Critical of Leadership?

"Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. “(Hebrews 13:17).

These past few months, I have spent a lot of time thinking about what it means to be a "leader" in a local church. My perspective is slightly warped on the subject for several reasons; the first being a preachers kid (PK) growing up, and the second is serving as an Elder in my current church, and a Board member in my last church home. Alright, there is also the fact that I have certain personality traits that automatically deem me 100% correct in everything I do or say (I know this is a fantasy... and not true), but more importantly, I am not always the best follower. That is a major issue! Jesus was the epitome of a perfect follower, even to his death on the cross.

Having attended church for 43 years, and been involved in various aspects of church leadership, for a total of about 16 years, I have developed an interesting perspective on pastoral (Elder)/lay relations, not always correct, but none the less interesting. As I thought about it this morning on my way to work, it was really a nagging feeling, and then when I read Proverbs 31 (daily reading), verse 2 nailed me in the center of my thoughts. It states "Where are you doing my son? " (Proverbs 31:2a). The whole first part was a real message to those in positions of Leadership of any kind. This made me think even more of my work with the other Elders at Immanuel Baptist Church.

As I processed my thoughts this morning and put my brain to it during a morning break, I reflected again on Proverbs 31, this time on verse 8 and 9; "Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously; defend the rights of the poor and needy".

Fast forward to 11 am, here I am plagued by these thoughts at lunch time and I need to get it off my chest. So, as I look into it, I fall into this passage in Hebrews 13. I am thinking to myself "yeah right on... OBEY/SUBMIT..." then I look at the latter portion of verse 17 "Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you". Ouch. I think that verse was meant for me... "with JOY and not with GROANING". Uhmmm, is there a camera secretly filming my reactions? I have been set up. I have been reading Proverbs as a day by day weekday devotional for years. YEARS... it never said that to me before. What is God trying to tell me here?

The verse I selected from title Scripture is a powerful description of the heart of an elder or church leader's ministry. One of the notes I just found in the Amplified Version states the first part of the phrase as; "they are constantly keeping watch over your souls and guarding your spiritual welfare." That means me. I have a responsibility to keep watch and guard those that GOD entrusts to my care.

How can I do that if I don't reach out, or if I don't get involved, or if I don't know those in the church? Writing, radio, TV, recorded, and Internet/Email based ministries such as this one may be a helpful supplement in our Christian lives, but I believe it's God's plan for believers to meet together regularly in worship as they did in the very beginning. In fact I almost cringe or chafe at the term "home based churches", simply because that doesn't involve you getting out of your home to meet with other Christians or the big move now, is to set up a church over the internet seeking to simulate a local church. (There are 100's of great sermons you can here every week on the internet... Just ask some my wife, or her best friend!) I believe everyone calling themselves a Christian should be in regular association with other believers in a local church with Elder leadership and care. Within reason, I am aware that there are those who cannot attend services due to health, so there are caveats!

After being involved with leadership of all kinds in my brief years... One of the greatest sources of discouragement and grief for those who minister the gospel is dealing with criticism. I received my share of it during my years of organized elder ministry. I know all of my peers in ministry have as well. I know my dad dealt with it weekly for all the years he was a pastor. Last week I read an account on "The heart of a pastor" blog site by H.B. London (www.hblondon.org), a veteran pastor, who shared a perspective on this that I found fascinating. He stated “I know of one dedicated minister who had a very effective ministry in a church he had founded and served faithfully. But after he left there was division in the church and a group arose that criticized both his appearance and speaking ability."

Sound familiar? You may be a youth leader, a Sunday school teacher, an elder, a ordained pastor, a laymen in the church... or even a boss at your job. No one escapes it. NO ONE! Such criticism just goes with the job of being in front of people, or being a leader, but can still be very personally painful. Elders/Pastors are often criticized in ways that are mutually contradictory. From my brief experience in church leadership, I believe that most criticisms are merely personal preferences by members of the congregation. Style. Sure there are issues that come up, but I think predominately it is style, either there own personal style, or you are being compared to a former teacher/preacher/elder, or in the workplace, a former boss.

Let me ask you this simple question regarding your church leadership. Do your pastors/elders faithfully preach God's Word and teach sound doctrine? Are they faithful to their wife and family? Do they care for the flock of God? Do they manage the financial and business affairs of your church with honesty and integrity? If so you are blessed. Why don't you pray for your Elders and Pastors and let them know of your appreciation. If you're an Elder or a Pastor and you can honestly put yourself into those statements in a positive light... Keep up the good work.

By the way, before I forget, the dedicated minister that H.B. London referred to above who received painful criticism was the Apostle Paul. In his second letter to the Corinthians he referenced this criticism made of his ministry gifts, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account." (2 Corinthians 10:10). I sure bet those people feel foolish now! Choose today to be a great follower; it directly affects your ability to be a great leader at home, work or church!

Well, it is 11:30, time to get cracking again and be a good follower for my boss here at work. May God bless you guys as you do the same!

Paul