I first received this earlier this week from Todd Rhoades at Monday Morning Insight. Like Todd, I thought that this was amusing. To give credit where it is due, the card can be found originally at Indexed.
After a good laugh, one born out of knowing both secular and sacred work situations to which this card applies, I asked myself what does this say about the prevalent styles of leadership in the church. Are we epitomizing Christlike leadership styles, or are we using power and coercion to aid our own ambition and flesh? Excuse me in advance, I may rant just a bit.
Let me be honest. The more I see the entourages that are requisite for many of today’s emulated church leaders (megachurch pastors, bishops, apostles, and the like), the more I wonder where the notion of servant leadership has gone. Many of today’s church leaders (I have chosen to leave the excesses of secular leadership alone for the moment) speak little of their role as servants, choosing instead to tout ther role as examples of how God desires “all” of His children to be blessed.
As a result, many of them require blind acceptance of many extra- or unbiblical practices of excess. Requirements for staff positions include losing one’s voice, extra-humility, and extreme levels of service. Listen, before you get upset and accuse me of believing the church to be a democracy, I don’t totally disagree with humility, service, or submission. My extreme disagreement is with what appears to be the transformation of the Lord’s church into a pyramid scheme, where those at the top are excused from the very things everyone else is required to live by. This isn’t the picture of Jesus that I see in Scripture.
Jesus tells his disciples in Matthew 20:25-28, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Many argue that Paul says, “In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:14).” Again, with this I do not argue. However, Paul also says, “But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting (1 Corinthians 9:15).” Just because it is a right, doesn’t mean it must be used. Additionally, I believe that what is going on currently is far in excess of anything meant in Scripture.
As it pertains to leading people into righteousness, and work for the Lord, the authority of church leaders is unquestionably Scriptural. We are called to submit to, pray for, and honor those in leadership over us. As it pertains to building personal fiefdoms, asking for total submission is out of order. What do you think?