Many have experienced a variety of approaches to Church government at the human level. A widely accepted government in the Churches was a more autocratic, authoritarian style. It was government from the top-down, investing a large amount of authority in the one at the top. Eventually this led to a more “lordship” style of leadership within the Church. It was not an altogether illogical deduction from a human point of view.
God’s governance is from the top down. It flows from the Father to His Son, the head of the Church, to the human chain of responsibility. When the Father and the Son are kept in view, governance in the Church should follow the God family model. God is a family so some have tried to adopt a family-style form of governance within their Churches. We believe in hierarchy – family style hierarchy (Ephesians 5:21-33). The hierarchy leads from the human level to Christ and the Father.
On the human level there is structure. But more important is the attitude within that structure. The head of a family has an unchallenged position of authority given to him by God. He is to use that authority to express love to his wife and family. He is to love his wife as Christ loves the Church. As Christ gave Himself for the Church, so the husband is to love his wife as his own body. The husband’s love is derived from his submission to his head – Christ. He is to use that love to guide his wife and family into a relationship with Christ and ultimately to the Father. This is family style governance at the human level.
The ministry is to equip the saints to edify the body of Christ and to assist members to grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Jesus Christ. Just as the husband is to do. Below are our thoughts about how to “edify the body of Christ”.
- Be a leader, not a driver.
- Inspire by your example. Lead, don’t drive. Some begin to be overlords – heavy handed.
- Christ is love. Have an outgoing concern for those under Him.
- Ministers must avoid running others’ lives.
- Ministers are there to serve them – not primarily to have them serve us.
- The Ministry is not to be rank-conscious.
- The Ministry are not policemen. They are not to be dictators.
Here is one last important comment: Originally, the Methodist movement was very fervent – but after Wesley died, this fervency died out. This type of situation could be repeated with any other group if they are not careful.
All these comments are appropriate for any in a position of leadership – within families or within the Church. Some prefer a more rigid governance style as it gives them security through firm guidelines. God’s law provides strong guidelines, but the response to them must come from an internal motivation and desire. Family governance based on the God family model requires personal submission and motivation. No one can work out our salvation for us. The Father and Jesus Christ will provide spiritual growth and development for the children of the God family.
Brian Orchard