Dealing with Challenge in Church<br/>

Dealing with Challenge in Church

Rebecca Parnaby-Rooke

Day 1 of 7: What Does the Bible Actually Say about Church Leadership?

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
–Ephesians 5:21 (NIV)

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
–James 3:1 (NIV)

Who doesn’t want to be in charge? Even the most introverted of us like control because with it comes safety. If we are leading, we can make sure things are done our way, the safe way. Others may have different ways to lead, which can cause tensions and discomfort. Yet, as Christians, we are clearly called to consider each other in how we lead.

In Ephesians, Paul moves from a passage about watching our own individual behaviour and onto a set of guidelines for how to relate to each other. He does so while addressing the common relationships within households of Ephesus at the time: husband/wife, parent/child, master/slave.

For Paul to include slaves in his list of household relationships gave them worth and dignity that they otherwise did not have, acknowledging their humanity and their right to be treated as any other member of the fellowship of Christ would be. In doing this, Paul elevated the relationships between each of us in Christ above any power dynamic or hierarchy, and that any inherent power in our positions — as masters, husbands, or parents in the case of this passage from Ephesians— should be used to the benefit of those submitting to us in good faith.

Therefore, in the family of Church, those in leadership have a responsibility to submit to those they have leadership over, in the knowledge that those in their congregations are faithfully submitting to them as anointed ones, called by God to teach and pastor. This does not mean they do everything we demand of them of course! Anyone who tries to please everyone will end up pleasing noone.

This does, however, mean leaders have a responsibility to listen to and care for those they are leading, to hear when they are in pain, and to recognise when things have to change and submit to the cries of Christ shared through their voices.

With that level of responsibility and responsiveness expected of them, I ask again, who wouldn’t want to be in charge?!

When we look at what that really means for our lives, even the most extroverted of us would be wise to consider our motives again. In James 3 we are even warned that those in leadership will be judged more harshly. All people stumble (for none of us are perfect), and stumbling as a leader is a very public and painful thing for all involved! James’s advice? “Submit yourselves therefore to God” (James 4:7, ESV) and “Humble yourselves before the Lord” (James 4:10, ESV). What better way to humble yourself than to submit to the very people who may have been hurt by our stumbling?

So this only applies to the priests, right? No. The Old Testament tells us very clearly that only certain people are set apart to be priests (Exodus 40:15), and most modern day Christian denominations have pathways to priesthood which those exploring a calling must submit to.

However, 1 Peter 2:9 tells us we are all now part of a Royal Priesthood, with Hebrews 8 referring to Jesus as our one High Priest. The old priesthood was no longer relevant; we all have free access to the Holy Spirit through Jesus. With this in mind, how do we minister to each other in our Churches today? Does your pastor submit to being ministered to by the young children? Have you ministered to anyone today?

Why not consider the ways in which you can minister to someone in your Church or community today?

Day 1 of 7: What Does the Bible Actually Say about Church Leadership?

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