be seen. There is far more to life than just one’s physical environment. Third, godly leadership is crucial to God and His people; without it, the people wonder and wander, and lives are forever changed.

Did I Not Understand Correctly?

18 Wednesday Jul 2012

Posted by in Leadership

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

Communication is important. If you have been around for any length of time you have already come to understand how easy it is for the writing of one person to be misunderstood by readers of that one person’s writing. This is the result, often times, of the lack of clarity on the part of the one who wrote, but many more times, it is a failure of the reader to take time to understand.

Recently, on my blog, I posted some remarks with regard to the writing (blog) of Frank Viola. He posted some sentiments on the myth of leadership. The topic intrigued me. I scanned and then printed his blog article; later that day I read it not once, but twice. Thinking I clearly understood what he said, I wrote my own words in reply to it; he read what I wrote and said that he and I understand the topic the same. I was perplexed by the remark of his, but wanting to do the right thing, I quickly advanced an apology for misreading what he said.

Last evening I read again what he said and, after this third reading, I said to myself that I didn’t misread what he said. His words were too plain for me to have done so. If you have read my remarks previous you’ll note that I said that within the local congregation the elders of that church are the leaders. He maintains the elders are not the leaders. Here is what he said: “Overseers/elders are not ‘the’ leaders of the local church. They simply lead in a specific capacity that’s different from the other members of the church.”

The difference between him and me is with regard to the use of the word the in relationship to leadership, in particular the elders/overseers of the congregation. I maintain, strongly, that elders/bishops/overseers in the local congregation are the leaders of that congregation. He does not. If he did not mean to say what the complete two sentences make plain that he did say, then he needed to say what I have quoted him to say a little differently. However, he did say it, and I did not misunderstand it.

Just as it is the obligation of the speaker/writer to make sure clarity is forthcoming, it is also the obligation of the hearer/reader to make sure it is understood before an adequate reply is forthcoming. If this does not take place communication does not occur.

The Myth of Christian Leadership

17 Tuesday Jul 2012

Posted by in Leadership

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , ,

Author Frank viola titled his latest blog with the idea that it is a myth for one to believe the New Testament has a position or office called “leader.” With regard to the designation “leader,” this is true. When he says there is no position or office called “leader” he does not want us to understand that he thinks the church is leaderless; no, he thinks all Christians are leaders in the church: “I believe that the New Testament envisions all Christians as leaders in their own sphere of ministry and gifting.” He wants us to understand that there is no distinction between what some have called “clergy” and “laity.” Moreover, he maintains that even with regard to the elders of the local congregation, they themselves are not the leaders. He does believe that they do lead, but only in a “specific capacity that’s different from the other members of the church.”

Frank Viola does not seem to subscribe to overseers/elders/shepherds being the leaders of a local congregation. It appears we are to understand that they are leaders among other leaders with a different function or a specific capacity. If this is so, then perhaps the shepherding quality of their leadership is not as important as we once thought. Yet, the Holy Spirit says clearly that the Christians are to “obey those who rule over them” (Hebrews 13:17, NKJV). Interestingly enough, the NET reads, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you” (italics added, RT).

Who are these leaders? Peter said that Jesus is the chief shepherd (1 Peter 5:4), and by the nature of the “position” (if you will, contrary to Frank Viola), a shepherd leads. If he is the chief shepherd, and if he is our leader, then shall we not conclude that “lower” shepherds are also leaders (1 Peter 5:1-3)? The Holy Spirit said plainly that elders are to shepherd the flock, and that can mean nothing if it does not mean that they lead the entirety of the local congregation!

The New Testament does emphasize leadership, but it is the leadership of Jesus Christ. When Peter declared (Acts 2:36) that Jesus is both Lord and Christ, he made it plain to his hearers that he is both the law-giver (Lord)[1] and God’s chosen (Christ).

In summary, Frank Viola has good ideas with regard to the denominational terminology of “clergy” and “laity” and the nature of leadership. These good ideas, however, do not warrant the notion that the local congregation is to have no leaders (or, the leaders) over the entirety of the whole. Paul recognized such, and so did Peter.

[1] “‘Lord’ denotes ‘master,’ ‘sovereign,’ one who has all authority in heaven and earth.” Gareth Reese, Commentary on Acts, College Press, 1976, p. 72