Not so with YOU 3.2.2023

  Once again, our Master’s sheep have been harmed by a sinful shepherd. Those abused ache and question the truthfulness of a body which can be so hurtful. In addition to the personal trauma the reputation of the Church has been affected, impacting every congregation and every faithful Pastor. Why does this keep happening? Because we have let it happen. Not on a personal level but on a theoretical, architectural, and practical level. The most pervasive model for the contemporary Church is based (almost) entirely on the metric so ably articulated by Whoopi Goldberg in the movie Sister Act—Butts in the seats. While this might be satisfactory for sporting events, motion pictures, concerts, and other forms of entertainment, the New Testament does not offer this structure as a model for organizing the Church. 

Let’s begin by looking at something Jesus tells His disciples. 

“Mark 10:42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Mark 10:43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, Mark 10:44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”” (Mark 10:42–45 ESV)

When I translate this text myself, I don’t smooth it out. The context clearly signifies that Jesus is exasperated with the 12, practically blurting out a prohibition: “No! Not among you!” When sin is evidenced among the leaders of the Church—whatever the symptomatic presentation—power is the problem and control is the issue. Prior to looking at the NT models for the Church, we need to consider the abiding issue of Character. 

    For those of you who regularly follow this blog, you will recognize some familiar refrains. Those who lead the Church (Elders, Pastors, Preachers, Teachers) must have a Biblical foundation, a Theological framework, and a Pastoral focus. We are fallen sinners, redeemed by grace. Jesus sets an example for us. There are other Biblical examples of sinners just like us who are redeemed, gifted, and called to ministry. The temptation to power has always been there. We often fail to recognize it, particularly when it expresses itself in shiny new ways designed to “simplify” or “magnify” the work. There is no effortless way to do the right thing correctly. And there is no way to energize or magnify the work of God expressed through the Holy Spirit. We are called to bear witness to Christ, proclaim the word of God, and care for His sheep. Christian leadership's character is grounded in Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral practice. It is low and slow with a compounding impact on people who learn to trust you because you have earned their trust by not “moving fast and breaking things”, or falling into the trap of functionally driven, programmatic pragmatism.  If that isn’t enough for you, do something else—your power trips are killing us. 

    Now, I know that it seems like, particularly after that last sentence, I am a malcontent. That is not my intent. I love the Church, but I am wearied by the abuse which is heaped upon the Body of Christ. For crying out loud, many of the wounds are self-inflicted and avoidable. I am just trying to better tune up our avoidance mechanisms. This week let’s look at three stories that might help us to understand the power dynamic that is wracking the bride of Christ. 

Tall Towers

The following was heard at a recent “church growth” seminar:

“Genesis 11:3 And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Genesis 11:4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”” (Genesis 11:3–4 ESV)

    Just kidding. But unfortunately--not. One of the most prominent contemporary standards of “Church Health” is the “Tall Tower.” Regardless of demographics, community profile, or the presence of faithful local (smaller) congregations the dynamic taught, nearly universally is that of the newer, bigger, shinier, “Tall Tower.” Built so big it cannot be ignored, making a name for those who build it. And the problem with the Tall Tower on the plain of Shinar, noted later in Genesis 11 never goes away. The "Tall Tower: eventually falls into ruin and the name(s) of the builders are lost in timeless infamy. 

    Yes, the Church can grow. We faithfully plant, cultivate, water, and nurture—and God grants the growth. Your secret brick-firing recipe for building a bigger, better, stronger tower is just the will to power clothed in a different metaphor. Paul uses a construction metaphor in 1 Corinthians 3:

“1 Corinthians 3:11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1Corinthians 3:12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 1Corinthians 3:13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 1Corinthians 3:14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 1Corinthians 3:15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.1Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 1Corinthians 3:17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:11–17 ESV)

Paul’s concern is not about how big the building is but how well it’s built. When a congregation is Biblically solid, theologically orthodox, and pastorally responsible—it will be noticed, and the only name that will be on anybody’s lips will be the name of Jesus. 

Irresponsible Shepherds

    There is no higher honor than to be called to shepherd the flock of Christ, following Peter and others in feeding His lambs. It can be heartbreaking and exhilarating. It can be a blessing and a curse. For those of us who are called, it requires faithfulness and responsibility. Jesus, Himself set the standard for all the under-shepherds He called to share this burden. 

“John 10:1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. John 10:2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.” (John 10:1–2 ESV)

“John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. John 10:13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. John 10:14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,” (John 10:10–14 ESV)

    He is the Good Shepherd of His flock and the perfect example of servant-leadership for His under-shepherds. Now, I (obviously) live now and cannot address issues from Church History, or scandals of the last century. But from where I sit right now It seems that, objectively, the Church is plagued by a disproportionate number of irresponsible shepherds; thieves, and usurpers who come to steal, kill, and destroy. I may not be able to fix it, but God can. And if God is going to move it will be because responsible shepherds take a stand, call sin what it is, and join Peter in the following statement of purpose:

“1Peter 5:1   So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 1Peter 5:2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 1Peter 5:3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” (1 Peter 5:1–3 ESV)

Guess where Peter got the phrase “not under compulsion?” I have put it in bold type so that we can coordinate what Peter wrote with what Jesus said in Mark 10.42.

Mark 10:42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 

The bold print translates the same word. Peter is not really teaching something new; he is reminding the Church of something Jesus had already taught.  

    I fear that far too many who are called to be shepherds are not trained to teach the flock, lack the temperament to tend the flock, and consequently transform the flock into something other than faithful sheep straining to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, and struggling to follow the thugs and thieves who see “Church Leadership” as a lucrative field to pillage and abuse. 

Vindictive Vintners

    The third story was told by Jesus, one of His most effective parables. It is effective because the people to whom He addressed the parable were the protagonists in the story, and they knew it. The passion-week conversations in Jerusalem may have seemingly been about the application of the Law but every question, every taunt, every insinuation was an extension of the tower-building, shepherd-corrupting, Empire-building “will to power.” 

“Mark 12:1   And he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, and leased it to tenants and went into another country. Mark 12:2 When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. Mark 12:3 And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Mark 12:4 Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. Mark 12:5 And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed. Mark 12:6 He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ Mark 12:7 But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ Mark 12:8 And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. Mark 12:9 What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. Mark 12:10 Have you not read this Scripture: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; Mark 12:11 this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”” (Mark 12:1–11 ESV)

    When someone behaves as if the vineyard belongs to them, that it is their creation, and that they set the standards; they have become a vindictive vintner no longer interested in the will of the Master. Some of us will be proclaiming this very text this spring, during Eastertide while embracing the very behaviors it condemns.  

    Vindictive, selfish, power-hungry, Empire-driven vintners expect to be exempted from the message they proclaim and the authority of the Bible they claim to uphold. Mounting the walls around the Vineyard they look at the servants, they look at the Son and say in their hearts, “Me and mine!” Whether the symptomatic sin is sexual, financial, deceitful, or emotional makes is trivial. They bully and beat the faithful and wreck the vineyard. Ultimately, the Son who suffered to save us “outside the walls”, is flung outside once again by the sordid behavior of tenants who forgot what they owed to the owner. 

An Ending...

    These have been, admittedly, harsh words. They are written in a spirit of grief, anger, and repentance. Fixing the individual “incidents” is pointlessly futile when it has become abundantly clear that the issues facing the contemporary Church are systemic, architectural, and volitional. The broader Church has made bad choices about designing and implementing the Biblical mandate to care for the Sheep. Towers are built. Fancy, new vineyards are constructed. Sheepfolds are reconfigured. All the while the sheep starve, the vines rot, and the towers totter.   The leadership sin of power; whether expressed sexually, financially, or emotionally, comes from a commitment to an organizational model which smells like a dragon, slithers like a snake, and looks like an Empire. 

    There is no alternative “model” to fix the problem. There is, however, a Testament to follow, a Gospel to preach, texts to teach, stories to tell, truths to articulate, and sheep to feed. No new model. No new method. Just qualified leaders doing Biblical ministry.