How to Choose a Leader

Leadership

The position of leadership can take many forms.  There are Sunday School teachers, hall monitors, instructors, head tellers, department heads, police officers, lead surgeons, head detective, union reps, and the list goes on.  We are a people of titles and classification and the Scriptures speaks to us about respecting our leaders and obeying our masters whether they are saved or unsaved and doing it to the glory of God. (I Timothy 6:1-2) But what makes the position of leadership in the church any different from any other position in the world?

Choosing the Leaders

Paul writes to Timothy about the qualifications of overseers and starts out with an old saying, " If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good thing."  He is very specific as to the qualifications of a bishop and his position in the community as well as the church.  I Tim 3:2 states "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate (patient), sober-minded, of good behaviour, hospitable, able to teach; not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.  Moreover, he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."

Paul goes on to talk about Deacons in the church and how they need to be reverent and not gossips, greedy, or drinkers and "holding on to the mystery of the faith with clear conscience".  I just love that phrasing.  The mystery of the faith.  It almost gives the same precious preservation as the relationship of a man and woman to be husband and wife and preserving that intimacy until after the vows are spoken.  He also makes a point to say that they need to first be tested and THEN let them serve.

Making the Choice

It takes a strong person of character to stand up against a whole church when you believe a choice or action to be wrong.  The people who hold the church accountable cannot be embarrassed or wavering.  They must be strong and they must be sure to have Scripture to back up their words.  It is not something that is based on gut feeling but rather on the prompting of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.  We are responsible for choosing the right people as well as ensuring that our churches are strong, defensible, godly places where the world has no place except on their knees.  I implore you to take the stand and make a difference in your communities by holding your leaders to a standard that will glorify God and not just make the world "comfortable".  Put people in place that allow the Holy Spirit to work and convict and curl toes.