Leadership

This past weekend Warners Chapel hosted the Second Annual Leadership Seminar. Richard Bentley of Cary, North Carolina; Skip Andrews of Duluth, Georgia; and Denton Landon of Warners Chapel spoke.  Based on comments from those in attendance, the workshop was a success.  Some of what was learned follows:

The condemnation of the shepherds of Israel in Ezekiel 34 indicates how God views the work of leading His people.  These shepherds were using their position of leadership for personal gain.  They cared little or nothing for the people.  The people of Israel were simply used for personal gain.  In studying the condemnation issued by God through the prophet, we are shown the reason for some of the qualifications laid out by God for the elders of the church.  He is one who should not have a money problem.  Both I Timothy 3 and Titus 1 mention filthy lucre (money).  Elders are in control of the treasury and could be tempted to misuse their access if they had a money problem.

Another charge of God against the shepherds was their lack of care for the people. Ezekiel wrote:

The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.

Paul’s instructions to Timothy required elders to be “given to hospitality” (I Timothy 3:2) and to Titus he wrote the man appointed must be “a lover of hospitality” (Titus 1:8).  Elders oversee; therefore they must know the members of the flock.  He is serving as a shepherd under the chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ (I Peter 5:4).  His example was one of great concern for the people as evidenced by the oft repeated statement that Jesus “was moved with compassion” toward the people.  That compassion was demonstrated by action toward them.

One principle for the church and our elders to keep in mind is our obligation toward them.  Hebrews 13:17 refer to elders.  It reads, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”  We can make their work easy or hard.  This verse indicates God wants us to make their work easy by respecting them and working with them.

The responsibility of leadership for God’s people is great.  The consequences of poor leadership for the people and for the leaders is clearly spelled out in Ezekiel 34.  Let all be serious about leadership in the church. Let us all encourage our leaders in the great task set before them.

—Denny