RULER v SERVANT

"But we must realise that all of the ministry gifts are grace gifts. They are given by grace and not earned. You either have it or you don't. Paul recognised that he was not worthy to be called an apostle, and was such only by the grace of God."

JOHN ECKHARDT The Ministry Annointing of the Apostle

No doubt there are exceptions to the rule as there always are, but from my experience, I have found that most church leadership rules over the congregation. Some examples of this are that only the “credentialed” leadership preaches; only ministries that the leadership approves can be embarked upon; all decisions of the church have to be approved by the leadership; the pattern for the Sunday meetings are set by the leadership; if one gets a revelation from God it is not accepted unless the leadership gets it as well or approves of it; if a person gets a word from God for the meeting it cannot be given unless the leadership approves it; all doctrine is incorrect unless it is what the leadership or denomination believes; the only programme that is approved is the one set out by the leadership; if one feels that a person displays an anointing for a particular ministry, it cannot happen unless the leadership approves of God’s choice. In other words, only the leadership hears from God. The laity may hear from God but not until the pastor says he or she does.

When we read Matthew chapter 21 we see the opposite. James and John’s mother wanted special positions for her sons in the coming kingdom. The other ten disciples got indignant about this request so Jesus put them all straight on the subject of position and power.

He referred them to the rulers of the Gentiles that lord it over the people, and their high officials who exercised authority over them. The word “lord” means to “control and subjugate”. The word “authority” means “full privilege over”.

What was Jesus response to this? NOT SO YOU. Instead, he told them if you want to be great the answer is simple. You MUST become a servant. Not “you can become a servant if you feel in the mood”. The word “servant” is the Greek word “dee-ak-on-os” which means to run errands, be an attendant or a waiter. In other words, a leader in the church is someone who takes orders, not gives them.

He goes on to say that if you want to be first, you must be a slave. This word means subjection or subserviency. In other words, you are there to be told what to do not tell others what to do.

He puts the boot in by telling them that he was the example as he came to serve, not to be served which means that he came to wait on people, not be waited upon. He was the waiter not the customer.

The question I want to ask you is, how many in church leadership have you seen that functions that way? The nearest I can get to it is when they say that they are serving the people by preaching or running the church. If that is the case, ask them when was the last time they served as a waiter at a church dinner? From my observation, they usually sit at the top table with the important people.

Even if they insist that being a paid pastor is in scripture, the way that they carry out the role is far from the standard that Jesus set for all those who are in leadership.