The Church and Her Leaders

Hebrews 13:17-19

January 6, 2002

 

I cannot begin to tell you how many "church horror stories" I've heard throughout my years in ministry. By this I refer to the repetitive nature of churches in conflict over a variety of issues, but ultimately rooted in a failure of leaders leading and/or congregations following. Sometime leaders attempt to lead and congregations do not follow. On other occasions, leaders fail to give biblical leadership and congregations, though willing to follow, flounder in spiritual inertia. Great conflicts naturally ensue.  Both church leaders-elders, deacons, pastors, staff, teachers-and congregations must be diligent in understanding and following the biblical patterns for church life. The relationship of leaders and congregations really set the tone for true spiritual growth and development. I believe that Hebrews sets forth a great example of this truth.

 

No one would disagree that Hebrews is a massive doctrinal epistle. Its content rivals that of any portion of Holy Writ for depth, richness, clarity, and forcefulness in explaining Christ and the gospel. Yet with all of the doctrinal depth, Hebrews remains one of the Bible's most practical books. Its pastoral implications shine throughout the epistle. The writer had no desire to launch into minutiae, but rather he sought to bring a congregation of believers into a steady, focused, and persevering walk with Jesus Christ.

 

I do not think that the elders and teachers in the church as a whole had forsaken their responsibilities-at least there is no indication of this in the epistle. Obviously they had been faithful in their work though the congregation had balked at following them, so an exhortation is given to remember the spiritual leaders who had already passed from the scene, and imitate their faith (13:7). Now the pastoral writer brings up the current leaders, and the need for the congregation to follow their spiritual leadership. Both of these exhortations (verses 7 and 17) indicate the connection between the doctrine set forth and its application in daily walk.

 

That is why we find the string of pointed applications in the last chapter: doctrine is always applicable to daily life. The specific help for applying the teaching of God's Word, our writer explains, is found in the congregation's spiritual leaders. Leaders are to lead and congregations are to follow. The result is a New Testament Church. How does this flesh out in the ongoing life of the church? This is where our text is of great help to us.

 

I. Leaders who lead

 

Our text provides instruction for leaders and the congregation, so I want to begin with the leaders. There is no shortage on leadership books, principles, and seminars in our day. But I would say that there are shortages in godly leaders. Every church needs a plurality of men who will faithfully exemplify the Christian life and clearly articulate the teachings of Scripture as they take care of the individual flocks that make up the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. What are leaders to be doing? While this text is by no means exhaustive it is helpful in 

directing leaders in how to lead.

 

1. Watchfulness

 

Our text tells us that spiritual leaders have the incredible demand of keeping watch over the church.  "For they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account."  The word for keeping watch is a strong one.  It pictures a shepherd who carefully and sacrificially keeps vigilant watch over his flock.  His concern for wolves coming in to snatch the sheep cause him to go without sleep and strain at discerning any cause of trouble. The word is also used militarily in soldiers guarding their post, keeping vigilance lest the enemy sneak into their midst to cause harm. Here it is keeping watch, "over your souls," which is another way of expressing the whole person in this context.

 

Spiritual leaders must maintain an alertness and discernment in attending to their duties with the church. Chiefly their duties involve the people who make up the church.  What kinds of things are they to watch on behalf of ("over" is better "on behalf of") the church?  First, they are to watch for dangerous doctrine and false teaching.  This is the clear example of the Apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus, "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.  I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.  Therefore be on the alert..." (Acts 20:28-31a).  Spiritual leaders need to keep their fingers on the pulse of the doctrine and teaching in a church.  Brethren, there are more heresies, half-truths, pseudo-doctrines being passed off as truth than we can imagine!  A few years ago we attended a church in Atlanta while visiting with relatives. The pastor read the Scripture and said, "May God bless His Spirit inspired Word so that it becomes the Word of God to us today."  That was right out of the pages of liberal, neo-orthodox theology that denies the full authority of Scripture.  It does not become the Word of God; it is the Word of God.  Those poor folks were being duped by this man's charisma in the pulpit.  They needed some spiritual leaders who could discern such slick teaching and address it in biblical fashion!

 

Add to this the countless false teachers on the airwaves and the cult groups that masquerade as Christian, and spiritual leaders will need to be on alert "full-time" due to the dangers facing the church. "Savage wolves" were not just 1st century phenomenon. Marauding packs continue to ravage churches with dangerous doctrines and false teaching. Spiritual leaders must stand in the gap against such error foisted on the church.

 

Second, spiritual leaders must keep on the alert for deceitful behavior within the church.  Tucked away in the little epistle of III John is the warning about Diotrephes who had grabbed the leadership reigns of a church as a dictator.  While he may have had the mask of orthodox words, he was actually self-centered and full of pride.  He sought to use the church to fulfill his own lust for power.  The Apostle John exposed his deceitful behavior and calls on the church to resist such wickedness.

 

Third, spiritual leaders must keep alert to divisive actions.  There are times when I wish we could close our eyes, make a wish, and watch all divisiveness in churches blow away.  But that is not reality.  We will always face that battle in the church of Jesus Christ.  Spiritual leaders have the responsibility to stand firm against it, rebuking, admonishing, and even leading the way in exercising discipline to stem such ripping of the church.  "Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned," Paul instructed Titus (Titus 3:10-11).  None of these things are popular things to do in a church.  But it is the lot of spiritual leaders who would "keep watch over your souls."

 

2. Accountability

 

As a pastor and elder in this church, there is no more alarming thought for me than the one found in this verse: "for they keep watch over your souls as those who will given an account." There is certainly a sense that leaders must give account of their time and ministry to the church. That in itself holds awesome responsibilities as those who take seriously their leadership charge realize that a portion of the body of Christ expects faithfulness and diligence in the duties given to them. I sense this accountability as your pastor. You do not take lightly the work of ministry-and you never should. You need to maintain high expectations from spiritual leaders both in terms of personal walk with Christ, ministering the Word, and setting an example for the body.

 

But the accountability spoken of this in this passage points to another day-the great day of accounting when we all stand before the Lord in judgment. Just as James explains that teachers "will incur stricter judgment," spiritual leaders face a time of giving an account of how they discharged their responsibilities as shepherds of the flock of God (James 3:1; I Pet 5:4). It is the same word used in I Pet 4:5 when Peter speaks of judgment and the accounting that will be given by all men. But here it pointedly reveals more intense scrutiny by the eye that sees all, and the mind that knows all. This is why Paul prefaced his exhortation to Timothy to "preach the word," by reminding him, "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead" (II Tim 4:1). "In the presence of" is more literally rendered, "in the face of God." Because the relationship of doctrine and practice is tied so closely to the leadership of those in charge of God's flock, the Lord alerts his undershepherds that a time of accounting will take place. I want to challenge all the spiritual leaders in this congregation to remember that when our day is done, we will give an account for the discharge of our responsibilities in this church. Let us live and serve as those who will provide details of our ministries to the Lord of the Church.

 

3. Seriousness

 

This inevitably suggests that seriousness accompanies spiritual leadership. This means that wearing a title of pastor, elder, or deacon demands more than simply bearing a title. It calls for serving in good conscience and due diligence.

 

Evidently there had been charges or rumors to the contrary concerning the pastor who penned this epistle. Some had attacked him, perhaps viciously as the Corinthians and Galatians did Paul, charging that he had been a slacker or that he was out for personal gain or that he was poor in his leadership. We can only guess the charges, but we do see his quiet response: "for we are sure that we have a good conscience." That is an odd statement unless the writer was responding to charges leveled against him. He sees no need to give a lengthy explanation. His epistle has certainly verified the excellence of his grasp of God's Word, his love for the gospel, and his passion for this congregation's spiritual growth. So he needed only to affirm, "For we are sure that we have a good conscience." The "we" is called an epistolary pronoun, which means that the "we" actually served as a substitute for "I". Lest we think that he was boasting he quickly asserts his desire to be honorable in his Christian ethics: "desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things." It was not a confession of having arrived spiritually, but one that affirmed this pastor's own seriousness in exercising his ministry.

 

There is one other note about the seriousness of leaders leading. It is found in the second sentence of verse 17, "Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you." Christian leadership is not without emotion! "Joy" and "grief" are two very different terms that characterize the emotional response to the demands upon Christian leaders. "Let them do this," (a present subjunctive verb that takes on a hortatory sense) commands action on the part of the church. They were not to attempt neutrality in their response to leadership, but to so respond that their leaders might carry out their duties "with joy and not with grief." Leaders cannot find joy or grief unless they take seriously their responsibilities. Joy comes when the leader senses that Christ is being formed in the church (Gal 4:19), while grief results in seeing either rebellion against the Word or apathy toward spiritual disciplines.

 

4. Conduct

 

The previous thoughts regarding leaders inevitably points to his conduct. If he is watchful of the congregation it is only because he has first guarded his own heart. If he knows that a day of accounting will come before the Chief Shepherd, then he desires to guard his conduct in answer to that day. If he takes his charge seriously, then he will watch his own life that is to serve as a model for the flock (13:7). Hence the plea for prayer is given, "Pray for us," and the reason, "desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things." "Desiring" is a strong word, expressing the deepest wish and longing of the spiritual leader's heart. He knows that along with his congregation, he is a sinner and in constant need of grace. He knows that he cannot just preach and teach and implore others while neglecting his own conduct. He knows that he has weaknesses that the adversary would gladly exploit. He knows that he grows tired and weary, and even has those times that he would throw off the yoke of spiritual leadership for lesser accountability. And so, knowing all this, he urges the church to pray for him that his deepest longing of honorable conduct "in all things" might be fulfilled.

 

When all is said and done, a spiritual leader may not be a great preacher or teacher, he may lack administrative skills, he may falter in his abilities to counsel, he may struggle with stamina for his duties, but he must not dishonor the noble office entrusted to him by the church through failing in his conduct. Other things are important, but the spiritual leader's conduct as a Christian serves as the foundation for the whole of his ministry. Neglect this, and his ministry is negated. But honor the Lord in this, and even with weaknesses, he will prove to be faithful.

 

II. Congregations who follow

 

What about the congregation? Faithful leaders must also have faithful congregations, or else their whole labor will be "with grief" rather than joy.

 

1. Obedience & submission

 

Perhaps the most difficult part of this text is found in the opening words of verse 17:  "Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account."  The words "obey" and "submit" conjure thoughts of wicked slave owners who are cracking a whip to bring his slaves under servile obedience.  But that is foreign to the idea of this text.  Let's consider what it says and see the responsibility that God has given to each of you in the church.

 

Spiritual leaders have the responsibility of keeping watch "over your souls," that is, on behalf of your life. God has given protection to the church.  He does not desire anyone in the church to stumble by false teaching or enticement to sin or the allurements of the world.  He has given us ample warnings of all these things in His Word.  He has given us the holy example of our Lord as well as that of the apostles and believers through the centuries (cf. chapters 11-12:1-3). But in the great mercy of God, He has placed spiritual leaders among you who have the responsibility to be vigilant in recognizing those things that would hinder you spiritually, then to deal with it as effectively as they can.

 

For instance, when a false teaching arises among the churches, those who are spiritual leaders are to stand against it for the sake of their own flock that they serve.  They are to prove biblically the error being thrown upon unsuspecting Christians, they are to expose it, warn of its danger, and seek to keep the church from a spiritual harm's way. My brethren, do you take this ministry of spiritual leaders too lightly? Do you know the vigilance that is required just to recognize false teaching?  Do you understand the agony that is involved in trying to deal with error, often in the face of misunderstanding and popularity of the error?

 

How do you respond to those who "keep watch over your souls"? (1) You can obey and submit to them or (2) you can stiffen and rebel against them. There is no middle ground, for apathy is simply quiet rebellion.  If you see the value of spiritual leadership and you recognize that God has placed that leadership in the church for your benefit, then the only response is to obey and submit to such spiritual leaders.  If you rebel then you are involved in spiritual anarchy.  John Chrysostom, the "Golden-tongued preacher" of the 4th century wrote:  "Anarchy is an evil, the occasion of many calamities, and the source of disorder and confusion:"...moreover, "a people that does not obey a ruler is like one that has none, and perhaps even worse" [quoted by Philip Hughes, The Epistle to the Hebrews, 585-586].

 

Both "obey" and "submit" are present imperatives, showing constancy on the part of the church. The obedience called for does not imply becoming "man-followers" rather than followers of Christ.  Following Christ is our priority and we are to follow spiritual leadership only as it imitates Christ and follows the teaching of the Word.  We are never to obey and submit in areas that are clearly in conflict with the teaching of Scripture.  There are some who use these verses to claim absolute authority, but that belongs only to the Lord.  A simple rule of thumb is that "sanctified common sense" must be used in obeying and submitting to spiritual leaders.

 

These verses refer to obedience and submission in the realm of the church and the spiritual life.  They do not imply that spiritual leaders have authority to dictate your personal affairs as relates to finances, business decisions, and even whom you will marry. Certainly they can offer counsel in these areas, and may even exhort you in godly wisdom, but never control. They watch over your souls, not your bank accounts.

 

Spiritual leaders are those who are speaking the Word to the congregation and giving them an example to follow.  It is in this context that we can see the need to obey and submit. "Obey," caries the idea of obediently following someone because you trust him. The implication is that the church hears the leaders' teaching of the Word and sees their seriousness in following the teaching of Scripture, so they obediently do likewise. "Submit," recognizes the God-ordained authority established in the church for order and direction. The congregation submits or places itself under the leadership of its spiritual leaders, complying with their direction and teaching.

 

Our lives are best regulated and governed when we walk in submission to the authority that God has placed in our lives.  And in the church that authority is found in those whom God raises up as spiritual leaders.  "Submission to authority is absolutely necessary for the proper ordering of society, and the church of God is no exception.  Indeed, submission to authority is often a test of our submission to God" [Biblical Eldership, Alexander Strauch, 160]. So "obey" and "submit" are not ugly terms but orderly terms for life in the church.

 

2. Profit or loss

 

Verse 17 ends with an earnest plea, "Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you."  The responsibilities and demands upon spiritual leaders are weighty.  They are to give leadership to the congregation in the ways of God.  They are to teach and exhort them in the doctrines of God's Word.  They are to live exemplary lives to assist the congregation with having living models of the Christian faith.  And they are to constantly watch over the souls of the congregation, guarding them from deceitful error, sin, and worldliness.  In light of all this, the responsibility of the church is to "let them do this with joy and not with grief."

 

Elders and deacons are to find their greatest delights in carrying out their weighty responsibilities with their church!  It is to be a joy to lead, teach, give example, and watch over souls!  They are to constantly look forward to each day's challenge in spiritual leadership.  John MacArthur writes,

It is the responsibility of the church to help their leaders rule with joy and satisfaction.  One way of doing this is through willing submission to their authority.  The joy of our leaders in the Lord should be a motivation for submission.  We are not to submit begrudgingly or out of a feeling of compulsion, but willingly, so that our elders and pastors may experience joy in their work with us.  [New Testament Commentary: Hebrews, 446]

The attitude of the members of the congregation is essential in this.  If someone is jealous of those in spiritual leadership, then it will affect the joy of the spiritual leaders.  If someone resents having another over him in the ministry of the church, then it will create division and strife within the congregation.  My brethren, a world of trouble has been caused in churches just in this city because members of churches have rebelled against this clear teaching of Scripture. 

 

"Let them do this with joy," so what is the "this" of this text?  It is specifically that all-encompassing work of keeping watch over your souls.  You contribute to the overall effectiveness of this work by your attitude toward those God has placed as leaders in the body. "Grief" or "groaning," would be unprofitable for the church. It is caused by callousness to the Word, and arrogance toward spiritual leadership.

 

But this is not a one-sided joy.  The text goes on to point out that to neglect obedience and submission to your leaders "would be unprofitable for you."  The word literally means "harmful" for you. I think the plural pronoun "you," makes this a clear reference to the church.  The whole church will find it harmful even when a few are rebelling against the spiritual leadership of the church.

 

Now why is this so?  We are mysteriously woven together in the bonds of Jesus Christ as the church.  Every local church expresses that uniqueness of being a visible expression of the body of Christ.  Every church becomes a family of believers who must learn to live with each other, labor with each other, learn with each other, and face the adversities of life with each other.  When one is joyful all are to be joyful.  When one is grieving all are to be grieving with him.  By that same rule, when someone in the church is rebellious or even secretly agitated toward the spiritual leadership of the church, it has an affect upon the whole church.  One person's attitude affects the whole church.

 

3. Urgency in prayer

 

And so with all the responsibilities given to spiritual leaders and the congregation, this pastor asks them to pray for him. "Pray for us," he implores, so that he might conduct himself honorably as a Christian and pastor. Then he adds a note of urgency. The language brings this out. "And I urge you all the more to do this [And more earnestly I exhort you this to do], so that I may be restored to you the sooner." We do not know what hindered the pastor from returning to this church over which he had given spiritual leadership. He states shortly that Timothy had been released, presumably from prison, and that he planned to come with him. Whatever the hindrance, he understood that to overcome it would require the intervention of God. He needed the prayers of this congregation in order to live honorably before the Lord and to be positioned to fulfill his responsibilities with the church.

 

Here is the point in simplicity. Not only does the church need spiritual leaders, but also spiritual leaders need the church and its prayers. While this pastor's particular needs may be different than the leaders in our church, the need for the prayers of God's people called South Woods is still paramount. Without your faithful praying our ministry will not succeed. But with it, there is no limit to what our gracious God might be pleased to do through this congregation. So, joining with my first century counterpart, I urge you to pray for the leaders of this congregation. Pray for our Christian walks and discipline. Pray for our roles as husbands and fathers. Pray for our grasp and understanding of the Word. Pray for our preaching and teaching the Word. Pray for our times of counseling and witnessing. Pray for our times of direction and decision-making. Pray, that in the end we might all serve Christ together with joy to his glory alone!

 

Conclusion

 

Let us labor together as church leaders and congregation for the sake of the gospel of Christ. Each of us has roles to fulfill. Let us be found faithful!

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