A casual study of the
history of Christianity after the days of the apostles reveals that the
two things from which the Lord's religion has suffered more than any
other, are human philosophies and human leadership. Human leadership
inevitably leads men into human errors. The prophet Jeremiah had no
doubt seen enough of human leadership to have said what he did, even if
he hadn't been inspired, when he said, "O Jehovah, I know that the way
of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his
steps."
(Jer.
10:23)
Sometimes we begin to
reason: "What the church needs today is a great leader, one raised up to
lead us out of the present confusion, and direct us in an aggressive
campaign against our external foes." But on second thought this is the
very last thing we need, for no religious movement built around human
leadership has been successful in accomplishing the divine purpose.
History is replete with illustrations. The great movements of the
reformation, the Mormon church built around the leadership of Smith and
Young, and even some modern movements within our own brotherhood.
It isn't "leadership" so
much as "follow-ship" that the church needs. Jesus claimed to be the
leader, when He declared Himself "the good shepherd," "the way," "the
light of the world" to be followed; and announced to His disciples, if
any man would come after me, let him deny himself... and follow me." It
is not a leader," therefore that we need, for we have one, a divine one;
but the need is for the disposition to follow where He leads.
A tendency is sometimes
found today to glorify "boy preachers." Having just recently graduated
from the class of "boy preachers" myself, it would be most unbecoming on
my part to say anything disparagingly of them. The attitude of most of
them is better than that of many of the older preachers. But when one of
them is over-exalted he looks upon himself as "the leader," a modern
Moses to lead the church out of Egypt and through the wilderness. In
this he loses sight of his real mission, which is to point people to the
Christ, the real leader. Trouble inevitably follows.
Other young preachers,
and some older ones, feel that the first thing to be done when they go
into a place is to "appoint elders" over the congregation. The argument
is, "the church needs leaders." No, the need is not for leaders, it is
for "elders." If a man is not qualified for the work of an elder, he is
not what God wants in as an elder, regardless of how good a "leader" he
may be. In fact, his ability to lead without the qualifications of an
elder is the very point of danger. One function of an elder is to be an
"ensample to the flock." He is an ensample worthy of being followed only
as he follows Christ, and in his following leads others to follow Him.
One who allows himself to be "appointed" without the necessary
qualifications further disqualifies himself by that very thing. For in
failing to respect the New Testament in the point of elder
qualifications, he shows himself a poor ensample to be followed at all.
It is "followers" not "leaders" that are most needed today.
Suppose we consider the
challenge of sectarianism. Some of us think it would be fine if we had a
good leader to guide us in the fight against these foes of truth. The
fact is, we have such a leader. Jesus met the devil in debate soon after
his baptism, which was not a spectacular affair before a large audience
of people, but except for the possibility of heavenly on-lookers it was
strictly private. Immediately afterward He began meeting the devil's
children, the Pharisees, who were the sectaries of that day. He has
opened the way and is leading. Christians need simply to follow the
leader in carrying the attack to all sectarianism, in private
discussions or with them in groups as opportunity affords. He is all the
leader needed; we need to follow the example. God never left the work of
"defending the faith once for all delivered unto the saints" solely for
preachers and "leaders," but for all of His children.
Then there is the
challenge of work, the work left to be done by the church. The cry made
so often is, "We have no leaders to direct us, to tell us what to do."
Why yes we have, there is the example of Christ, of whom Peter said,
"Because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that ye should
follow in his steps"; "who went about doing good." Every needy person
whom He met, either in need of physical help or of spiritual help, was
an opportunity. Every opportunity to serve was an opportunity in which
to glorify His father by that service. What greater leader could one ask
for than the Saviour?
It is not even a "leader"
that we need to lead the church out of any difficulties and differences
that arise within its own ranks, but rather the need is for a
disposition on the part of all to follow the Christ, whose way is bound
to lead all aright. Difficulties and differences are bound to eventually
iron themselves out when the right disposition is manifested by all.
Often Jesus looked upon lost humanity as "sheep having no shepherd;" a
world suffering from human leadership. But this need not be true of us,
for Christ is the Shepherd, and for one today to be the victim of human
leadership is inexcusable.
Instead of talking
"leadership" and "leaders" so much, as is being done in preacher's
meetings and other similar places, let's put the emphasis on "following"
for a while. No truly godly man wants to be "the leader of the church,"
nor does he want to "rule" it; he realizes that true greatness according
to Christ's standard is to be realized in being a "servant of all." The
truly great and godly is content to follow Christ, and simply insist on
others following Him. It seems to me that the work of elders and
preachers is not so much that of being "leaders," but it is that of
instructing and guiding others to be followers of the Lord, as they
themselves follow Him.
Just as surely as men
learn that the need is for followers and not leaders, just that surely
will the church be led in triumph from victory unto victory. Not only
the church, but humanity will be led out of any chaos into which human
leadership has brought it, either political, doctrinal, or moral. --
Bible Banner
- October 1941
