God’s Influencers
Today’s church needs spiritual parents not just guardians, writes Eric Gaudion
Earlier this year I watched online with thanksgiving as a group of 25 men and women were ordained at the Birmingham City Church by members of Elim’s National Leadership Team. It was thrilling to see each of them testify to their love for the Lord and their gratitude for those who had been their spiritual parents and mentors on the road to ministry.
In every case there was a short video naming the names of their influencers and giving glory to God. St Paul was supremely an influencer. He fathered Timothy, Titus and so many more into service for the Lord. If he were working today, perhaps he might have had to write a job description for leadership in God’s church. He came close to doing so in 1 Corinthians 4.
Before applying for a role, especially in leadership, it is important to know what the expectations of it are. Yet the Apostle Paul set out a list of requirements and tasks that would cut most modern applications pretty much to zero! Paul was not trying to shock. He was acting out of a need to defend himself and his team from attacks by itinerant Bible teachers who were leading the early Christians astray. He did not want to be part of any kind of celebrity cult, but he did feel that he deserved the support and prayers of the believers.
He asked that the Corinthian Christians regard him and his team as servants of Christ, for that is what they were, despite being treated as if they were only “the rubbish scraped off the plate and thrown away,” (Tom Wright, Paul for Everyone: 1 Corinthians).
So Paul set out his job description for those who would serve God in the church. It includes that they must be faithful, (4:2), have a clear conscience before God, (4:4), have a high view of Scripture, (4:6), recognise that their gifts are given to them by the Lord, (4:7), be willing to suffer, (4:11), be hardworking and raise their own support at times, (4:12), be forgiving, enduring and kind, (4:12) and even be willing to be treated as the scum of the earth! (4:13).
The Apostle went on to say that the church may have many guardians, but not many fathers. Guardians were household slaves given responsibility to educate the master’s children and supervise their childhood and adolescence. Today’s church is in need of fathers and mothers, not just guardians.
Only a parent can feel for their children and care for them in the way that Paul did. He became their father not only by virtue of having founded churches, but also in his willingness to lay down his life for their sakes. How sad it would be if church leaders saw themselves as mere guardians when God has called them to share his father’s heart towards his people. Jesus also warned in John 10:12-13, about the danger of false shepherds, ‘hired hands’ who abandon the flock at the first hint of danger. He contrasted that with his own ministry as ‘the good shepherd’ who lays down his life for the sheep. These comments were clearly aimed at the Jewish Pharisaic opponents of Christ, but they are relevant to Christian leadership and service in every age.
This is not, of course, about titles. Jesus spoke out against anyone being called ‘father’ by other believers. But the need for a parenting role in leadership was as clear in Paul’s day as it is in ours.
Can you think of those who have influenced your faith as Paul did for these Corinthians? Is God calling you to be a mother or father figure to younger or newer disciples of Jesus – an influencer in his Kingdom? The job description may be very demanding, and the role requirements that Paul sets out are not all attractive, but the spiritual benefits are out of this world!
Eric Gaudion is a retired Elim pastor and author of ‘Through the Storms’ and other books
This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.
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