Church Leadership II

“Custom without truth is error grown old” Tertullian, Third Century Theologian

Let’s look at a little history and see what got the church in the trouble it is in today. 

In 303 AD the Christians was under the greatest persecution they have received to date.  They were being beaten, all their property taken, and many killed.  When Constantine became emperor of Rome he started what was called religious tolerance.  Persecution has ended and rights were being restored to the Christian.  During this time hot debates over church beliefs, leaders, and methods were happening.  Some of these debates lead to riots and killings by Christians to Christians.   There were deep resentments directed towards those who seemed to compromise to spare their lives during persecution.  Since about 69 or 70 AD after the destruction of Jerusalem and the persecutions of believers by Jews and Romans, and the last of the book of Acts apostles were dead.  They church leaders and churches were scattered all abroad.  There was no conformity in groups and leaders.  Then new leaders began to emerge on the scene, which were schooled in Greek philosophy and held to the teachings of such people as Socrates, and Plato.  These men were charismatic and demanding leaders.   This problem lead to the first council of Nicaea, (325AD) ordered by Constantine, and directed by him. 

Many historians agree this was the beginning of the organized church.  One thing was sure that what happened at that council was detrimental to the church of Jesus. It was not truly represented by all the church leaders, and anyone who disagreed with the outcome was exiled out of the Roman Empire.  This assured the beginning of an organized church and leadership.  It was the beginnings of church as a business and controller of society.  Constantine built the first known church buildings, set up the order of leadership, and ordered church to be held on Sunday.  Sunday was unique in the fact that Constantine was still a worshiper of the sun god, thus the day of the sun, Sunday. Much of how church is done and our practices can be traced to these beginnings.  The teaching that salvation could not be received apart from the church, which birthed a leader class called the clergy.   The leaders depended on the fact that its members did not have a bible and was not educated in the word of God.  The members of the church became dependent on its leaders for understanding of the word of God.  This kind of structure leads to abuses of authority, and how money was taken up to support this top heavy leadership in the church.  Offerings for indulgence, purgatory, and sainthood were forced.  

Church historian Rodney Stark says “For far to long, historians have accepted the claim that the conversion of the Emperor Constantine (ca 285-337) caused the triumph of Christianity.  To the contrary, he destroyed its most attractive and dynamic aspects, turning a high-intensity, grassroots movement into an arrogant institution controlled by an elite who often managed to be both brutal and lax…..Constantine’s ‘favor’ was his decision to divert to the Christians the massive state funding on which the pagan temples had always depended.  Overnight, Christianity became ‘the most-favored recipient of the near limitless resources of imperial favors.’ A faith that had been meeting in humble structures was suddenly housed in magnificent public buildings-the new church of Saint Peter in Rome was modeled on the basilican form used for imperial throne rooms”

 Now, over many years there have been some great reformations and changes.  There have been great men and women of God that have showed courage in going against the norms of their time.  Yet, many of these reforms did not go far enough to restore a basic community of believers and doctrines that was according to the New Testament church.  They would start out on a right path and then fall back into the hands of false teachers and doctrines of men. They all served their purpose to bring man a little closer to what God wanted in us, but we can’t stop growing and learning, we most move forward.  We have the Luther reformation and the Calvin one in 15^th and 16^th century, where we reestablished salvation by grace, but yet there were problems.  All these reformations did not restore ministry to where it began and belonged, among the members. Much of the reformation was based on the ideal that people could not know God or even grow spiritually with out being preached to. Church was and still is stifling participation of each member to operate by God’s spirit in ministry. Leadership was not dealt with; it still had a dependency on a professional clergy. 

Here in America we have the great awaking in 1730-40, bringing us to repentance. The second awaking in 1800-1830 where there were great camp meetings and many sinners were saved.  The Holiness movement of 1857, but yet through the 19^th century it was doctrinal differences and leaders that kept the church separated.   Also, the 19^th century produced the concert style format of church service we now know.  Then in 1906 we have the Azusa street revival and another holiness movement.    In much of my reading of Azusa, it was the members of the congregation and young people that God used in many manifestations, not the leaders.  Yet it did not take long for the leaders to bring this back under the control of a clergy leadership.  We have the latter rain, charismatic, faith, and history will only tell what we are living now will be called.  In all this we still do not see a ligament move of a church body.  There is still a separation of clergy, and laymen, being driven by a top heavy leadership in organizations and churches.  We look more like clubs and where CEO/Pastors lead services with worship leaders who try to get everyone emotionally involved. Where leadership thinks participation is people clapping to the music, raising hands, giving, and responding to calls of prayer. Churches today often foster passivity in its members who now expect their leadership to do everything.  We still look like a big business, what some would say if you want to find the truth follow the money.  

Now, before you get angry at my last statement, let’s be honest a lot of what is done in the name of the Lord today is about raising money.  The world sees it and the business community knows it, yet the church denies it.  In America alone combined church properties are worth $230 billion.  A large part of a church budget goes for building debt, service, and maintenance.  This is about 18% of the $50-$60 billion tithed to the church annually.  Another large portion goes to salaries of staff and preachers, and then down on the list may be missions, the poor, and if anything is left helping its own.  One thing I have found out, that truth does not have a good pay check.  Over the years I have talked with many who would admit that they were wrong, yet were afraid of changing because of the life style they were now enjoying as things were.  I am not against ministers getting money and the bible tells us that it’s OK.  We just don’t have to do it by fear tactics, and false teaching.  For many years I felt like I was under pressure to perform for others and felt the pressure of my peers that a successful minister was doing it fulltime.  I was told anything from, I lacked faith or being fulltime was a sign of success in ministry.  Today I choose to be free from the performance trap and who cares what others think.  It is God’s approval that I seek. 

I guess what I have learned from the word of God, history, my own travels and experience is that God did start a wonderful thing called a church which is a community of believers, within whom God has raised up leaders.  Now the Biblical example of leaders has shown a heart after God and humility before people.  They are from the same body and stay connected to the body; they are no different than any other part of the body.  Not one member is greater than another (I Cor.12).   The early church functioned in unity and each member contributed in ministry.  (I Cor. 14.26; Heb. 10.24-25; Acts 13-21, 20.17,28-29; I tim.1.5-7) Its leadership was pluralistic not singular, they had many leaders, elders, deacons, and so forth, none of whom were paid.  I realize that I do not have all the answers, or that my preaching is going to change a thing.  I have learned that what often works best is just simple one on one discipleship, getting down into the lives we minister to.  Rolling up our sleeves and getting dirty with those who need to be pulled out of the gutter.  I am not saying we need to become like a sinner, but like Jesus be willing to go to where they live and eat their food and learn to love on them.  Professional preachers have often forgotten where they have come from.  They have become celebrities, with body guards, living lifestyles far above those they minister to.  Teaching doctrines nobody dares challenge without being called a devil or worse.  Don’t be mistaken we have this in small scales too in small churches where pastors demand respect and treat everyone as if they are there to serve them.  From these churches and ministries we need to run as far away from as possible.   Let’s get back to the basics of the gospel message.  There are great churches out there and great church leaders.  We need to up hold them but not expect them to do what we can do ourselves.  We should be working hand in hand with them learning from each other.  We need to set each other free from what I call the performance trap, recognize what God is doing in each other and encourage the potential.  Great churches will produce great leaders, and great godly leaders will recognize they are just a small part of the whole.   God should be getting all the glory in what His church is doing not us.  Let’s not become victims of our past history.   

 Next week I will share some personal thought, experiences, and ideals about leadership.