Yesterday, we looked at part of a letter in our bibles that revealed the reality that Christians act unchristian by acting arrogantly towards leadership when we fail to respect their role in the spiritual growth that occurs in a church. But Paul also shows us another way that we can fail as Christians to respect the role that leadership plays in a local church:
"For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now." 1 Corinthians 4:9-13
In these verses we see that the members of the church in Corinth failed to respect leadership's role in advancing God’s kingdom mission. Paul continues his sarcastic rant to expose the church of Corinth’s false view of themselves as a result of their spiritual pride. Paul begins by explaining that he considers that it is probable that God considers the apostles and the leaders of the early church as having the lowest possible rank and status in society. He continues by stating that it seems that God has placed them in Corinth so that the Corinthians would view them as condemned men that are there for the amusement of the church members, the world, and the supernatural beings.
Paul then exposes how the Corinthians view themselves as opposed to Paul and the other apostles with three striking comparative phrases. First, Paul explains that the members of the church of Corinth viewed themselves as having the spiritual insight and wisdom that Paul and others lacked. Second, Paul states that the members of the church at Corinth viewed themselves as spiritually strong, healthy and effective in ministry, while Paul was viewed as ineffective and unimpressive. Finally, Paul explains that while the church at Corinth were viewed as highly respected and having status and esteem, Paul was viewed with contempt and a lack of respect.
Paul then makes a shift from sarcasm to reality by explaining the difficulties that a missionary and church planter like himself experienced. Paul reveals that reality that missionaries and church planters often experience a lack of resources, and mistreatment or abuse from the very people that they are attempting to reach with the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel. Paul explains that he and other missionaries and church planters respond to the rejection and persecution that comes with their role in what God is doing in the world by praying for God’s blessing and power to impact others as they undergo suffering without giving in to it. In addition, missionaries and other church planters and leaders respond to slander and criticism of their ministries by having a “my door is always open” attitude that invites engagement with those who are critical.
Paul's point here is that Christians act unchristian when we have a low view of a leaders service to the Lord. Christians act unchristian when we view leaders with contempt. Christians act unchristian when we minimize the price that leaders pay in order to serve the Lord and advance His kingdom.
So, how do you view those who lead your church? And how should we view those who serve in leadership of a local church?
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