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THE PASTOR AND LEADERSHIP

Today’s church deserves and needs great leaders. It needs leaders whose focus is not on just good theology. However, do not misunderstand it is very important to have correct theology, but there is more to being a leader than this aren’t they? Surely, the church of Jesus Christ will not grow spiritually any more than its leaders have. Therefore, what this paper argues for is that godly pastors must be godly leaders, and the only way this can be accomplished is by following the greatest example ever the Lord Jesus Christ.

First of all, the church must have a godly leader or leaders. In football every team has to have captains to lead. Although all of the team members are equally important, someone has to step up and be a leader. The purpose for this is because without a leader the team could lose its focus, and with all of the pressure that comes with wanting to win sometimes players will point blame when the team is not successful. So, it takes leaders to keep down the chaos and keep everyone focused on the task at hand. In the church it is no different.

Since the beginning Christ led his disciples then the apostles led; eventually, planting churches and training other leaders to lead them. In fact, Paul told Timothy that a church could not be an established church without proper leadership established (Titus 1:5). If you watch most organizations like a sports team when there is chaos in the camp, and the team seems to be falling apart most of the time it is because of poor leadership. It is no different in the church. Most of the problems that arise and cause divisions are because the leadership failed to discipline and lead to stomp out the fires before they got out of control (Derek Prime and Alistair Begg, 2004, 217-218).

Secondly, one must realize that leadership is both a gift and a calling. God has chosen to gift his children with spiritual gifts and they are to be used for the body of Christ. Leadership is one of those gifts, and if used effectively it can be very edifying for the body of Christ. The authors Derek Prime and Alistair Begg authors of “On Being a Pastor” have it right by putting it this way:

It is not presumptuous, therefore, to feel the desire to lead if we feel called to it. The two words that sum up our function in the body – shepherds and teachers – both imply the leadership function. A shepherd’s task is to lead his sheep, whether into green pastures or to safety when danger threatens. At every moment he is to be ready to take initiative for the sheep’s good. A teacher’s responsibility is to lead by the instruction he provides. Christian teachers are directive in their approach because their task is not to put forward their own ideas but the “very words of God” (Derek Prime and Alistair Begg, 2004, 218).

Therefore, a godly leader in the church of Jesus Christ is called to lead the people by example according to the word of God. The word of God is the blueprint or the manual for how to lead God’s people. The providence of God has allowed himself to be revealed through the word of God, and there is no other method to lead his people than by following what he has ordained.

Thirdly, leadership should be shared. There is absolutely no way a football program can be ran with just one leader. There are so many responsibilities that have to be taken care of throughout the week that one man could not do it all. Consequentially, it is no different in the church. Although it is debated by many in the church as to having a plurality of elders or having one single pastor known as the (Senior Pastor) who has others under him, the fact of the matter is that you need more than one person to do all of the work that is required to lead God’s people effectively for the purpose of kingdom work here on the earth. Begg and Prime put it best this way, “In some situations there may be one elder or spiritual leader who is actually called the “pastor,” who will be expected to lead his fellow leaders; and in others there will be a team ministry. But in every team there has to be a leader” (Derek Prime and Alistair Begg, 2004, 218).

Lastly, we must not be afraid of leadership as if it is not Christian to desire to do so. As Christian’s desire leadership one must realize that it is to be modeled after the example that Christ set forth. Although he was a great leader he was a servant as well; for example, when he washed his disciple’s feet (John 13). A Christian leader will never be above “our master” the one who has left the example to follow. In this case it is the sovereign Lord of the universe Jesus Christ. Once again, the authors Begg and Prime from their book “On being A Pastor” sum it up best this way:

Genuine Christian leadership is not status oriented. It is helpful to think of shepherding and teaching as function rather than offices. While Paul knew Timothy to be a shepherd and teacher, he deliberately referred to him as a servant of whom a particular pattern of conduct was required: “The Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful” (2 Timothy 2:24). Christian leadership, modeled upon Christ’s leadership, is by example. “Being examples to the flock” is where Peter lays the stress in writing to the church leaders of Asia Minor (1 Peter 5:3). This is the opposite of lording it over people, and of telling them what they should do, without first leading the way by personal example (Derek Prime and Alistair Begg, 2004, 219-220).

Therefore, what makes one a good pastor is not so much how great a communicator he is although that is important, but it will be based on character. He will have to be one who is willing to lead with humility, patience, kindness, and gentleness. Because it really does not matter to most people in the church how much a pastor knows until they know how much he cares. He can start leading by example in his own home with his own family. Hopefully, one day he can say with the apostle Paul, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice” (Philippians 4:9). There is no greater accomplishment as leaders in God’s church than for the people of God to one day look back on our legacy and say “that man loved us like Jesus” (Derek Prime and Alistair Begg, 2004, 220).

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