Jesus says:
11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Paul says:
3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Peter says:
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
I will be brief today. My question is this: “why isn’t anyone cutting in line to serve”? As I read blogs and books their seem to be a bigger emphasis on authority versus servanthood. Why do we constantly have to remind people “who’s in charge”? Why do we have a desire to be in charge? To Lead? To be served? On the one side we see pastor’s needing armor bearers! These armor bearers are to be “apprentices” as someone once told me. These man carry bibles, chauffeur around pastors, pick up their dry cleaning all in the name of being an apprentice!
On the other side there has been a huge push lately for people to “submit” to their leaders. To sumbit to those who have “authority” over you. I think this is a response to the fact that many Christians are tired of the oke doke! Many Christians are beginning to question the establishment and there is much at stake. The church as we know it is starting to split here in the west. With men like Bell, Doug P, McKnight and McManus gaining popularity among young evangelicals and with books like the Shack, Velvet Elvis, Blue Like Jazz and Pagan Christianity becoming bestsellers we have a serious problem. Not to mention some great brothers like Dave Black who have Anabaptist leanings, leaders today are scrapping to save the machine called “church”.
The problem is I think most people feel like the authority that is practiced so well in our churches may have more pagan influence than biblical New Covenant influence. I am sort of in the middle with no real commitments to either side but what I will say, it seems like the Viola’s and others are winning the fight “biblically”. That may be a radical statement. But we can’t ignore the words of Jesus nor the Apostles. It seems that the leaders are the mature among brothers and that authority comes from those willing to follow those they ”have selected” and not the position itself.
But not only that. I rarely see those who lead having the heart to serve. It seems that the reversal of what Jesus spoke in Matthew 23 is what is law in our churches today. When men want to be addressed by their positions my immediate response is one of grave concern. You see my leadership should be lived not demanded. What I mean is this. Jesus never once told the disciples to submit to Him! He only served them and others and they became more convinced that what they left behind was worth following their master. Many today are skeptical and rightfully so. When we have hear sermon after sermon about submitting to leaders, that means something is wrong. I don’t have to tell my wife to submit. If her heart is aligned with God’s and I am serving her as Christ served the church (change love with serve Ephesians 5) then her submission would be that of a bond-servant.
I believe our seminaries, churches and leaders should scream this from the rooftop. The Christian life is one of service and if people refuse to submit serve them more. When the people refused to acknowledge Jesus as the messiah, He didn’t stomp down His feet and demand obedience. He went to the cross. And because of His service to us we love Him (at least I hope that is why you are a Christian). God doesn’t wave the stick before us. He nails His Son to a cross!
I believe that is why our churches are saturated with those hungry for leadership. Man run to seminary in order to be in charge (this is where they get their authority), Man in less educated church run to the pulpit (this will give them their authority), Man in some of the churches in the WOF movement throw on ridiculous titles such as prophet, master prophet, bishop, apostle, Second Vice President to Jesus, and Assistant to God (well the last two haven’t happened yet). You see no one is fighting and arguing to wash feet, to give of themselves, to surrender to the next. Everyone is fighting to be served versus serve.
But Jesus says this “the greatest among you will be a _________________” fill in the blank and that is how you want to live your Christian life!
Lionel,
One word……..”powerful!”
You know the scripture that continually comes to my mind is out of the Psalms
“The scarifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart– These, O God, You will not despise.” Ps. 51:17
How many of these so called “leaders” are in that position. I know in our assembly those who are elders do and have served. They are leading as examples. ie. Cleaning bathrooms, sweeping floors etc. . So I praise God for them. It is definately a sad time in our history when you have self proclaimed prophets, apostles keep going….. They must not know the bible very well or else they woudl have read what Paul had to say about being an apostle. He was POOR….HE was PERSECUTED…it really brings me to tears to see the so called “church” following these wolves. And yet God has given us a warning and the instructions as you laid out in your blog. I am personally leaning toward the home church and have found Alans blog very helpful along with some other sites…that follow the same biblical path. It is not out of rebellion from the current system of leadership tradition, no but out of submission of how God lays it all out in scripture.
Love you all in Christ……….Steve O.
Lionel,
Amen to this. I wish more pastors would understand this concept. To be a pastor is to wash feet.
We have too many chiefs and not enough indians, as they say. Everyone wants to be the leader. We have books on leadership and even Leadership Study Bibles and every church I’ve been on staff at has always emphasized finding your leaders in your ministry team and learning how to develop them, focus on them, etc.
Where are the books are being a servant? Where are the Servanthood Study Bibles? Where are the water basins and the towels?
Here in Orange County we have an annual “Serve Day” where hundreds of churches and thousands of christians each year gather on one single Saturday a year to serve the community. It burns me. I have to ask, “Why don’t our Churches do this every single day?”
Because servanthood is an option for us. It wasn’t an optional activity for the early church in Acts, or for the Apostles, and certainly not for Jesus.
-kg
AMEN.
Not that anything needs to be added, but that never stopped me before… (a little joke there) The more God has opened my eyes to walk you’re talking about, the sadder it makes me. Why do we as people have a such a bent towards being the person in charge? It’s like some kind of ego-lust or something. We all like having people look up to us, whether it’s a young child or a room full of people. Recently, I had one of those metaphorical pictures form in my mind when thinking about the whole leadership issue, specifically as it relates to teaching.
As the bible refers to itself as being like a sword, a weapon with which we are eqipped to fight the lies that threaten our life with God and the gospel, I pictured a modern day pastor standing up in front of his congregation, and having someone wheeling in a glass case with an ancient sword inside. Carefully, he opens the case, takes out the sword, and for about 30 or 40 minutes he proceeds to instruct his congregation on various aspects of the sword, the type of steel, how the handle was crafted and so on. He even demonstrates a few moves designed for combat. Then the sword is returned to it’s case, and the pastor leaves the congregation with a warning. They are not to be so presumptious as to go home, pull out their own swords, and think they can wield it effectively against the enemy. They still require many more years of watching the master swordsmen expound on the many aspects of swordsmanship. Maybe one day, if they are lucky enough to be tutored by a great master, they will one day use it in battle. He then dismisses them.
I guess it’s just easy to take pride in something if you are considered a master of it. Where’s that verse again… “the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life…”
Daniel
To be flat out real it is more desireable to be a leader in this world today. You have all these leadership training conferences etc etc. Who wants to be a servant? I mean really come on, who wants to help anybody, I want everybody to help me instead right? Being a Christian involves serving. If the Lord Jesus Christ served, what do we as Christians think we are going to do? I often wondered why the Lord Jesus Christ told Paul this:
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35 KJV)
Why is it more blessed to give? The Lord Jesus Christ freely gave to us through His service. Should we not do the same? Of course, but in doing that, it will take what you spoke of in your last post: resting in Him. Just my thoughts. May His grace be with you all
Karsten Miller
Daniel Son,
“You have learned well, now prepare for battle” LOL!!!!! No seriously dude, this has to be one of the best word pictures I have seen on “expository preaching”. I am going to write something about perpetual infancy but I am trying not to step on toes. This is lovely brother. I love the blog by the way.
KM!!!!!!
Hope that beautiful family is well! Brother, you are right indeed service seems weak in our culture I believe and I can’t get the spotlight.
SOwen I am trying to make it up there brother. I pray that I will. Barring any unforseen obstacles I should make it. I agree wholeheartedly brother with your assessment.
I know brother. We have sheep leading conferences yearly. Jam packed with the best way to lead the church. Maybe we should have feet washing conferences, or cross carrying conferences or better yet, crucified lives conferences.
Wow.. Ithink this is a great example of where Romans 12:1-2 should be applied. Most of the time it is used for things like what we wear or what type of music we listen to or even how we talk. But a true renewing of the mind comes with an attitude of servanthood. It is the world that says if you aren’tr in charge of anything then you aren’t anybody. Our jobs, schools and now even the church the most respected ones are those who are in charge. The boss at work, the captain of the football team, the ministry chairperson. Our success is defined by reaching these levels and how high you can go in your field. But as you stated as Christians Jesus told us to be considered great in His eyes and the Father’s we should be servants. Thanks for this post.
The sequel to “Pagan Christianity?” is out now. It’s called “Reimagining Church”. It picks up where “Pagan Christianity” left off and continues the conversation. (“Pagan Christianity” was never meant to be a stand alone book; it’s part one of the conversation.) “Reimagining Church” is endorsed by Leonard Sweet, Shane Claiborne, Alan Hirsch, and many others. You can read a sample chapter at http://www.ReimaginingChurch.org. It’s also available on Amazon.com. Frank is also blogging now at http://frankviola.wordpress.com/
Good Work
First and foremost, may grace and peace be onto you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. It is so amazing that you posted this. I rarely answer blogs, but this one had to be let out. God has called us to a life of humility, but that seems to be forsaken in this time.
There are arguments as to whether or not Christ called us to be rich or poor, but the bible is clear that it is actually neither in the natural. We are to be content to live within the skills and talent sets that God has delivered and this will provide for us what we have need of. Some will have a little more than others above what is needed, but that is where we begin to have all things in common as a church. God has given the prescription to deal with the current lack in the church. It all starts from what Brother Lionel says, a lack of a servants heart.
I recently went through a ministry series with my wife, hosted by Pastor Mark Kielar of First Baptist Church in Boynton Beach and founder of Word Pictures, the series is called “Biblical Stewardship”. When it is all said and done we are all called to serve all and with all. We are to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Then we are to love our neighbor as our selves. This requires great service and great humility. Nothing we own is ours anyway. Not our lives, it was purchased with a price. Not our money, we our just stewards of Gods wealth. Not our families or friends or others. The fact that we have been told lately that God wants us all to be healthy, wealthy, and wise has left no room in us to be broken, humble, and dependant on God’s word.
God has blessed in Christ Jesus with all things pertaining to life and godliness, but I am sure that Christ godliness was practiced in a different light than what we see today. Another thing that has been brought to my attention is that we see people saying that we can live a life of health, wealth, and prosperity, but not a life of holiness and purity. Is it me or does it seem like everything fleshy has been exalted and everything heavenly has been abased.
May God open the eyes of our hearts and place a greater desire and hunger for His majesty and tear down this self idolatry. May the Lord extend grace to His elect and allow them the mercy and peace to continue in the work of the ministry. May God open the heart of the body to love the way Christ loved, all the way to the cross.
God have mercy and forgive us where we have lacked.
Peace and Grace
Larry Cochran
skollarrock@comcast.net
Lionel,
Good post. Produced some self-examination. Thanks for the pain, bro.
This post of Brant Hansen’s is a real hoot:
http://branthansen.typepad.com/letters_from_kamp_krusty/2008/06/baaaa.html
Be sure though to track back to Bill Kinnon’s post which caused Brant’s sarcasm.
Tom
Hi Lionel,
Thanks for your expression of what I also feel about recent times in our “church” of America. However, I find it sort of confusing that on your “Favorite Sites” list on the right side that you have Sovereign Grace Ministries. That is an organization that exemplifies the exact same thing that you were talking about in their practice of church government.
If you haven’t read into the writings of CJ Mahaney or studied their ministry government, then you should because there is definitely a depth of authoritarianism there too.
I can’t help but wonder if Jesus would walk amongst the churches or not if he were here today. I almost feel like the world is filled with Pharisees again.
Scott
You are correct in your comment. I still think they add a great deal of biblical faithfulness to the body of Christ. I am batist also but I have most PCA guys on my sidebar. I don’t agree with everything that many hold to but if I agreed in totality with every Christian I would be in heaven already.
Lionel,
While we’re at it, I have strong objections to some of the stances taken by The Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood… ;o)
Tom
Hey Volkmar,
What do you have against the CBMW?
Lionel,
I’m sure that CBMW has much good information to share and is represented by fine brothers and sisters in the Lord.
My basic objection to the position that CBMW takes can be summarized from this paragraph on their “About us” page;
1. Their Complementarian position is a polar reaction to what they label as “feminist egalitarianism”. From my studied experience the Complementarian perspective is just as flawed as the “feminist egalitarianism” position. When Christians adopt an “-ism” or an “-arian” as a positional stance we usually over-run or fall short of the message of Jesus Christ and the examples He’s shown us in and the revelation of scripture. Egalitarianism and Complementarianism both represent flawed, partial understandings and expressions of the Life that we now should/could be living in Christ. To supply examples of my assertions would require a moderate length book. In lieu of a book I’ll copy/paste these statements from individuals of both positions;
(That from a complementarian…http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/june/28.40.html)
(http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/june/28.41.html
(Both of the above articles are very good. Recommended reading.)
2. I don’t find in the New Testament a statement or command that men are to “lead” and women are to be the “followers”. I do find that Paul tells women to “submit yourself” to the husband, and, husbands to “love your wives as Christ loves the church”. At the same time all Believers are to “submit one to the other”. A complex theology has been read into the admonition to “submit”—and that eisogesis has promulgated a perspective about male/female relationships which resulted from the Fall and do not reflect the type of relationships we should now live as Believers in Christ and the power of His resurrection life. Too often a sub-Christian perspective is lived out as “Biblical”. The great majority of the “evidence” for the complementarian perspective is derived from the Old Testament. In addition, a misunderstanding of “headship”, as expressed in I Cor. 11 for example, drives a perspective which focuses on “authority” and hierarchy in the Godhead instead of understanding the use of “head” as source or origin (Col. 2:19 for example). In the NT, “head” is never used to mean “authority over” as is the common meaning infused into the NT text by our English usage of the word.
3. ” In the church, while men and women share equally in the blessings of salvation, some governing and teaching roles are restricted to men.” My response is—To say that “women share equally in the blessings of salvation” yet women do not share just as equally in other areas of the life of Faith is to actually say that women are really NOT equal sharers in the blessings of salvation but actually second class citizens of the Kingdom.
So, these are a few of my observations on the subject and why I have some objection to the basic stance of CBMW. Perhaps I’m wrong and misguided. Be that as it may, I have spent the majority of my 53+ years within a tradition which taught much the same as CBMW and in the not too distant past realized that much of the evidence for said position was more a reflection of cultural perspective than a Jesus perspective. And the same can be said for a radical, fundamental Egalitarian perspective.
I hope that in this somewhat lengthy response I haven’t used up too much of your storage space ;o)
Tom
Jill, thanks for the tip. I just finished reading “Reimagining Church.” I loved it! It really spoke to my heart. My husband is reading it now and he can’t put it down. He’s having a real shift in his thinking. I love the vision it lays out.