A Look-see at Church Leadership

1Thessalonians 2:10-12  Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: 11  As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12  That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

 

·         God has called His Leaders to High Standards. 

     It is important that a leader in the church take care how he lives, what he says, and how he leads.  Holiness, justice, and blamelessness are key ingredients to effective and true spiritual leadership.  Churches do well to hold their  leaders to those  standards.  Blamelessness, by the way, is NOT perfection.  There are always those who try to blame someone else, and the higher up they can cast the blame, the more  spectacular the fall.  The meaning of "blameless" in this passage refers to ethics, legality, biblical faithfulness.  In other  words, the test of a leader's actions are this:  is it illegal?  Is it unethical?  Is it unbiblical?  If so, he  may be blamed.  If  not, he is blameless.  Legality refers to following the laws of the land.  Ethics go to justice and motive (of  which only he and God  can truly judge, but the motive can be questioned).  Biblical refers to  the spiritual practices and principles given to leaders, Christians, and of course, the church. 

     Leaders who are blameless, holy, and just will be powerful to lead, comfort, and charge others as  a father does his children.  No father, worthy of the role, abuses his kids.  Rather, at heart is their development, their maturity, their wisdom and knowledge; all of which will help them to be effective parents, workers, neighbors and citizens in the earth, and useful members of the Bride of Christ (the church).  The  challenge leaders have is to  help other adults to walk worthy of God - the God who blesses us with a special calling we cannot forget or neglect.

·         God has called us to His Kingdom, and glory. 

     His kingdom makes Him sovereign, ruler, and judge.  He makes the laws, enforces the laws, and judges the people.  He determines the criteria for citizenship in His Kingdom, and He keeps the peace.  His laws are perfect because He is perfect.  His justice is ALWAYS served, and ALWAYS righteous.  His enforcement is without fail and no sinner goes untried.  Membership in His Kingdom is both a privilege and a responsibility.  It is a privilege because He called us to it, we didn't petition the King for it.  It is a privilege because it affords its citizens life and life more abundant.  There is the absence of the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and in that part of His Kingdom that is eternal (Heaven), the presence of sin.  Greater than my pen can tell are the rewards He gives to those in His Kingdom.

     His Glory makes Him wonderful.  He is all glory, and He is all glorious.  His glory is His perfection.  His glory is His purity.  His glory is His power.  His glory is His love, grace, mercy and hope offered freely and undeservedly to you and I.  His glory is His forgiveness, and power to cleanse even the deepest stain of sin that blights the soul of a person by the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.  This glory He has called you to.  You will not only share in it, but you will, by your union with Christ by faith, be given this glory. 

     So the Kingdom and Glory of God are present and perfect blessings to those  who have been called through His Holy Spirit and placed their faith in Christ Jesus.  It is available today for all who will take it.

Holler for Jesus,

Greg Yount

Check out my blogs:

Just-a-Thot - Devotional thoughts - http://justa-thot.blogspot.com  

As I See It - Biblical perspectives on current events - http://asiseeit10.blogspot.com