The Myth of Church Leadership (5b)

Contrasts between

Followers of the Lord Jesus

and

Church Leaders

(continued)

3. Their assignments/tasks/responsibilities (job description):

-the job description for each follower of Jesus is unique and personal. It is uniquely
  fitted by the Lord to the individual follower and in keeping with His plan for that
  follower.

John 21:21,22) Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

follow thou me.

-the job description of each church leader is determined by the expectations of the
group which has called him/her to lead them. It is fitted by the group to their own
perceived needs.

I Samuel 8:19,20 “We will have a king over us; that we also may be like all
the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and
fight our battles."

4. Their rewards/benefit package:
- the Lord Jesus’ followers will be made fishers of men Matt.4:19
- those who are poor in spirit are blessed for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
   Matt.5:3
- those who mourn are blessed for they shall be comforted Matt.5:4
- those who are meek are blessed for they shall inherit the earth. Matt.5:5
- those who hunger and thirst after righteousness are blessed for they shall be filled
   Matt.5:6
- those who are merciful are blessed for they shall obtain mercy. Matt.5:7
- those who are pure in heart are blessed for they shall see God. Matt.5:8
- those who are peacemakers are blessed for they shall be called the children of
   God. Matt.5:9
- those who are persecuted for righteousness sake are blessed for theirs is the
   kingdom of heaven. Matt.5:10
- those whom men revile, persecute and say all manner of evil against falsely for Jesus’
   sake are to rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is their reward in heaven
   for so were the prophets persecuted which were before them. Matt.5:11,12
- those who do and teach the Lord Jesus’ commandments shall be called great in
   the kingdom of heaven. Matt.5:19
- those who refuse to swear any oaths, but let their yea be yea and their nay nay,…
- those who resist not evil, but rather turn the other cheek…
- those who are sued at the law and whose coat is taken but let them have his cloke
   also…
- those who are compelled to go a mile but go the second mile as well, ….
- those who give generously to those who ask of them and do not turn away from those
   who would borrow of them….
- those who not only love their neighbours, but also love their enemies, bless those
   who curse them, do good to those who hate them, pray for them that despitefully
   use them and persecute them… have the great honour of demonstrating to
   others their Father’s likeness (who makes his sun to rise on the evil and
   the good and sends his rain on the just and on the unjust)! Matt.5:34-48
- those who do their alms, their praying and their fasting secretly will be rewarded
  openly by their heavenly Father. Matt.6:1-6,17,18
- those who seek first his kingdom and righteousness will have all their
  necessities of life provided….food , drink and clothing. Matt.6:25-33
- those who come to him burdened and heavy laden, he will give them rest
   Matt.11:28
- those who take his yoke upon them and learn of him will find rest to their souls
   for his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Matt.11:29,30
- those who will be your minister will be great among you. Matt.20:26
- those who will be your servant will be chief among you. Matt.20:27
- those whom give generously to others will receive generous giving from
   others. Luke 6:38
- those who believe on the Lord Jesus will not perish but have everlasting life
   and are not condemned. John 3:15,16,18
- those who drink of the water the Lord Jesus gives will never thirst but the
  water that he gives will be in them a well of water springing up to
  everlasting life. John 4:14
- those who reap in the Lord’s harvest field receive wages and gather fruit unto
   life eternal. John 4:36
- those who come to Jesus will never hunger and those who believe on him will
  never thirst. John 6:35
- those who eat Jesus flesh and drink his blood have everlasting life, will be
   raised up in the last day, they dwell in him and he dwells in them.
   John 6:54-56
- those who do as their Lord did, i.e. washing one another’s feet and not taking a
   place greater than their Lord will be happy. John 13:14-17
- those who love each other as the Lord Jesus loved them will be known as His
  disciples. John 13:34,35
- those who believe on the Lord Jesus will do the works that He did and
  greater works John 14:12
- those who ask anything in His name will have what they ask that the Father
   may be glorified. John 14:13,14
- those who keep the Lord Jesus commandments love him and those who love him
   will be loved by the Father, by the Lord Jesus himself, the Lord Jesus
   will manifest Himself to them and he and the Father will come and make
   their abode with them. John 14:21-23
- those who abide in him will bring forth much fruit. John 15:5
- those who abide in him and his words abide in them will ask what they will and
   it shall be done for them. John 15:7
- those who labor with their own hands to meet their own needs, the needs of others
  and to support the weak will be more blessed in giving than receiving.
   Acts 20:33-35

-church leaders receive “benefit packages” that vary greatly depending on who it is that hires them. But their
  benefits just do not compare to those promised by the Lord, Himself!



The Myth of Church Leadership (5)

Contrasts between Followers of the Lord Jesus and Church Leaders

1. Their call/appointment:

-followers of the Lord are called/appointed by him to follow him. “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Matt.4:19

-church leaders are called/appointed by a denomination, a school, a ministry or a congregation to lead them. (God does not call anyone to church leadership!) As in Samuel’s day, the desire for mortal leadership among God’s people is a rejection of God’s leadership.

1 Samuel 8:4-10 & 19,20) Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,  And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king…..Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

2. Their necessary credentials:

Followers of the Lord Jesus only need …
- a willingness to follow and obey the One who has called them John 2:5) "His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it."
- a willingness to humbly serve those to whom He sends them.
Matthew 20:25-28) But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
- there is no gender monopoly on following him.

Church leaders must:
first be instructed/trained/educated in the beliefs and practices of the group they will lead,

second be tested/questioned/investigated in order to prove their proficiency in explaining/teaching the beliefs and practices of the group they will lead,

third be in possession of written documents (diplomas, ordination certificates, letters of commendation) verifying that authorities recognized by the group they will lead are satisfied that they are qualified to lead.

- church leaders (generally) must be males!

To be continued....