09/12/2022
Two years ago I wrote a biblical reply when asked by a fellow pastor on pastoral leadership and submission to church authority by church members/worshippers.
You have asked me a question that is difficult to answer. We can only give answers from the Bible because the Bible is our authority and reliable guide for faith and practice.
It is true that church members are literally commanded (present imperative active and present imperative middle) to submit themselves to church leadership but they are to do it willingly by themselves. Hebrews 13: 17 says that clearly. They also must be willing to bring themselves to submit to church leadership and church authority. What will make them submit willingly to church leadership?? As a leader I need to always be just, fair and reasonable in my expectations of them when I request them to serve and lead in the church. Have I been just, fair and reasonable to request and expect my members to serve, offer support and sacrifice for the sake of Christ and His Church?? Only Jesus can demand our whole hearted service and sacrifice for Him.
Hebrews 13: 7 says that when leadership sets a good example for the members they will remember to follow their leadership as they remember the good example of leaders who preach to them and as a result are inspired and motivated to follow them. I remember a white missionary lady going from household to household sharing the gospel and distributing tracts in the Flower Road area of Upper Serangoon Road area when she was young. I am inspired by her. And as a result my assistant pastor and I go from HDB flat to flat near our church to do tracting and share the gospel and people are saved. When the Covid ‘19 pandemic peaked we had to stop. Now another elderly voluntary pastor and I have resumed sharing the gospel face-to-face with the young and not-so-young residents from multi-nationalities in the MacPherson public housing precinct on one afternoon every week. In slightly over 29 weeks we have brought more than 120 persons to faith and salvation in Christ. Hallelujah!
As leaders are we walking the talk by setting ourselves as inspiring and motivating role models in Christ’s Church?? In order to be powerful role models we need to be consistent and intentional in the way we live and serve Him! It is always a challenge for leaders to live an exemplary life.
1 Corinthians 16: 16 also says members serving alongside leaders are to willingly submit themselves to leaders for the practical reason that God’s work can progress. Otherwise with constant bickerings and disagreements God’s ministry can never progress. Instead it will be derailed.
But the challenge is always for leaders to be watchful over their lives and those of their members, Acts 20: 28. They are to shepherd their sheep with care and love because they are bought by the blood of Jesus, Acts 20: 28. The Holy Spirit has graciously appointed leaders to shepherd Christ’s sheep. Watch over them carefully to make sure they don’t imbibe poisonous grass which easily passes off as attractive plump and juicy grass (false and convenient doctrines) and watch over their movements lest they go astray easily. When a sheep has stepped onto painful thorns in the field it is the shepherd’s duty to catch hold of it and skillfully remove the prickly and injurious thorn stuck in its paw to prevent it from further injury. This is discipline. When a member has gone wrong in behavior the shepherds must lovingly bring it aside to correct and admonish him. He must be found behaving unethically, immorally and corruptly, 1 Corinthians 5: 1-12. But if the member refuses discipline he is to be put out of the church.
Paul also talked about his transparent life and his sacrificial love for the Ephesian church in Acts 20: 33-35. Generally, when we need to show a lot of sacrificial love, care and concern for members which will influence them to unmistakably appear in church to worship and serve in the church. I need to always pray for them one by one in church after the church service. They have many sicknesses in their bodies looking to God for healing, personal issues and family problems which I must listen to them, counsel and pray for them individually. During this Covid ‘19 period when we do a lot and a lot of personal pastoral work with our members they would appreciate and remember us and our church to come back to worship. They are fearful and uncertain because many have lost their jobs and as a result many of them have marital conflicts at home. Their children have to be educated and fed which demands a lot from them. Many are taking on part time jobs as food deliverers and Grab drivers even among them are university graduates I know of. It is the best time for us to pray and understand them and walk with them in their time of pains and struggles. However, there will always be those members who are definitely ungrateful and out to take advantage of their shepherds no matter how much love we can shower on them. If they don’t want to come to worship no matter what good we do for them and they instead love to cruise and scavenge from churches to churches and from meetings to meetings looking for new excitement, new anointing and tickle their ears then we have to leave them alone and pray for them.
Without God’s clear calling to pastoral and church leadership no human being can measure up to the
hectic demands of pastoral ministry. It is only by God’s grace and patience, the power of the Holy Spirit and the abiding presence of Christ in the pastor’s life that would see him persevere, be fruitful and make a difference to those he serves, loves and pray for.
