The Christian leader - about the headship of Christ and human leadership in the church Crieff January 2013 1
Transcript
Slide 1
Crieff January 2013 1
Slide 2
Some questions: Has God given power to and does he speak to
certain people in the church? What do we answer when someone on the
church board says: God has told me that we should do it this way.
How much power and authority should the pastor have? Should elders
lead and the members follow? If Jesus is the Lord and the Head of
the Church, how do we know His will? What is the task of the leader
in the church? To whom should the church give its trust and why?
How can we know that what the business meeting desides, is in
harmony with the will of God? Does the Seventh-day Adventist Church
need more democracy or hierarchy? 2
Slide 3
Claims Leadership exists, operates and is executed as an
integral part of and in the context of the whole organism of the
body of Christ. Emphasis is not on the leader as an individual, but
on the leader as a part of the community. Christ is the head of the
Church and he leads His people as a community. The Church should
recognize Christs leadership through the community as a whole.
Leaders serve to recognize, see, make visible and put focus where
Christ is already leading. Christian leadership helps people take
part in the activities - and mission - of God in the world.
Slide 4
Christ the true leader of the church Jesus own statements: He
would be present by His Spirit among His followers till the end of
time (Matt. 28:18-20). He confirmed that He would build [His]
church (Matt. 16:18), that he would not leave his followers as
orphans (John 14:18), that the Spirit would guide Christs followers
into truth and in witnessing. Matt 18:20; John 14:26-27; Acts
1:8.
Slide 5
The early Church saw Jesus leadership as real The head of the
body. 2 Cor. 12, Eph. 1:22-23; 4,15-16 Col. 2:19; 1 Cor. 12:27;
Rom. 12 The cornerstone of the temple/ spiritual building. 1 Cor.
3:10-16-17; Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:4-8 Story of Acts.
Slide 6
The whole church is the body of Christ Biblical thought focus
on groups. We are part of a whole not individualists. God has given
the spiritual gifts to the church as a whole not primarely to
individuals. (1 Cor 12,7) The Church as a whole is the body of
Christ not primarily individuals. (1 Cor. 3,16 in its context.)
Gods Spirit works in the church as a whole not primarily in the
individual. The Church has a mission first of all not the
individual. Ministries and leaders grows in the community It is the
church that is the carrier of truth not primarily certain
individuals. (1 Tim. 3,15) 6
Slide 7
The individual in the community All members are servants/
ministers/ priests and carry one vote. 1 Pet. 2:9-10 The individual
submits to the group. Paul submitted to the leaders in Jerusalem.
(Gal 2,2) When Paul went on his first mission trip it was both the
church and the Holy Spirit that elected him. (Acts 13:1-3) The
group is more significant than the individual. Church Manual p. 1,
27, 28. 7
Slide 8
Gods leadership in Israel The government of Israel was
characterized by the most thorough organization, wonderful alike
for its completeness and its simplicity. The order so strikingly
displayed in the perfection and arrangement of all God's created
works was manifest in the Hebrew economy. God was the centre of
authority and government, the sovereign of Israel. Moses stood as
their visible leader, by God's appointment, to administer the laws
in His name. From the elders of the tribes a council of seventy was
afterward chosen to assist Moses in the general affairs of the
nation. Next came the priests, who consulted the Lord in the
sanctuary. Chiefs, or princes, ruled over the tribes. Under these
were "captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and
captains over fifties, and captains over tens," and, lastly,
officers who might be employed for special duties. 5 Mos 1:15. 2
Mos 18:21 {PP 374.2} 8
Slide 9
I have often been instructed by the Lord that no man's judgment
should be surrendered to the judgment of any other one man. Never
should the mind of one man or the minds of a few men be regarded as
sufficient in wisdom and power to control the work and to say what
plans shall be followed. But when, in a General Conference, the
judgment of the brethren assembled from all parts of the field is
exercised, private independence and private judgment must not be
stubbornly maintained, but surrendered. Never should a labourer
regard as a virtue the persistent maintenance of his position of
independence, contrary to the decision of the general body. {9T
260.1} 9
Slide 10
At times, when a small group of men entrusted with the general
management of the work have, in the name of the General Conference,
sought to carry out unwise plans and to restrict God's work, I have
said that I could no longer regard the voice of the General
Conference, represented by these few men, as the voice of God. But
this is not saying that the decisions of a General Conference
composed of an assembly of duly appointed, representative men from
all parts of the field should not be respected. God has ordained
that the representatives of His church from all parts of the earth,
when assembled in a General Conference, shall have authority. The
error that some are in danger of committing is in giving to the
mind and judgment of one man, or of a small group of men, the full
measure of authority and influence that God has vested in His
church in the judgment and voice of the General Conference
assembled to plan for the prosperity and advancement of His work.
{9T 260.2} 10
Slide 11
The leaders place and function Important biblical texts about
leaders: Eph. 4,11-13 1 Cor 12,28 1 Thess. 5,12-13 Hebr. 13,17 1
Pet. 5,1-3 11
Slide 12
Leaders are part of the body of Christ Spiritual gift given to
the church. (1 Cor. 12:7)
Slide 13
The election and appointment of leaders. It is God who elects
leaders. The task of the church is to recognize what God is doing.
It is the gifts from God that equips for service. It is not
theological education, faithfulness to the church organisation or
formal positions (although significant) that makes a person into a
leader in the church. The character of the leader is is the most
important: 1 Tim 3,1-7 Tit. 1,5-9 13
Slide 14
New Testament terms for leadership: Presbyteros - elder. Points
to a spiritually mature person (not necessarly older). Episkopos
elder. Means one who looks after. Poimaino shepherd. Means know,
lead to pastures, watch over, guide. Presbyteros + episkopos.
Synonyms in NT Always in plural Not always an elderly person Elders
share authority with the apostles. (Ap.g.15,23) NT speaks about
functions not the status of office. 14
Leader team Leadership in the New Testament is a group: Phil
1:1 - Leaders in plural Acts 20,17 +28 - The elders in Ephesos
Titus 1,5 - Elders in every city A leadership team is stronger than
one individual because they have a wider spread of gifts and
talents and experience. Misuse of authority and power is less
likely to happen in a group. 16
Slide 17
Eph. 4:11-13 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be
prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and
teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the
body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the
faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature,
attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. This text
indicates: Team leadership more than one person Focus on function
more than person Ministry of leadership belongs to the church body
It is not the leader that is important, but Christ and His
Church
Slide 18
Teams of leaders Those who are inclined to regard their
individual judgment as supreme are in grave peril. It is Satan's
studied effort to separate such ones from those who are as channels
of light, through whom God has communicated his will, and through
whom he has wrought in building up and extending his work in the
earth. To neglect or despise those whom God has appointed to bear
the responsibilities of leadership in connection with the
advancement and spread of the truth, is to reject the means that he
has ordained for the help, encouragement, and strength of his
people. For any worker in the Lord's cause to pass these by, and to
think that his light must come through no other channel than
directly from God, is to place himself in a position where he is
liable to be deceived by the enemy, and overthrown. The Lord in his
wisdom has arranged that by means of the close relationship that
should be maintained by all believers in Christian fellowship,
Christian shall be united to Christian, and church to church. Thus
the human instrumentality will be enabled to co-operate with the
divine [italics mine]. Every agency will be subordinate to the Holy
Spirit, and all the believers will be united in an organized and
well-directed effort to give to the world the glad tidings of the
grace of God. Ellen G. White, Separated unto the Gospel Article in
Review and Herald, May 11, 1911.
Slide 19
Teams leadership in plural Local leadership is described as
teams: Fil. 1:1; Acts 20,17+28. The following terms are used about
leaders in the New Testament: Presbyteros, episkopos and more
rarely: poimaino. Presbuteros and episkopos occur 174 times in the
New Testament, are used as synonyms and - significantly always in
the plural. Michael Harper, Let My People Grow, Ministry and
Leadership in the Church, London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1979. P.
174-176
Slide 20
Leadership within the dynamics of the Church body. Does Christ
lead leaders or does He lead his body the Church? New initiatives
and understandings will come forward through the body of the
Church. It is one of the significant tasks of leadership to look
for what God is doing. Secondly the leader will have to get in line
with what God is doing. Thirdly, the leader wants to use his/her
influence to make others join what God is doing. (Like in
Acts.)
Slide 21
A listening leadership In contrast to Apostolic leadership
Technocratic leadership
Slide 22
The Christian leader does not need to feel alone in finding the
strategy and vision for the future. Christ has promised to build
His church. The way forward will be revealed in the community.
Leaders often have a significant part in that process, but can rest
in the assurance of the Spirits work in the fellowship of the
Church.
Slide 23
Leaders authority Healthy leaders has a spirit of servant-hood
and is willing to have himself and his ideas tested bby the whole
church body. Roine Swensson, Searching for the renewal of the
church. 23
Slide 24
24 The authority of the human leader Spiritual authority is not
a goal but rather a byproduct. It is a delegated authority that
comes from God. It is the major power base of a leader who has
learned Gods lessons during maturity processing. Leaders have
various power bases that give credence to their ability. Spiritual
authority comes out of experience with God. A leader does not seek
spiritual authority; a leader seeks to know God.... Spiritual
authority results from a leaders experience with God. J. Robert
Clinton, The Making of a Leader, Colorado Springs, CO: Navpress,
1988, p.167.
Slide 25
Apostolic leadership What is right/ wrong about this statement?
God has given one person the gift to be a leader or apostle.
Therefor this person is carrying Gods calling, annointment and
authority. It follows that this person has the right to take the
important strategic decisions for the church, make judgements in
the interpretation of the Bible and choose the leaders who are
second in command. 25
Slide 26
Theocracy and democracy Democracy under the leadership of God
Teocracy Theos God + kratein power Democracy Demos people + kratein
power Can theocracy and democracy be combined? Church demokracy
means that God rules through the fellowship of believers, where
every member has equal importance and have a significant influence.
The decision processes of the church is a combination of theocracy
and demokracy..... God has imparted authority to each member in
Christ to take part in the decisions and the responsibility which
has to do with the churchs life and work. (Prerequisites are
spirtuality and humility.) In light of this, the church must be a
democratic community where important decisions are made in
concensus based on theological reasoning. 26
Slide 27
Biblical example of how the Spirit, the leadership and the
church cooperate. Acts. 15,4-6, 22,27-28a The question about the
gentile Christians and the law of Moses. The leadership takes on
the responsibility. The churches join in the conversation. The Holy
Spirit brings conviction through that wich is happening. 27
Slide 28
The role of Church leadership in this case (Acts 10-11) was to
recognize what God was doing and then follow and implement that
change. Ellen G. White comments in this significant event in Acts
of the Apostles, pp. 141-142: When the brethren in Judea heard that
Peter had gone to the house of a Gentile and preached to those
assembled, they were surprised and offended. They feared that such
a course, which looked to them presumptuous, would have the effect
of counteracting his own teaching [italics mine]. When they next
saw Peter they met him with severe censure, saying, "Thou wentest
in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them."... Peter laid
the whole matter before them.... On hearing this account, the
brethren were silenced. Convinced that Peter's course was in direct
fulfillment of the plan of God, and that their prejudices and
exclusiveness were utterly contrary to the spirit of the gospel,
they glorified God, saying, "Then hath God also to the Gentiles
granted repentance unto life." Thus, without controversy, prejudice
was broken down, the exclusiveness established by the custom of
ages was abandoned, and the way was opened for the gospel to be
proclaimed to the Gentiles [italics mine].
Slide 29
If Christ is the true head of the Church, leadership in the
Church will be about understanding Christ and what He is doing. It
will be about recognizing where Christ is working in peoples lives
and in communities, and then lead others to join that which Christ
is doing. So our first responsibility is to position ourselves to
welcome and cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit. Robert
Lewis and Wayne Cordeiro, Culture Shift, San Francisco:
Jossey-Bass, 2005, p. 69.
Slide 30
Conclusions Leadereship is a ministry in and service to the
church. This function is described in the Bible as a spiritual
gift. This gift is given to the community not to the individual.
Leadership exists and is executed as an integrated part of - and in
the context of the whole body: The body of Christ. The emphasis is
not on the leader as an individual, but the function he/ she has I
the community. Christ is the true leader of the church and He leads
His people as a group. The Church should look for Christs
leadership in the community. The task of the leader is to a large
extent to recognize, see, make visible and put the focus where
Christ is already leading. Christian leadership helps others to
take part in the activities and the mission God is doing in the
world. 30