Church Leadership Integrity

Food for Thought

Most of us have had good, bad or indifferent experiences of
Church 'Christain' Leadership. On thinking about these things, the
questions arises, How do we know when we are being treated fairly and
with integrity? Paul says, "Have this attitude in yourselves which
was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5)." But what is the attitude
of heart that we should seek?

Chuck Swindoll gives some good principles of what we should beware of
and recognise in the attitude of our leaders. That is evidence of the
wrong attitude.

Beware of :

Authoritarianism or the lack of a servant's heart. This occurs when
the leadership has gone wild with a tyrannical, oppressive prideful
attitude. Don't suppress God's people. Respect them and encourage
them to be all God wants them to be. Don't abuse God's people. Christ
is Lord... not the pastor or anyone else in God's church.

Exclusiveness or the "I (or we) alone are all right" syndrome. "Only
we have the truth, or the best program." It constantly stresses the
idea that we are the only people God uses. No one else is as good,
doctrinally correct, blessed of God, filled with the Spirit, etc. God
has blessed me, or our group as the elite Christians. The emphasis is
on our distinctiveness, denominational pride, selective doctrine, a
special revelation or anointing from God, etc. The leader promotes a
clannish, cultic following, clicks, etc. The truth is in God's grace
there are no favorites. God does not play favorites with anyone. We
are saved by grace alone. There are no second-class citizens in the
Kingdom of God.

Greed or the money crazy theme. How much do you harp on money? What
is your motive? Even building yourself a name for a church with a big
budget falls prey to this abuse. As a pastor I don't handle money.
Let someone else do it. The church assigns a group of people to count
the money, the treasurer writes the checks and an audit committee
checks the books. Don't even find out who gives the most or how
frequently they give in your church. How do you handle money that
people hand to you and say use it were the greatest need is? Do you
continue asking for money after you know you have all the funds you
need for a certain project?

Rationalization or the the effort to justify wrong with a defensive
spirit. Are you quick to gloss over personal sin, make excuses or lie
about it? Are you over emphasizing or underemphasizing some area of
purity? What areas and why?

Unaccountability or the idea that I answer only to God and no one
else. As a pastor and a member of my church I am always accountable
to someone. I am accountable to the deacons, the deacons are
accountable to the church, and the church is accountable to one
another. Beware of the secretive, "I am accountable only to God and I
answer to no one else." No one is above accountability. Receive the
confrontation of friends and mentors and remind yourself that only
observed behavior changes.

So there is an insight in things to beware of. The list is good to
put in your Bible to remind yourself when it is time to leave.
Remember when spiritual abuse takes place in any congregation it is
time to go. No one should ever be spiritually abused.

So what is the right attitude?

The apostle in Philippians 2:5-11 is stressing the remedy to
spiritual abuse. His emphasis is on the character of God that is seen
in selfless service and obedience to Christ and others. Jesus Christ
is our perfect example of obedient service. His attitude runs counter
to the human tendency to dominate and control others for personal
gain. "Think in this way," Paul says, "just as Jesus Christ thought
in this way." That is the best safeguard we can have in the way we
handle life. Follow the example of Christ's selflessness, humility
and obedience. On various occasions Paul has used Christ's behavior
as an example for believers' lifestyle (Rom. 15:3-9; 2 Cor. 8:9; Eph.
5:1-2; Col. 3:3ff; 1 Tim. 6:13-16). Paul normally puts the emphasis
on living the Christian life in the believer's union with Christ and
the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 6:1-14; 1 Cor.6:11-20; Col.
3:1-4; Rom. 8:1-17; Gal. 2:16-20; 5:16-26). Here he tells us to
imitate the model of Christ.