There are numerous good books that may assist church leaders mirror on their roles and obligations. Current publications, regrettably, have wanted to handle the problem of abuse amongst church leaders, together with the scandal of narcissism and the “bully pulpit.” The PCA produced a research committee report addressing abuse with specific consideration to non secular abuse inflicted by church leaders.
Even inside native church buildings, a relational pressure can develop amongst elders. They could not share a imaginative and prescient for main collaboratively, and generally pastors don’t depart their name nicely.
What’s taking place? Whereas many components contribute to pressure in these conditions, you might be positive what isn’t taking place: humility. To be a bit simplistic, a lot of this dysfunction originates within the coronary heart: failing to consistently battle satisfaction and to domesticate other-centered servanthood, the indispensable qualifier for an officer of the church.
The Biblical Foundation of Different-Centered Servanthood
What’s the biblical supply for other-centered servanthood?
Paul directs our consideration to Jesus’ other-centeredness. “For you recognize the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was wealthy, but on your sake grew to become poor, so that you simply by his poverty would possibly turn into wealthy” (2 Corinthians 8:9).
Jesus reminds us that he got here to serve. “The Son of Man got here to not be served however to serve and to provide his life as a ransom for a lot of” (Mark 10:45).
Paul exhorts all believers to adorn the mindset and instance of Jesus’ other-centered servanthood with these phrases:
Do nothing from egocentric ambition or conceit, however in humility depend others extra essential than your self…Let every of you look not solely to his personal pursuits, but in addition to the pursuits of others. Have this thoughts amongst yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, although he was in the type of God, didn’t depend equality with God a factor to be grasped, however emptied himself, by taking the type of a servant, being born within the likeness of males. And being present in human kind, he humbled himself by changing into obedient to the purpose of dying, even dying on a cross (Philippians 2:3-8).
Jesus emptied himself for others, taking the type of a servant. Christ-followers, and particularly their leaders, are referred to as and privileged to do the identical.
Log-blindness
If the Bible repeatedly emphasizes the significance of other-centered servanthood, why do we discover so many situations of the alternative amongst pastors and elders?
Once I’ve had the unlucky alternative to examine the ruins of wrecked marriages, friendships, classes, and church buildings which have crashed and burned, I hardly ever discover other-centered servanthood amidst the wreckage. A lot satisfaction, certainly, however seldom the form of self-sacrificial love that beautified the lifetime of Jesus.
As a substitute, I encounter individuals who, to make use of Jesus’ picture in Matthew 7:3-5, simply detect others’ specks however not their very own logs. These encounters embody even well-meaning people who inadvertently inflict hurt on others attributable to their very own “log-blindness.” They specialize within the faults of others, however hold skipping the category that examines their very own faults. They assume they stand within the reality with no use of correction. As a rule, they’ve issue admitting wrongdoing, resist correction, have to be proper on a regular basis, and rarely query their motives.
Motives of a Servant
When Peter exhorts elders to shepherd the flock of God that’s amongst you, exercising oversight (1 Peter 5:2), he focuses on the motives for main. When individuals have a look at their pastor, they need to see somebody who conducts himself “with humility towards each other” and whose life exemplifies what it means to “humble yourselves beneath the mighty hand of God” (1 Peter 5:5-6).
The verb “dress” in verse 5 referred to a servant tying an apron round his waist. Elders lead with aprons on, eyes on the sheep, laying down their lives in sacrificial service within the sample of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ (John 10:11; 13:14).
Pastors aren’t referred to as to a place as a lot as a mission. Their purpose is to make use of the privileges and affect God has given them to assist others develop within the grace and data of Christ. As Paul places it, “For it’s all on your sake, in order that as grace extends to increasingly more individuals it could improve thanksgiving, to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:15).
Servant-leaders don’t spend their time fascinated with what they personally need to accomplish. Moderately, they primarily take into account what the sheep want, endeavoring to make use of their authority to satisfy these wants. They enter session conferences as they’d a barn, not a boardroom, able to take care of sheep. Their data and presents pale compared to the precedence positioned on their love for these they serve.
In case we have to be reminded, Paul says, “And if I’ve prophetic powers, and perceive all mysteries and all data, and if I’ve all religion, in order to take away mountains, however haven’t love, I’m nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2).
In one other place, he writes, “So, being affectionately desirous of you, we had been able to share with you not solely the gospel of God but in addition our personal selves, since you had turn into very expensive to us” (2 Thessalonians 2:8).
An other-centered servant thinks primarily of the Good Shepherd and his sheep. This isn’t a novel educating. Even Augustine said, “In case you ought to ask me what are the methods of God, I’d let you know that the primary is humility, the second is humility, and the third is humility. Not that there are not any different precepts to provide, but when humility doesn’t precede all that we do, our efforts are fruitless.”
Elders should deal with Christ, relishing his mercy, kindness, magnificence, energy, glory, humility, gentleness, self-sacrifice and authority. Solely with this attitude can they love these they lead and rule with knowledge, reality, and charm.
Mike Sharrett is a retired PCA pastor who at present serves as interim pastor at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Williamsburg, Virginia.
