Early again this week due to internet probs at home. Here is our continued look at the subject of leadership (?)

Epistles and apostles

Outside of the teachings and influence of Jesus there is the letters that Paul wrote to various churches and individuals concerning the flow and function of the ekklesia and the characteristics that each of these communities needed to show to be Christ-like. Of course we now have the whole Bible in our hands and we look at the canon as a whole and make up our conclusions after looking at the whole thing, but I think we need a fresh appreciation of the context of each letter and a fresh realisation that they were letters written to individuals or collective communities in a certain place. Each letter answers questions and problems that were very significant in each individual community. Ephesus would never have read Corinthians etc. It is like me writing a letter to a group in Newcastle and then writing a different letter to a group in Leicester. Each letter may have similarities but each one would be totally relevant to the situation that the letter was sent into, especially if the situations and problems were unique to that one situation. Newcastle would never know what I had written to Leicester and vice versa. What does that mean as we look at the subject of leadership or non-leadership? We need to to take each letter (epistle) in context and translate accordingly. Of course this in itself raises loads of issues of what is cultural, what is universal, what is Paul’s own opinion (he says this a few times- not easy to digest when you have a theology of 100% infallibility of Scripture) and what is from God. Then what is from God for them, and what is from God for all of us. Huge challenge, but needs a fresh gaze and fresh insight from those who read/study/think/contemplate.

Five-fold and beyond

Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. The ministry gifts as we call them. Five titles given to gifted individuals who are then elevated to places of leadership and position. I have been there. Being a pastor. Fighting as a pastor for the recognition of apostles and prophets. Seeing them as the foundation of the church. Vital, no growth without them. Now I see recognition of these gifts why do I feel so different? I now think they need to be hidden again. Buried. Unless that grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies it will not bear fruit. It will not multiply. Are these gift ministries anyway? Individuals with supertalents? Supersaints? More and more I am seeing them less as gifts and gift people but more as function. A function within the body that is not exclusive to those who are recognised and ordained. A function that releases others to function. Equips. Helps. Orchestrates but never takes control. Advises but never leads. Is constantly shifting and never a static recognisable gift. We only need to look at Jesus here. He is constantly flowing between all the functions. Pastoral one minute, prophetic the next, evangelistic the next. Our call is to be more like Him surely. Always flowing between the gifts and functions. Always available to be used by Him. Equipped to be so. The same passage in Ephesians talks about no fullness until all are functioning. All flowing. I used to say everyone is either a leader or a potential leader. There could be some truth here. How have we got to the place of building pyramids of leadership? Apostles at the top to direct, control, cover, prophets to hear God for us and give us words, evangelists to save the lost for us, pastors to look after us and feed us and teachers to study the word for us and write books? How did we get to the place where ‘ministry’ gifts have much more of a say in our lives than Jesus Himself? When Jesus was on the earth He could not wait to send the disciples out on there own and say they had the same authority. He left them to it, and the Holy Spirit, after three years. Now they had to do the job and multiply Him in others to multiply others. No wonder it says in Hebrews, by now you should all be teachers. Yet you are still a bunch of babies. The phrase five-fold gift ministry is not found in my Bible, nor is the term ministry gifts. Yet terms for functions to equip and build and help and strengthen are.

Elders and deacons

These people also seem to get some recognition in the letters. Who are they? Elders seem to be those who are recognised in the community for there experience and maturity. There to advice, help, give guidance. They are not leaders as such, but seen as people who have much to give. Respected for being round the block. Elders were always seen within the tribes of Israel too, fulfilling the same function. Not leaders per se, but advisers, people who could teach and help. As a pastor I always saw the elders as the others. The one’s who would police my pastoral decisions and ministry. Had a few disagreements and run ins here. Some my fault, others the fault of the elders loving their position. But I was protecting my position too. What was that all about? Not about love and service, but about recognition and promotion and being seen to succeed. Not the Jesus way. Elders are recognised in the locality for what they can give to the growing. Those who need a point in the right direction. They never ever policed any church or persons lives. They were respected and recognised both outside and inside the ekklesia community. Infact some elders were recognised by Timothy in the community and not in a gathering/ekklesia setting. And boy was character so important. Not a position of leadership but of helping, advising etc. Also note this for the seemingly interchangeable terms of overseer and bishop.

Deacons were seen as servants. Examples of service extraordinaire. Not a position of leadership again but an area of example to all to serve God with all that they have. Going beyond the call of duty. Yet the term is one that is usable for all of us. We can all be servants of God, as well as His friends. We discussed this last week that Jesus did not come to show an example of a servant leader, just a servant full stop. No title, no position. A function that all believers could live by.

Take me to your leader

Where do we go then for advice etc?  This again can only come through relationship and community. And learning so much through the example of Jesus. This will be continued again next week as we look further at the example left by Jesus and how we can share in that servant life today.

New Landscape

Over the next few weeks I want to explore the concept of leadership in the new landscape. It will be an exploration, meaning this is uncharted territory and therefore may be new thoughts open to debate in all areas. Martin has touched on this theme as he has looked at Pentecost, I just want to push it a bit further. Leadership has been an area often studied and written about. Every church concept has some form of leadership. But I want to pose the question today, is any form of leadership truly Biblical? When Jesus came to earth and then went through the death and resurrection, when the day of Pentecost happened, did God have in mind any form of church structure and positions of leadership? These are questions we will begin to unpick. There will be more loose ends, but I think God loves loose ends. We like tying up, God loves untying.

Jesus on leadership

When it comes to leadership I first want to look at what Jesus had to say on the subject. Surprisingly nothing much. Yes he referred to the leaders of the ‘Old Covenant’ like Moses and David, but for those he called, his disciples, he just had one thing to say, and this he spoke out while talking to the pharisees and Sadducee’s.

Matthew 23:10 (NASV)

Do not be called leaders , for One is your leader, that is Christ

Others versions say do not be called teachers. What are we to make of a statement like this? Did Jesus really mean what He said? We take so much of what He says literally but then little throw away statements like this are great to ignore when we want to talk church structure and leadership structure. Of course there is church, and if there is church there must be someone in charge, leaders. The Bible even gives them titles, bishops, elders, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, deacons etc. Anyone with a bit of ambition and having the ‘call’ on their lives can train and work hard to become one of these. To lead God’s people into greater realms of God’s knowledge and blessing. Help God to build His church in the way that they as a leader interpret Scripture. Build bigger churches to teach and share God’s Word. Be the overseer and boss of the souls that God has given them. To sow vision because without it the people are going to perish. After all we must all be submitted under someone to be a fully functioning person. Without being under a leader we are in a place of rebellion and that has the roots in witchcraft. We must be part of some body of believers, and someone has to be in charge. Someone is the head, the shepherd, the eyes and ears. But hang on a minute. When Jesus talked about ekklesia He never mentioned any of this. When He talked about the best He would always flip the coin over and talk about the least.

Being great in God’s kingdom is being the servant of all

The sons of thunder had a nice pushy mum. She approached Jesus one day and asked if her two sons could sit on the best seats in heaven. One on the right and one on the left. Jesus reply must have taken the wind out of her sails. It is not about the best seats but about service He replied. Becoming the least. Becoming like little children. Getting to the back of the queue. Doing stuff in the unseen places. Washing feet. About dying not about living. Crosses not thrones. Giving up everything for one lost sheep. Not parading a title but being known simply as Jesus of Nazareth. Walking away from crowds rather than gathering. Walking in the margins not with the influential. Walking amongst not above. Serving, serving, serving…

His call, our call

Was it the Father’s heart to send Jesus as an amazing leader? What was His call? Was it to be King? Was it to be recognise as a Prophet? Was it to get thousands of disciples looking up to Him? Was it to obtain a position? If that was the case after three years of ministry Jesus failed. He was a ‘leader’ of a very fragmented ‘church’. People left Him in droves. People misunderstood Him. He would rather spend time with a few than with a multitude. He never chose the best to be His team. As a so called church growth expert He was a failure. His books would not have sold well. The mission of Jesus was not to be a leader and lord it over everybody.

I have not come to be served but to serve Matthew 20:28

We know Him as the servant King. But I think Jesus just wanted to be known as a servant, pure and simple. No big name in lights, no ordained ministry with His name in the minister’s handbook. Just the influencer of others to become servants too. To wear towels rather than crowns. To sit at feet rather than stand in pulpits. To be a servant and not the master. I believe Jesus is looking for people who will follow Him. I do not think He even wants to have servant leaders, He just wants servants. No titles, no ambitions, no heights to reach, just servants of God and servants of others. Lovers of God and lovers of people, not lovers of position. How many problems in church life are caused by positions and people in positions? Well other than the debate about what colour to paint the ceiling I would say all of them!!! Taking away the positions creates a level playing fields. Everyone serving together. Yes all functioning differently, but no one in charge. No more leadership pyramids, right way up or upside down. Just pure and simple service. To be continued…