Leading the church as the Lord's people means that what He expects of them and from them I must lead them to the broad place of honoring Him. What matters most in leading them is the pleasure of the Lord and not, chiefly, the pleasure of the people. It is certain that those we lead we desire that they find pleasure in the Lord and be joyful. This does not mean, however, that such joy and pleasure by the ultimate guidance of a pastor's leadership.
Timothy had such challenge as he pastored the church at Ephesus. He was young and timid. Reflecting on those two traits it is odd to see how Paul even chose him to lead. What this conveys is that none of us are what we should be as leaders and all of us need someone to help cultivate strong vibrant leadership. Whatever our struggles are or may be, these do not hinder our usefulness to and for others but not being humble enough, as young leaders, to follow wise and tested leaders, can prove to be catastrophic.
A large reason for this is because leadership, if not guarded, can quickly turn into self-centered pursuits that see the church to personal ends. When this happens what is really required for those you lead is lost: their growth in and modeling of holiness before the Lord. Pastors, who have the wrong view of the church as their church will show this by not practicing a disciplined process of correction.
Church discipline, as it historically has been called, is a required feature or mark of the church. This practice, while feeling punitive, is a protection of the purity of the church and individuals. It is not only an act of discipline, but it is a genuine mark of love for the Lord, the church, and people. The Hebrew writer put it this way,
"And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not
regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord
disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives”
(Hebrews 12:5–6).
Pastors who love the Lord's people will desire their holiness and, as a result, they will practice processes that seek to cultivate lives of progressive sanctification. One reality that makes this process necessary is the interconnected aspect of the body and the implication of private sin to the body as a whole. When sin goes unaddressed it become venomous to the body. Paul put it this way:
When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the
power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the
flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. Your boasting is not good. Do
you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump (1 Corinthians 5:4–6)?
When a lifestyle of sin is tolerated, people are hurt, physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. When Paul says "Your boasting is not good" he means that when ongoing sin is tolerated in a church and, at the same time, that church believes itself to be effective and honorable to the Lord, this is a clear sign that something is seriously off. This church is missing the fact of its slow demise because tolerated sin in individuals necessarily leads to an infection in the whole church.
A pastor who loves the people of God as God's treasure and who desire to be faithful stewards over this treasure will have to speak to and deal with sin in the camp. A large part of this will come through faithful teaching, preaching and discipleship. The Word is the Sword, able to speak directly to specific actions of sin. It is also a two-edged sword, piercing deeply into the hearts of men, exposing their hearts to their minds, enabling repentance. This is the way we most hope correction happens. However, the means to this end, though neglected, is submitting unrepentant saints to the process of discipline outlined in Matthew 18:15-18.
I do not like to refer to this passage as "church discipline" but rather as "biblical restoration." At the heart of this passage is the Lord's desire for the erring brother or sister to be restored in fellowship with the Lord and with the church. Even Paul said, "to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 5:5, emphasis added).
Pastors who do not practice correction are only helping people to continue in a path of deepening prodigality (being a prodigal) and its consequences. They are not helping but hurting the church. Jesus lays out a plan for correction that pastors and elders - all of us who pastor His Bride - would do well to cultivate. Jesus instructed:
15. “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.
If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or
two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or
three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to
listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector" (Matthew
18:15–18)
How does one begin to cultivate a culture where the teaching of our Lord can be practiced? Below is a small sample of what must be taught and understood if this passage will be obeyed in the church:
Teach on the doctrine of progressive sanctification.
Teach individuals how to pursue reconciliation when offenses occur in the light of Christ's pursuit and establishing our reconciliation with the Lord.
Teach about the implications of the church being the Body of Christ so that all understand the need to help each other to grow in Christ.
Teach that there is a form of judgment that is necessary to eliminate the false notion that all judging is sinful.
Teach discernment so that when witnesses are needed, they are spiritually mature and able to divide a situation to see it clearly.
Teach on spiritual warfare, showing that acts of sin are weapons in the hands of the enemy to destroy individuals and churches.
May the Lord help all of us who serve His church to equip the people to meet Him.