Question: I've been hurt in church. Can you help me with this? (pt. 3)

Question: You emphasize “the Church” a lot at The Haven, OPC.   I’ve been hurt by the way church leaders have used their authority in other churches I’ve been in.  Can you help me with this?

Pastor Bill responds (pt. 3): 

All authority in a church that would be governed by the Word of God (and all churches should have that commitment) is ultimately and actually the authority of God in Christ.   The apostle Paul described his work (and the work of all who would follow him as what we now call “Ministers”) as being “ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us:  We implore you (literally, “we beg you”) on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (II Cor. 5:20).  Later in that same book he entreated the church at Corinth “by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.” (II Cor. 10:1).   And all of this is done in the character of Paul’s favorite designation of himself:  Though he was an apostle, he also called himself a servant (Rom. 1:1, I Cor. 9:19, Gal. 1:10, Phil. 1:1, Titus 1:1) - a servant of God and to others., particularly to the churches and their members.

These verses, and many others, give us an absolutely awesome (and humbling) picture of what authority in the church should look like:

As an ambassador represents, in word and conduct, the national leader who commissioned him, those called thorough the church to serve as ministers are meant, in all their words and in all their conduct, to always (and everywhere) represent the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.

As official representatives of God, ministers and elders ought to represent that God (in all of what we call His “communicable attributes”): His holiness, His truth, His love, His mercy, His kindness, His grace, His long-suffering, His wisdom, His justice, and His goodness.   When people see and hear church officers (particularly ministers) they should see reflections (admittedly very imperfect ones) of God himself.  

That must come by ministers (and elders and deacons in their distinct offices) living in close communion with Jesus Christ.  Only by close communion with the One who had “grace poured upon His lips” (Psalm 45:2) will church leaders become men of gracious speech and conduct.   Only in daily coming to the One who said “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt 11:28,29. will church officers (especially; ministers) be the types of people who make others want to come to Christ.  Church authority flows from weary and heavy-laden men who find rest in Christ.  Because they have found Christ to be gentle and humble, they are gentle and humble as well.   No other church leadership befits the one who “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death…”  (Phil. 2:8)

And far from being lordly and domineering, those with authority in the church will always exercise that authority as servants, saying and demonstrating that they are, first and foremost,  “your servants for Jesus’ sake’" (II Cor. 4:5). 

If church authority was exercised more like this, there would be fewer hurts such as you have experienced.  May the Lord grant us all church leaders with the heart and mind of Christ.