Who's In Charge?

“He (Paul is talking about leaders) must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.” People look up to Christian leaders, expecting that the loving grace of God will shine through them. The apostle Paul considered it vital for Christian witness that overseers (elders and pastors) and deacons have a good reputation with those who don’t yet believe. Think about that: it matters to God what non-Christians think of our leaders! In 1 Timothy 3 Paul describes the ideal leader. God has called deacons, pastors, and elders to lead his church by example. They are to depend on God’s grace and keep holding on to the deep truths of the faith. If not, and if they yield to temptations regularly, it keeps the warmth of the Spirit of God from flowing through them. Instead, it’s like living with a cold draft. You know what that’s like; just think about how cold out it’s been. By opening one window in the winter, it can make a house miserably cold. It doesn’t matter if every other window is closed, and it doesn’t matter how well the walls are insulated. The house’s capacity for being warmth is compromised if we’re not living well. In the same way, Christians and non-Christians alike can pick up on the coldness or warmth of our hearts based on how we live and lead. As elder and deacons, that is a great and humbling responsibility. As a congregation, it is a reminder that we all contribute to the witness of God by caring about and praying for our leaders’ spiritual vitality. This week, as we continue in our sermon series on the church, may we all be reminded of who leads the church under Christ. And may we all be filled with the Holy Spirit! Grace & Peace, Pastor Aaron