TEACHING

Don Atkin

LEADERSHIP LEGITIMACY

The body of Christ is experiencing a season of transition that has been going on for several years, and will likely continue for many more years.  I am not writing about mere change.  It’s more than that.  We are always changing, morphing from faith to faith, from strength to strength, and from glory to glory.  I’m talking about major transitions in how we view the church and how we function together.

The inevitable result of individual metamorphosis is shifting paradigms and practices.  There is a re-packaging of the corporate expression of Christ’s body.  As we respond to increasing insight and revelation, it affects how we are to walk and labor together, and how we meet and function together.

As in all seasons of transition, there are those who “stay the course” at the expense of kingdom progress.  “We’ve always done it this way!”   “Don’t rock the boat!”  “Don’t confuse me with the facts!”  Others, on the opposite end of the spectrum, are running headlong toward what they think that they see, and discovering many disappearing mirages along the way.

Still others are seeking balanced progress within the context of authentic committed relationships.  There is something secure about being in the midst of the flock, yet not standing still but moving forward. 

ADJUSTING OUR VIEW OF LEADERSHIP

One very positive adjustment is the increasing understanding that Jesus Christ is the Head of the church that is His body.  He is building His church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. 

Each member of the body is to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, through whom we see the Father.  It is the revelation of the fatherhood of God that frees and engages us as sons and thrusts us onward toward our destiny.  Coming to the Father is essential, and the only way to the Father is through the Son.

Jesus promised that He would not leave us as orphans, and that He would return in the person of the Holy Spirit to dwell in us.

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.  A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me.  Because I live, you will live also.  At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. – John 14:18-20.

Enjoying the headship, submitting to the lordship, and following the leadership of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is a prerequisite to experiencing our adoption as sons and moving into our destiny in His kingdom.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. – Romans 8:14-16.

It is this personal relationship with and adherence to the Head of the body that produces within each member the confidence and security to fruitfully function within the body. We are little more than sin-conscious slaves (in our own minds) until we know that we are new creation sons.  Our insecurities are rooted in a lack of authentic fathering, and are healed through relationships with fathers within the family of God. 

We have One in heaven who is our Father.  Responsible leadership will always point us to Him.  The prophet Isaiah included Everlasting Father among the functional roles that the coming Messiah would fulfill.  We can see the Father in the Son, because the two are one.  The Father is in the Son.

INCARNATIONAL LEADERSHIP

We are able to conceptualize incarnational life because of the example of Christ.  He is now in us, the hope of Glory.  God is in Christ.  Christ is in God.  The Father is in the Son.  The Son is in the Father.  We are in Him, and He is in us.  Therefore, the very life of the Father that is in the Son is in us by virtue of the Holy Spirit!

Those who are running away from Gentile authority ought to be running toward God-appointed leadership.  The Head, Jesus Christ, sets legitimate government and authority in the body.  Jesus contrasted righteous shepherding with lording it over God’s heritage.  Seek to follow the right people in the right way for the right reasons. 

Don’t be distracted by present-day humanly devised structures.  (Scaffolding can be disassembled.)  Rather, look for servant-leaders who have hearts after God and in whom you can see and hear God.  Look for those who are themselves sons of God being led by the Spirit of God.

Don’t expect human perfection.  Realize that God puts His treasure in earthen vessels.

Look for the anointing.  But, look for it in the context of Father’s love.  Look for grace that is according to the measure of Christ’s gift in men. 

THE LEGITIMACY OF LEADERSHIP

Some reactionaries hold that the only leadership we need comes directly to each of us from our Head, Jesus Christ.  His direct headship and leadership is indeed both desirable and available to each individual.  And, we can help one another by submitting to the love and counsel of others within a small group context.  Indeed, this ought to be a norm for our daily lives as individual believers and followers of Christ. 

But, this alone will not fulfill the kingdom mandate to fill the earth with God’s government and glory.  There is too much biblical evidence that God wants to fit each of us into a bigger picture and purpose.

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.  And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. – I Corinthians 12:27-28.

That the apostles had the respect of the people was evidenced by Luke’s observation (Acts 5:13): The people esteemed them highly.  The Hebrew writer (13:7) exhorts us to remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

The apostles appointed men to care for the widows (Acts 6:1-3), and elders in every church (Acts 14:23).  Peter reminded elders to be examples to the flock (I Peter 5:3).  Paul affirmed that it is the Holy Spirit who makes overseers (Acts 20:28), and exhorted leaders to do so with diligence (Romans 12:8).

To (1) over-react to abuse, (2) “rightly divide” leadership out of the picture and (3) interpret (through language study) that there is no place for leaders in the body of Christ, is akin to shooting one’s spiritual self in the foot.  We have no individual purpose apart from our corporate involvement.  Our corporate involvement requires (A) equipping (Ephesians 4:11-16), (B) placement (I Corinthians 12:18, and (C) oversight (Hebrews 13:17).

God is correcting abuse, setting aside abusers, and establishing legitimate servant leaders who serve with grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.  God is also raising up elders in every city.  God is also bringing clarity between ministry gifts and governmental appointments.

LEGITIMACY IS MARKED BY CHARACTER

“Signs followers” tend to be deceived by what they deem to be powerful anointing and gifting.  God’s favor and approval is upon men and women who bear the marks of the cross and demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit.  Legitimate leaders should manifest God’s order in their personal lives, families, homes and ministry.

They should be given to birth pangs until Christ is formed in and among His church.  Meekness and humility should be a welcomed and refreshing contrast to arrogant and self-serving promoters. 

Richard Halverson, Chaplain of the U. S. Senate for many years, pointed out:

"Christianity started out in Palestine as a fellowship.  Then it moved to Greece and became a philosophy, then it went to Rome and became an institution, and then it went to Europe and became a government. Finally it came to America where we made it an enterprise."

Unfortunately, western missionaries have exported their philosophies, institutions, governments and enterprises into many nations.  The fruit of what has been sown in the past hinders contemporary missionary work.  Yet, across the globe, kingdom light is breaking forth and God is sifting and shifting leadership from glory to glory.

LEADERS AND BAGGAGE

We can recognize the legitimacy of God’s men and women even though many of us still bear the baggage of previous days.  I personally know people who see and understand more than their constituency is ready to bear (John 16:12).  Rather than judging those who see less (or more) than we do, we should pray for them to be the benefactors of God’s wisdom. 

It is healthy for us to bear and believe all things.  Love does.  Love covers a multitude of immaturity, imperfections, and other sorts of baggage (I Corinthians 13:7; I Peter 4:8).

Aren’t you glad?  I am!

We speak as the oracles of God, and minister with the ability which God supplies

(I Peter 4:11), without compromising truth, as we perceive it, and without giving our flesh any room to make unkind and ungodly judgments.  We cannot see what is in a man.  God looks upon the heart, and is able to judge His own servants.

Can we look at a caterpillar and, by faith, see a beautiful butterfly?

I hope and pray that others will extend such grace to me! I’m thankful that God does!