Blog In Audio:
Greetings,
When we read the books of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus, we are reading a unique section of Scripture. These letters are written from a spiritual father to His spiritual sons concerning their responsibilities as leaders in the church of God. These letters were not written to the church, but to the leaders of the church. They are profitable for us all to read, but when we read them we must understand that they were instructions concerning practical and relational responsibilities of specific leaders, in specific churches, dealing with specific situations. The issues of their day set principles, patterns, and values for the issues of our own day. These letters were not written so we can examine leaders to see whether they are fulfilling their responsibilities or not. They were written so we will each understand the kind of responsibilities carried by leaders, the kind of culture they are required to develop and maintain, and the kind of instructions given to leaders as to their position in the church in their responsibility of authority. These things should be understood by church leaders as well as by members of the church community. They were not intended to be a means of applying legalism or law concerning word-by-word rules in the church. They are guidelines for roles of authority in the church. I believe that authority is an attribute of giving. It is not one of control. Authority is a measure of a substance of life given to someone for the sake of those they influence. Authority gives life and leadership has a responsibility of maintaining a kingdom culture of life in the church.
In the first letter to Timothy, Paul instructed that Timothy was to teach people to live godly lifestyles. He was to charge those in his care to not be caught up in pointless things that merely prove to be fables, endless genealogies, or other things that simply cause disputes. As a shepherd to the flock of God, Timothy was to guard the culture of the community. It was to be a culture of life and peace. This principle, pattern, and value applies to church leaders in our day as well.
Members of a congregation will sometimes pursue things that don’t really matter in becoming a testimony of a Christ centered and Christ filled community. They are simply things of personal preference, personal opinion, or some personal revelation that promotes a personal idea in some way. The shepherds in the flock of God must guard against things that merely cause disputes in the community of faith. They must exercise their authority in charging those who promote things that cause disputes to cease their pursuit of such things in the context of the community of God. Leaders are responsible to guard the community of God in order to maintain a safe, life-giving culture of love. It is a parental responsibility given by God to some for the sake of the whole community.
1 Timothy 1:3-4 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.
I was the senior pastor of a church for twenty years. I had to exercise my authority as a shepherd of the flock on many occasions to silence some from introducing a voice of confusion to those I was responsible to lead. Some wanted me to publically state what products to buy or not to buy. Some wanted me to publically state what movies to watch, what movies not to watch, or whether to even watch movies or not. Some wanted me to introduce some sort of dress code. At times some wanted me to enforce Jewish dances or Jewish customs in the church. I even had some who tried to introduce the need for people to change their names by receiving new names from God. Some proposed that it was important to understand some theory concerning a pre-Adamic race. Others wanted to make debates in regard to an actual seven-day creation or a process of creation. Some sought to introduce legalism concerning men in ministry verses women. I faced those things as a senior pastor and I have faced those things as a leader who now influences leaders in various congregations around the world. A dispute over things that do not contribute to the testimony of intimacy with God and a covenant relationship of love has no place in the community of God. Leaders must accept the responsibility of guarding the garden of God’s community from things that do not contribute to the life of that community. A leader must not fall for distractions over things that simply cause disputes. A leader envisions those they lead to keep their focus on Jesus and make fellowship with Holy Spirit and one another the bond of community.
Food For Thought,
Ted J. Hanson
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