Part Five
“Good Reputation a Qualification of Leaders”
When talking about being a “bondservant” of Christ, we have to take the Word of God and rightly divide it to come to the correct teaching about what it means to be a true bondservant. Should we be concerned about our reputations? Evidently so, because when Paul was instructing Timothy about the qualifications for a leader in the church, he said in 1 Timothy 3:7 AMP “Furthermore, he must have a good reputation and be well thought of by those outside [the church]…” The entire chapter of 1 Timothy 3 instructs those who are leaders in varying capacities to be mindful of their behavior so that they will represent Christ Jesus in an honorable way. The Bible even says that your children must behave well – Lord have mercy!
Have you ever seen the driver of a car with a religious bumper sticker exhibiting bad driving manners? This example sounds a little foolish, but it’s true that those who are not Christians are always watching because they know a Christian is theoretically expected to be ‘Christ-like’. Then, when they aren’t – it brings reproach not only on the person exhibiting the bad behavior, but also on Christ Jesus himself. “Well, if that’s the way a Christian acts, I want no part of that. What a hypocrite!” And that goes double if the person is the known leader of a Church.
Does being a bondservant of Christ mean that you will never behave badly, or that your flesh will never show up and show out, as they say? Does it mean that we will never sin?
Does being a leader in the Body of Christ demand that all people everywhere think well of you?
I sure hope not – for if it does, I am completely undone.
But getting back to leaders: Several of the Disciples of Christ described themselves as bondservants in the Bible. Beginning as Disciples, and then later on, as Apostles – all of them were bondservants. In the leadership of the Church as described in Ephesians 4:11,12 God gave Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry and to build up the Church. Other leadership offices mentioned in the Bible were Deacon, Bishop and Elder.
For those who lead in the Church, a good reputation is a requirement. But in our next conversation, we’ll balance the letter of the ‘law’ with the spiritual principles of mercy, grace and love, remembering that Satan is the ‘accuser’ of the brethren. We’re not going to excuse sin, but we will talk about how God’s chosen leaders struggled with their flesh.
And I promise you we will get to the topic of Christ making Himself of no reputation.
We will come back to this series “On Being a Bondservant of Christ” after this coming week’s program with Philip Cameron. Be sure to tune in for a heart-stirring time with us on the show.
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 1
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 2
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 3
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 4
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 6
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 7
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 8
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 9
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 10
Talk about reputation in leadership, Wow! I just had a leader in the church call me. We are going to be moving this month, and so another woman in the church, who sincerely wanted to help contacted this leader, of good reputation in the church, to try and find some willing people. So he called me and asked me what day we were moving, if we still needed help, etc. (Now this leader is often up front in the church leading Bible studies, ushering, Evangelism and such.) I was surprised at his next statement. ” Why don’t you call one of the other leaders to help you? My Bible study is full of women. I don’t have time that day.” A little background: (Because I had a tragic car accident three years ago, I am paralyzed from the chest down, including my hands.) I proceeded to let him know that women would be quite helpful and my predicament. Again, he said, “Why don’t you tell your husband to call the other leader.” I asked him if he could maybe call the other leader and let him know of our circumstance and that we needed help. Again, he told me for the third time, “Why don’t you have your husband call the other leader?” Thanks you for the leadership on the Jim Bakker Show. I called later that day to make a donation, and they asked if I needed prayer and prayed for me. I want to make it clear there are many true bond servants in my church; but I could not help myself when I blurted out on the phone, “You are like a whitewashed tomb, good day sir!” Matthew 23:27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28; even so, you also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. James 4:17 To one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
I am glad you are speaking of this. Many of the leaders in O.T.
made some serious wrong choices. I wandered why God allowed this
in scripture. Then I realized, because we saw the end result,
it gives the rest of us who have miserabley failed in some form
or another. Hope. Even researching the earthly lineage of Christ
I found some who were not perfect. Only Christ is perfect, but in
leadership positions the standard is even higher. Good word