Blog In Auio:
Greetings,
The culture of the community of God must be one that promotes godly edification and faith. Leaders are responsible to command, if necessary, in maintaining the culture of life for the community of God. That command is not a command of control or judgment. It is a command motivated by love and given in a spirit of love to establish safe boundaries for life to flourish in the community of Christ.
Timothy was to charge those who sought to bring disputes into the church to cease their pursuit of dispute. His motive in his commands was one of love and a pure heart. He was to set an example of a good conscience and faith. In the church of the first century some had strayed from true faith in the pursuit of worthless talk and meaningless legalism. These things reveal a principle, pattern, and value that must be embraced by leaders in the church of God today. Members of the community of God must understand that God-given leaders are like shepherds in a flock of sheep, responsible to maintain a safe environment of life for the flock of God.
1 Timothy 1:5-7 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
Timothy was to present that the law is for sinners and the ungodly, not the standard for judgment of one another. He was to teach grace and forgiveness and present himself, like Paul, as an example of God’s goodness and forgiveness to mankind.
As a pastor, I was aware of my role as a son of God before being a leader. To be a good leader one must first be a good son. There were many occasions where I had to embrace the character of Christ in my own life before I could pursue instructing others to embrace that character into their lives. Being a pastoral leader is not a matter of following the rules of discipline. It is embracing the character of Christ and the attributes of God’s love in order to be an example, an inspiration, and even a source of impartation to those in their realm of influence in order to assist the growth of Christ-like maturity in the community of God. This means that every leader must embrace the work of Christ within their own lives before seeking to give instructions to others. It is a matter of attitude, and it is an issue of the heart. It is not merely a discipline of the flesh, but an attribute of life that comes from within.
Leaders cannot shy away from the responsibility of bringing discipline at times. It is part of love. It is a parental responsibility in the family of God. A leader must also know that whatever is in the heart of the one who gives discipline will be imparted into the hearts of those being disciplined. If love is in the heart of the leader, love will be imparted in their discipline. If a legalistic judgment or merely a desire to be right is in the heart of the leader, the fruit imparted will be some measure of death. God’s Spirit is love and only love can give life. The letter of the law kills, but the Spirit gives life.
1 Timothy 1:8-11 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.
A leader doesn’t seek to impose law upon those they lead. They seek to inspire faith that enables those who hear to experience the presence of Christ within them that brings about true change to their hearts and minds from within. It is not a matter of imposing right information upon those they lead. It is a matter of inspiring them to seek a relationship with God in their hearts that brings about true change. Those in the world are merely subject to law that they might seek life that is found by grace in Christ. Any discipline given by a leader to those they lead should be led by Holy Spirit so that those who hear will receive the voice of Holy Spirit within them that brings about true change. Discipline is not a matter of rules, methods, or ridged written statements. Discipline is an act of love from the heart of our heavenly Father.
Food For Thought,
Ted J. Hanson
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