Craig Gaunt

Epistles

Servant/Leader

              For a Christian, truth authority comes from submission to Christ. A godly leader will model Christ’s example in everything they do, say, and think out of love for him. A keystone for having authority in the life of the church is knowledge of the truth of the gospel. Peter does this well in Acts 10 when he recalls the facts and history of the good news and then goes on to testify boldly to the way Jesus has been working in believers’ lives (vv. 34-43). Not only this, Peter then asks a rhetorical question in verse forty-seven concerning the new believers being baptized, getting everyone to think and ponder over the issue. Peter never demanded blind obedience from fellow Christians but relied on the Holy Spirit to make the truth plain to them God’s will. Shortly after this Gentile event, when he was confronted by Jewish believers, Peter did not attack them but explained it what had happened. After they had heard the truth, they began praising God and their objections were silenced.

              Paul embodies this aspect of authority as well in Acts 26 when he testifies in his trial before Agrippa to what his life was before and after meeting the risen Christ (vv. 4-23). Additionally, Paul knew how to preach the gospel to people at their level and in their cultures and times (Acts 13, 17). Paul is exemplifying Jesus in that he associates with everyone in all places but never compromises his integrity, and followers of Christ need to serve even the “un-servable” (Mark 2:15; 1 Cor. 9:19-23). Paul also commands this to future leaders, reminding them that different groups have different needs and leaders must be sensitive to that (Titus 2:1-15). Not only outside the church walls is this necessary, but a leader must sometimes confront other prominent members and leaders when they are in the wrong and causing others to stumble (Gal. 2:11-21; 6:1-6). Paul wants leaders to correct the flock with the truth in Christ so that they are not judged by the world or false believers (Col. 2:6-23). Again, Jesus establishes this pattern when He even had to rebuke the disciples on several occasions for different reasons. He also used the truth to give foundation to his authority when he criticized the religious leaders on several occasions for their contempt for Him and the ways of God. As seen in Jesus, to beat temptation, a believer must stick to Scripture (Matt. 4:1-11).

              A leader must not only know the gospel but must live it in both loving submission and having authority. Anyone exercising godly authority must, as the top priority, put on the new self which is in Christ and be an example of him on earth (Eph. 4:20-5:31). Leaders who do this continually will be above reproach, have character, and will be faithful to the calling they have received (1 Tim. 3:1-13). Paul stresses the need for a godly lifestyle in numerous places throughout all of his epistles. In his first epistle, Peter adds a noteworthy point when he says that a true believer lives as a person set free by Christ’s gospel but does not “use that freedom to cover evil” (2:16, 17). In other words, one is freed from sin in order to become a slave to Christ. However, this is not based on fear but on love for God which brings any Christian to humbly submit to his will.

              Another characteristic of a servant-leader is having the humility to recognize one’s own shortcomings and the power of Christ to sanctify. The New Testament does not shy away from the flaws of Christ’s followers and Paul himself admits that he was the worst of sinners (1 Tim. 1:15). He writes that if one is going to remember past accomplishments, they must also keep in mind that in comparison to Christ and the relationship with Him, it amounts to nothing (Phil. 3:4-11). When those in Lystra tried to proclaim Paul and Barnabas gods, they quickly and powerfully made a point to emphasize their humanity and Christ’s divinity. Likewise, Peter did not allow Cornelius to bow to him and said that he too is only a man like Cornelius (Acts 10:25, 26). The first chapter of John’s first epistle stresses the need to admit one’s sins and always point to Christ for salvation.

              It is with this attitude of humility that believers must follow Christ’s words that to be a true disciple of Jesus, one must be the last and servant to all (Mark 10:42-45). One need only recall the familiar story of the Good Samaritan and the boundaries that he dared to cross to see this point. Jesus shows many times that godly leaders serve those that the world has forsaken and forgotten. He himself set the example by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and sharing the good news with those with whom normal people would never associate. He then instructs his followers to do likewise, provided examples like the act of feet washing, and predicted a time when he will reward those who do and punish those who do not (Matt. 25:31-46). Servants of Christ do not show favoritism to anyone no matter what categories they encounter (Js. 2:1-13). Indeed, Paul was not picky or selective in whom he preached to but proclaimed the gospel to everyone in all places. Peter also came to discover in his travels that God does not favor certain people above others but loves all equally, and so should we. Jesus said that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Likewise, Paul commands that servants of God not be a burden to anyone but should regard those they lead as loving, caring parents (1 Thes. 2:6-12).

              Being given authority in the church also requires that one undergo hardships. Suffering bolsters submission and reliance upon God but also is perceived as authoritative in the life of the church. After all, who better to speak authoritatively on matters of the Christian life than those who have had to live through it and all of the trials that it entails? Again, looking at Christ’s example, he never swayed from his mission from the Father, even enduring the cross and suffering when he had the power to escape it. He also warned that those who would be His followers would have a cross to bear and deny what they want in life. However, Paul writes in his epistle to the Romans that suffering would inevitably lead to hope which does not disappoint (5:3-5). Those who have submitted to godly suffering for the sake of Christ have the authority to instill hope in the lives of believers who are enduring similar trials. Suffering also produces the same compassion that Christ showed to countless people throughout his time on earth.

              Finally, godly leaders must lovingly submit to the Lord and to those they serve in order to be an example to follow. The best leaders utilize the gifts they see in others and use their authority to bring out and cultivate those gifts. Those they care for will not only become simple converts to Christianity but real disciples of Jesus, living out faith daily, and submitting to one other out of godly love. Not only this, but they will know the truth and this will give them the godly authority to guide and lead their own circle of influence. The bottom line is that authority must be grounded on love and submission to God.