The Leadership in the Church of God

The Leadership in the Church of God

   7:57:00 pm       Wisdom de Prince

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The Role of Men in the Church

Throughout biblical times and the history of the church, men have been used by God to play an important part in God’s sovereign eternal plan for His people. Many times throughout the history of His people, God has been pictured as seeking men to fulfil the roles He has designed for them:
The LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, . . . (1 Sam 13:14). Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it (Jer 5:1).
And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none (Ezek 22:30).
Those verses and many other similar ones indicate that it is not an overstatement to say that the welfare of God’s people rises and falls on the men among them. And as the last verse indicates, the unfortunate absence of men who “stand in the gap” is all too common. Today’s churches will rise to the standards of their Lord only if they have men who are loving leaders, effective teachers, and godly examples.

Loving Leaders

Leadership over the entire church is a role that has been designed uniquely for men. Throughout biblical history almost all leadership roles were filled by men. In the absence of good men, God had used ladies before, but it was an exception rather than the rule. There is a rightful place for everyone to serve in the church, including women. Generally, for the past nineteen centuries, the orthodox church was unified in upholding the scriptural standard of male leadership in the church (except for some liberal and charismatic churches of late who have ordained female ministers).
Today few men are stepping up to take the reins of the church and steer it in a godly direction. Christian men today need to hear the words of 1 Timothy 3:1 more than ever before: “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.” (That verse refers specifically to the office of overseer, or ruling elder, but the principles in it apply to all forms of leadership that men can be involved in the church).
Paul begins the verse by saying that what follows “is a true saying.” He uses those same words four other times in the pastoral epistles (1 Tim 1:15; 4:9; 2 Tim 2:11; Titus 3:8), and each time they introduce sayings that were probably quoted commonly among the Christians.
In four words, the man is to lead, labour, listen and love. The man is to take leadership in both the home and the church. But, sad to say, sometimes he is not willing to do it. Some wives and ladies have shared that they are pushed into many important decisions because the men who are supposed to do them have taken a back-seat. That is unhealthy and unbiblical. We need to take responsibility and dare to learn to lead; and pray and trust God to lead us first. But men are to be humble and self-effacing leaders, and loving and gentle in our leadership. We are to show gentle care and concern for those under our care, be it our children or the BS, SS, fellowship or the shepherding of the flock of God (1 Pet 5:1–3). We are to be instructors (e.g., in relationships), as well as doers of God’s work and Word (Jas 1:22).
Men are also to labour in that we are to provide for our families and, in some sense, support the ministry of the Church with responsible stewardship of our substance. The man cannot be indolent or ill-equipped. He is to be learned and be ready for any good work. He is to be the prime mover in the Church in all its ministries. If the Lord has called him to be the pastor, elder or deacon, he is to be accountable to the Lord for the ministries / Church under his charge. At the Judgment Seat of Christ, it is believed that men will be answerable to God for more things than the ladies.
Paul bolsters his encouragement for men to desire roles of leadership by saying, “he desireth a good work.” Some readers may even wonder why Paul would encourage men to seek leadership, considering that our sinful nature drives us to want the top rung of the ladder and often causes us to step on others to get there, which is wrong.
The answer lies in the cultural situation of Paul’s day and in the biblical descriptions of a leader’s role. First, leadership in the early church was hardly a glamorous position; persecution of Christians was rampant, and the leaders were the first to be singled out for it by the Jewish and Roman authorities (Acts 12:1–3). Second, those men who held leadership positions were commanded by Jesus Christ Himself to be servants of all (Mark 9:35; Luke 22:24–27). They were required to be loving leaders and prohibited from being authoritarian tyrants or seeking their own benefit in any way (1 Peter 5:1–3). It is that kind of leadership that Paul was encouraging each man to desire, because God uses individuals to serve Him for the spiritual well-being of the church.
We need to pray carefully and earnestly about the possibility of serving the Lord and His church. Are you developing your leadership skills in your personal life and in your home with the hope that God could use them for His glory in a local body of believers? You should be ready and willing to be the man that God is seeking to fulfil this crucial role, for without such men the church and family can only flounder spiritually and disappoint their Lord.

Effective Teachers

Men are to search and study the Scriptures themselves and to be ready or equipped to teach the Word. 2 Tim 2:15 and Ezra 7:10 are two good examples for men to follow:
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15).
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments (Ezra 7:10).
Often there is a sad lack of effective male teachers in the church for the SS, fellowships, Bible studies, missions work, at the pulpit and other ministries as well. Christian men must make a conscious effort to read, study, meditate and apply God’s Word and to be trained to teach others also. 2 Tim 2:2 says, And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
We need more Timothy’s and Titus’ around to- day to carry on the didactic functions of effective teaching and preaching of God’s Word to the flock of God. Men are to have multiple effect ministries to reach to more men of Christ. This is the will of God concerning us.
The role of teaching the Word of God to the people of God is also one that has been reserved primarily for men. Although God’s plan includes women communicating the principles of His Word to children and other women (Prov 1:8; Titus 2:3–5), He has ordained that men alone should feed the whole flock of God when it gathers (1 Tim 2:12–14; 1 Cor 14:34–35). Unfortunately, as in the arena of leadership, there is often a lack of men willing and able to fulfil this role, and that fact has contributed to the growing number of women in teaching positions in some churches (i.e., teaching men). If churches want to stem the tide of this reversal of biblical roles, they will also have to emphasis the need for men to discover and develop their teaching abilities, and use them.

A tremendous need exists for more men to serve God by teaching His Word. We often do not have enough qualified men to teach in our Bible studies and other ministries. Certainly, every church that desires to emphasis sound biblical teaching experiences the same limitations.
One reason for that may be the common idea that Bible teaching is the responsibility of pastors and elders alone. Many “laymen” never even consider whether they are gifted to teach because they think they would have to attend seminary to do so. The same basic problem exists in regard to counselling, which requires teaching skills to be successful. But, although formal training does yield considerable benefits and church offices do need to be filled with men who are especially qualified, it is impossible in most churches for the staff and elders alone to carry out all the ministries of teaching the Word and counselling fully and effectively. Those church leaders need other men in the church to be partners in those ministries.
Every man in the church should be intentionally developing and practising his teaching skills, because every man is at least a husband or potential husband, and God has commanded husbands to be teachers in the home (Deut 6:6–7; Eph 5:25–27; 6:4). The key to doing that lies in exciting personal Bible study, because when we learn profound truths from God’s Word personally and apply them in our own lives, a desire will grow to share them with others. It is when the Word of Christ dwells in us richly that we will find ourselves teaching and admonishing one another (Col 3:16).

Godly Examples

Although every member of the body of Christ is commanded to be a godly example that leads others to grow in Christ, the men of the church are especially commissioned to serve others in this way. Being an example or positive model is such an integral part of effective leading and teaching (1 Pet 5:3; 2 Thess 3:6–7) that those roles cannot be fulfilled effectively without it. Also, husbands are called by God to relate to their wives in a way that typifies the Great Example, Jesus Christ, to the Church (Eph 5:25–27).
1 Tim 3:2–13 and Titus 1:6–9 contain lists of character traits that are true of a godly man. The primary purpose of those lists is to identify which men may serve in the church offices of elder and deacon, but a secondary purpose is to challenge every man in the church to cultivate those traits in his life. We know that because Paul encourages any man who desires the church offices (1 Tim 3:1, 13). Moreover, none of the qualifications in the lists is too high for any man to attain through God’s gracious enabling. Actually, the characteristics listed are simply those which should be true of every Christian man (in some growing degree), and Paul is saying that we should not appoint to leadership anyone who lacks one or more of them.
The following are the twenty qualities with regard to elders and deacons, leaders of the local church (note that the pastor is a teaching elder). This is not meant to be an exhaustive discussion of the interpretive issues and practical ramifications of these qualities, but merely a brief explanation of each one, designed to help men evaluate the example they are to others in the church.

1. Blameless (1 Tim 3:2). Leaders are to be unblamable, having nothing in their lives for which they can be rebuked. (This does not mean that they are sinless.)
2. Husband of one wife (1 Tim 3:2). They are to be one-woman men and faithful to their spouses. Fidelity at home begets fidelity to God in the church.
3. Vigilant (1 Tim 3:2). They are to be spiritually stable, watchful and alert, having a clear, biblical perspective of life and are to be self-controlled.
4. Sober (1 Tim 3:2). Sometimes that word is translated “sober-minded” or “prudent.” It means they know their priorities and be wise and discreet in their ways.
5. Of good behaviour (1 Tim 3:2). Leaders are to have such well-ordered lives that they are honoured for it and are to be examples for others to follow.
6. Given to hospitality (1 Tim 3:2). They are to love strangers, opening their homes for hospitality ministry to those in need and be a blessing to others.
7. Apt to teach (1 Tim 3:2). That phrase is translated from the single Greek word, didaktikos. It is not used only to speak of the gift of teaching or the office of a teacher. It is not saying that a leader must be a great Bible teacher. It is saying that he must be teachable as well as able to communicate biblical truths to others. The word conveys not only the dynamics of his teaching but also sensitivity to other people. He teaches with a meek and gentle spirit. In any case, every leader should seek to study the Word of God and know it well.
8. Temperate (Titus 1:8). Leaders are not to be addicted to alcohol or drugs or craving of any kind. They need to be in control of themselves and be well- disciplined.
9. Not self-willed (Titus 1:7). They should not be self-centred. A church cannot have people in leadership who are concerned only about themselves. The important thing about church leaders is that they be genuinely concerned for the people they are shepherding and the cause of the gospel.
10. Not soon angry (Titus 1:7). Those in leadership cannot have a volatile temperament; they must be patient and have a good disposition and not easily agitated or provoked.
11. No striker (Titus 1:7). This literally means “not a fighter.” A church does not need someone in leadership who solves problems with his fists.
12. Not a brawler (1 Tim 3:3). This attitude corresponds to the physical reaction. A contentious person likes to compete and debate just for the sake of it. 13. Patient (1 Tim 3:3). This is one of the facets of the fruit of the Spirit.
14. Not covetous (1 Tim 3:3). Church leaders should be free from the love of money or fame or other material or intangible things.. A worldly-minded person disqualifies himself.
15. Ruleth well his own house (1 Tim 3:4). Church leaders are required to keep their children and spouse under control with dignity, and be the head of the house. 16. Have a good report of them that are without (1 Tim 3:7). What does the world think of the church leaders as they interact with the unsaved? Their integrity should be above reproach.
17. Lover of good men (Titus 1:8). They should have good desires and motives and do things with sincerity of heart. 18. Just (Titus 1:8). Church leaders are to be fair and equitable, and not prejudiced against any.
19. Holy (Titus 1:8). They are to be consecrated and sanctified in their lives and committed to the service of the Lord in the church.
20. Not a novice (1 Tim 3:6). They are to be spiritually mature and not a newcomer in the faith.
(Expanded from Wayne Mack and David Swavely, Life in My Father’s House [New Jersey: P & R Publishing, 1996], pages 73–77.)

Husband/Father in the Home

One of the many important roles of the man is to be the head of the home (Eph 5:22–25). To do that properly, he is responsible to lead and guide the family.

To Love the Spouse and the Children

Leadership is by love and not by coercion. The husband / father is to lead by example and to demonstrate genuine care and concern for the family, the response will be obedience and support and harmony in the home (Col 3:18–21). That is the reason why Paul said, “ye fathers, provoke not your children.” Often times, excessive nagging and harshness provoke negative reaction which destroys good parent-child relationship.

To Lead in Family Worship and Catechism

A Christ-centred home should be characterised by consistent reverential worship and prayer, and the reading of the Word. One important landmark of the Christian home is family worship. It is to be led by the husband / father (or sometimes, if he is away, the mother / wife as well), which include a reading and exposition of a relevant portion of the Scripture, sharing, praise and prayer (Job 1:5). Some find it useful to do it on the Lord’s Day, and discuss also the sermon for the morning. This is commendable and is worthy of our emulation. Follow consistently a simple guide by the Puritans, Spurgeon or Oswald Chambers or RPG, or any other useful devotional book. The frequency is to be determined by the family.
The other important duty of fathers is family catechism. Catechising the children is the father’s responsibility and privilege. Isa 38:19 says, “The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.” Deut 4:9–10 says,

Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.
It is the father’s responsibility to educate and nurture his children in the doctrines of grace at a tender age. Many Christian children have problems with their teenage children. One of the key reasons (among others) is when the children were younger, they were not properly grounded and rooted in the knowledge and application of God’s Word. Failure to catechise when they are young is to make our children vulnerable to all the worldly temptations and secular influence of the day when they are much older.

Making Major Decisions in the Home

The head of the home is to be responsible for the direction and well-being of its members. Making decision is his prerogative and his obligation. Of course, some day to day operational matters, like where to eat, what to buy for lunch, can be discussed and decided together. But major decisions, like the choice of school for the child, change of job, house, whether to emigrate or not, buying of a costly item, like car, computer (whether to have Internet and how to regulate it), shall not be relegated to the wife or children. There can be discussions and sharing of ideas. If there are disagreements, the head of the family will have the final say in all important decisions of the house. Fervent prayer and humble seeking of God’s will and patient waiting upon the Lord are necessary often times (Eph 5:17).

Discipline of the Children

It is commonly heard among Christian families that the mother is the disciplinarian and the father does it once in a while. This is not the proper order of things. Both father and mother are to discipline together and the father must be the chief disciplinarian in the home. Children have a tendency to fear and respect the authoritative figure of the house. We must not shrink from the grave and sober responsibility of admonishing, correcting and punishing our children in the fear and nurture of the Lord (Heb 12:6–11). There should be a consensus on how to bring up children and not a conflict between father and mother in front of the children. Inconsistency destroys the effectiveness of good child rearing. Pray for wisdom, diligence and patience in these crucial matters.
Do not unnecessarily provoke or antagonise children by excessive, harsh, punitive actions that do not commensurate with the misdemeanour (eg, beating a child for dropping ice-cream on the floor inadvertently). There is a right time and place and proportion for the proper discipline of a child, and overdoing or underdoing it will not help. Under-discipline also will not have the desired results as well. We need to know the temperament of our child and guide them accordingly using effective methods, by God’s grace and guidance.

Conclusion

The role of man is a leadership one, that is, to be exemplary and God-fearing. It is to be exercised in love and with a good and caring disposition in both the church and the home. Often ladies have to take over when the man relegated his responsibilities to them. If men fail to lead, then we have really failed miserably. But ladies are to pray and submit, support their husbands in their spiritual and familial duties as well. We need to be accountable to God (2 Cor 5:10) and fulfil God-given roles with the strength and wisdom He provides, relying on Him for guidance and direction always. Above all, remember Psalm 127:1 which says, Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.