Speaking at a Pastors Breakfast
When you read this, I’ll be returning from (or have already returned from) speaking to a group of pastors at an associational breakfast. I was invited to speak by one of the pastors after he read some of my blog posts about elders in the New Testament. Specifically, I was asked to speak on some aspect of shepherding in the New Testament.
I decided to speak on “Serving as Leading,” primarily from Luke 22:24-27.
I’m excited about speaking to this group for several reasons. While I know that these pastors probably disagree with me about many things, we share the most important thing in common: We are brothers in Jesus Christ, with God as our Father, and are mutually indwelled by the Holy Spirit. I’m expecting to learn from and be encouraged by them.
Also, two dear brothers are traveling with me to the breakfast meeting, which is about 1 1/2 hours from our house. So, besides the time at the breakfast, we’ll have three hours (while traveling) to talk and laugh and share. It should be a great time together!
Stand firm and do good – Polycarp
Here’s a challenging passage from Polycarp written to the church in Philippi sometime in the early second century:
Stand fast, therefore, in these things, and follow the example of the Lord, being firm and unchangeable in the faith, loving the brotherhood, and being attached to one another, joined together in the truth, exhibiting the meekness of the Lord in your intercourse with one another, and despising no one. When you can do good, defer it not, because “alms delivers from death.” Be all of you subject one to another, having your conduct blameless among the Gentiles,” that you may both receive praise for your good works, and the Lord may not be blasphemed through you. But woe to him by whom the name of the Lord is blasphemed! Teach, therefore, sobriety to all, and manifest it also in your own conduct. (Polycarp to the Philippians 10.1-3)
I think this would be good for all believers and churches to ponder.
Talk is cheap. Blogging is even cheaper.
The title of this post is how Arthur at “The Voice of One Crying out in Suburbia” began his post “Time to get off the bench.” In the post, Arthur explains that he has decided to go to Haiti in January. He says:
After talking with my wife and the folks at the Haiti Orphan Project, I have decided to accompany their team to Haiti in January right around the anniversary of the devastating earthquake that left an already troubled nation utterly devastated. Time to get off the bench and get into Kingdom work… In speaking with my family, I see this as something that we as a family are looking at being involved in. Dave Black has said before that he regrets waiting so long to get into Kingdom work and I am taking his admonition to heart for me and for my family.
This is so exciting! I know that God will use Arthur to serve some orphans in Haiti, but I also know that God can use this trip to change Arthur and his family. I’m looking forward to what happens during and after Arthur’s trip.
By the way, I realize more and more that the more someone follows Christ, the more they will serve other people.
The Phabulous Phoebe
At the beginning of Romans 16, Paul introduces us to someone named Phoebe. He says:
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. (Romans 16:1-2 ESV)
Many scholars (perhaps most) agree that Phoebe was delivering Paul’s letter to the many Christians who met in various groups around the city of Rome. He told them that Phoebe was from Cenchreae, which was a seaport on the eastern side of Corinth. He also told them that she was a servant and that she cared for many people, including himself. (The word translated “patron” can also be translated “protector” or “helper.”) I honestly don’t think Paul cared whether or not people used the title “servant” (deacon) for Phoebe. She served people and, therefore, she was a servant.
Paul also instructed the church in Rome to take care of Phoebe while she is with them. This is similar to other instructions that we see in the New Testament. Believers were expected to care for their brothers and sisters who were traveling through their city. (For example, see Romans 15:24, 1 Corinthians 16:5-6, 1 Corinthians 16:10-11, Titus 3:13, 3 John 5-6).
Paul does not tell us anything else specifically about Phoebe. But, by examining Paul’s recurring practices, we can learn other things about Phoebe.
For example, we know that Paul often left people in cities or sent people to cities to continue encouraging believers and proclaiming the gospel. We see this with Timothy (Acts 17:14, Acts 19:22), Silas (Acts 17:14), Erastus (Acts 19:22, 2 Timothy 4:20), Titus (Titus 1:5), among others.
Furthermore, when Paul sent a letter to the Christians in a city, he would have one of his co-workers deliver it for him. Again, we see this with Timothy (1 Corinthians 4:17, 1 Thessalonians 3:2), Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25), Tychicus (Colossians 4:7), Onesimus (Colossians 4:9), among others.
Paul always sent his letters by people that he trusted, who lived faithfully, who served tirelessly, who cared for people. Here are some of the way that he described these co-workers:
That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. (1 Corinthians 4:17 ESV)
I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger [apostle] and minister to my need… (Philippians 2:25 ESV)
Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here. (Colossians 4:7-9 ESV)
This tells us the kind of people that Paul entrusted with his letters. He sent people who were faithful servants and who worked to proclaim the gospel. He expected them to deliver the letter to the church in the city, and he expected them to help the church in that city for a time. (Unless, like Epaphroditus, the person was returning to his or her home city, in which case, Paul expected them to remain their indefinitely.) Paul expected them to provide a living example of the things that Paul wrote in his letters.
So, as Paul says, Phoebe was a servant. She cared for and helped many people, including Paul. He expected Phoebe to deliver the letter, but also to tell the Christians who met in different places in Rome about Paul’s travels. He expected her to help and strengthen the church there. He trusted Phoebe, and he expected her to be a good example for the Christians in Rome.
In other words, Phoebe was an itinerant servant (an apostle) and a co-worker with Paul, in the same manner as Timothy, Titus, Erastus, etc.
Church Sells Building to Help More People
Rolling Hills Baptist Church had decided to sell the land and building that they’ve owned for more than 20 years. You can read about the story here on the web site of an Atlanta area TV station: “Does A Church Need a Building To Be A Church?” (Here’s a link to a story about the church in the AJC.)
Why did they decide to sell their land and building? Well, this is what the article (and news report) said:
The church has a new mission. Instead of investing in the property that consumed most of their budget, they will use the more than $1-million dollars from the sale to invest in people who have needs. “It’s just a way of looking at this property differently,” Pastor Mercer said. “We saw it as an asset we could liquidate and turn around and use that resource to meet the needs of people.”
By the way, according to the article, about 100 people meet with this church, and they plan to rent a facility to meet in for about a third of the cost of the building. So, they will continue to have more money to help people.
I wonder how many churches would consider their property to be assets that can be liquidated in order to help others. And, how many would consider their property to be necessary to their own existence.
Mid-Week Worship Service
Some of our good friends are moving back to the Atlanta area this weekend. So, this evening the church is gathering together at their house to help pack their moving truck.
We always have a great time on “moving day.” Even though we hate to see some friends moving so far away, we are excited about the new possibilities that God has in store for them, and we are glad to be able to serve them one more time before they move.
Tonight, we get the added joy of packing the truck in the rain. It should be a great time! Plus, there will be pizza! (Yeah, you knew there would be food involved.)
Phoebe: Speaking of Romans 16
Speaking of Romans 16 (which I started speaking about in my post “Greetings?“), did you notice the first two verses of that chapter?
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. (Romans 16:1-2 ESV)
Many people spill much ink arguing whether Phoebe should be called a “servant” or a “deacon” (my answer: “Yes” – since they mean the same thing). However, I think there are more important questions to consider.
Here are some of the questions: Why did Paul mention Phoebe here? What was Phoebe doing that she had to be introduced to the Romans? Who does Paul also mention (in other letters) doing the same thing that Phoebe is doing? What does that tell us about Phoebe?
Service as a Spiritual Discipline
While I was writing and thinking about service this week, James (from “Idle musings of a bookseller”) pointed me to an article by Scot McKnight called “Spiritual Disciplines… for a Church 3.”
Scot tells the following story about a church:
We began to ask people in our community one simple question: “How can we help?†He admitted they were doing things they never expected to do, but that one question — call it the single-most important missional question — can change a church if the church will listen, and will do.
You should read his post. It’s about the difference between focusing on growing a church and focusing on serving others.
Leadership is not decision-making
Since I’ve been talking about leadership and service lately, I thought I would re-publish one of the posts that I wrote two years ago on a similar subject. The post is called “Leadership is not decision-making.” Leaders – along with the entire church – may need to make decisions, but this is not a factor of being a leader. Instead, it is a response to the Spirit who indwells all believers, not just leaders. No, the main factor of being a leader is service… serving other people… no decision-making.
————————————————-
Leadership is not decision-making
When we study the idea of leadership in Scripture, we find that leadership in the church is not decision-making, and decision-making is not leadership. When we study the idea of leadership in today’s church, we find that leadership is primarily about decision-making.
Ready almost any book on ecclesiology or church leadership, and you’ll read about various forms of “church government” or “church polity”. You’ll read about the episcopal form, in which a bishop (or senior pastor) makes decisions for the church. You’ll also read about the presbyterian form, in which a group of people (elders, pastors, staff, or deacons) make decisions for the church. Finally, you’ll read about the congregational form, in which the church itself makes the decisions.
But, when we search Scripture to determine who should make decisions for the church, we come up short. Scripture does not deal with the concept of making decisions for the church. Yes, we find church leadership in the church: elders, bishops, pastors, deacons, teachers, etc. But, these are not mentioned in the context of making decisions. However, we do find that decisions are made in Scripture.
In Acts 6, the people come to the apostles with a problem. Some of the widows are not receiving food, while others are receiving food. The apostles did not make decisions for the people. Instead, the apostles tell the people to take care of the situation. The apostles lead by suggesting characteristics of those who should serve these widows, but they do not make the decision for the people.
In Acts 15, a major question is brought before the apostles: should Gentile Christians become Jews – i.e. should they be circumcised and required to keep the law. The decision that would be made at this time would affect the church for all ages. Who made the decisions? The apostles? Yes, they were part of the decision-making process. The elders? Yes, they were part of the decision-making process. Others? Yes, even Barnabas and Paul were allowed to take part even though they were part of the church in Antioch. In fact, it seems that the entire church took part in the decision-making process. But, certainly the entire church would not have been considered leaders.
In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul writes to the church in Corinth about a “brother” who was living an immoral life. The church was doing nothing about this situation, and Paul admonished them for it. Paul told them what he thought they should do about this situation, but who was responsible for making the decision to actually do it? Apparently, Paul left that up to the church.
In each case, the “leaders” involved guided and taught and admonished and exhorted, but they did not make decisions for other people. In fact, in 3 John, we see an example of a “leader” who does make decisions for people, and John speaks of him (Diotrephes) negatively.
So, if leadership is not about decision-making in Scripture, then what is leadership? Leadership is service – serving people. Service should be the start of the discussion about church leadership, and service should be the end of the discussion about church leadership. Teaching is about service. Sherpherding is about service. Overseeing (watching out for) is about service. Leadership is about service. Those who do not serve are not leaders in the scriptural sense.
When we see discussions about church government (polity) and its different forms, we should recognize that these questions and forms and structures arose after the New Testament was written. For example, it is from Ignatius that we learn that the bishop should make decisions for the church and that the church should do nothing without the approval of the bishop.
Now, this does not mean that scriptural leaders (servants) do not have influence concerning decisions. They do and they should. Assuming that we have recognized leaders because of their spiritual maturity and their service to others (and this is a HUGE assumption that is often not true), then we should ask for their opinions, and we should often follow what they say (Heb. 13:17). Leaders, on the other hand, must recognize that we can selfishly use our influence to get our own way – even when the outcome doesn’t really matter.
Since they are more spiritually mature (we’re assuming, remember), then leaders should be the first to give up their rights for the rights of others. Leaders should be the first to consider others as more important than themselves and, therefore, to consider the opinion of others as more important than their own opinion. When leaders are concerned about a decision, then they influence that decision through service, teaching, admonishment, exhortation, but not by attempting to exercising authority – that authority belongs only to the one head of the church. Leaders must be willing to serve all, and allow Christ to control the decision-making.
But, that’s not what we find today. Instead, when people talk about leadership in the church, they talk about decision-making. Perhaps, we need to stop trying to make decisions, and start serving. If a decision has to be made (and make sure that it actually HAS to be made), then offer your opinion, teach, admonish, exhort, etc. Then, allow the ones affected by the decision to make that decision.
To do that, of course, we’ll have to find leaders who are willing to serve only.
The Painting Pastor
Dave Black mentioned one of his pastors (Jason) on his blog last weekend (Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 8:15 p.m.). He mentioned Jason in connection to a discussion that he had with a seminary student during a recent conference. I think this discussion reveals one problem with the way we view leaders (especially pastors/elders) in the church:
For some strange reason tonight I was reminded of a conversation I had last week with a student during the 9Marks conference on campus. I mentioned to him that when Becky and I take people with us to Ethiopia we allow them to chose their own ministries. We don’t say, “We’re doing VBS and you are to do such-and-such.” No, they pray, seek the Lord, and then tell us what they sense God is leading them to do. For example, one of my elders (Jason Evans) has been to Ethiopia with us 4 times. On his first few trips he taught church leaders. But on this last trip he told us he wanted to work with the construction team. He ended up being the “paint master” at the Galana clinic and did a marvelous job. When I told the student this he was dumbfounded. How, he wondered, could a preacher waste his time doing something as menial as painting? “That’s like seeing my pastor on a Sunday morning operating the sound system instead of preaching!” he told me. “Yeah,” I thought to myself, “sort of like Jesus washing His disciples’ feet.”
I’m not surprised at the student’s reaction. We don’t expect our leaders to serve. But, according to Scripture, we should.
By the way, I know Jason, and I’m not surprised that he chose to serve in this way at all.