Why Leadership?

Weekly Update – November 18th, 2021

As we have been examining the topic, “Why Church” on Sunday mornings, we answered the question, “Why Leadership” this past Sunday.  Now, I understand that this may not necessarily be a question that many people ask when they walk into a church.  In fact, many may not even know what form of leadership a church has.  But scripture is clear, especially in the New Testament, that the leadership structure given by God for his church is not just important, but absolutely necessary.  Let me show you why in this week’s post.

First, the form of “church government” or “church polity” that we practice at First Baptist Church is called congregationalism.  Now I know that there were potentially a lot of unfamiliar words there, but essentially, we believe that final authority on all matters pertaining to faith and practice, ultimately resides with the “congregation” or the members of the church.  Practically, this means that the church as a whole ultimately decides our budget, who is a member, who serves as pastors and deacons, and what we officially hold to in our beliefs and standards. 

Second, though the members of the church have the final authority, pastors and deacons function as the official offices of the church.  Pastors or elders have been given the task to shepherd God’s people through preaching/teaching and prayer.  They are men who are called to love, care, guide, guard and lead the church in ministry and in service.  The New Testament indicates that typically there is one specifically devoted to the preaching and teaching (1 Tim. 5:17), but that there are others who serve alongside of him in the discipleship of the church (Eph. 4:11-16).

Third, the deacons of the church support the work of the pastors or elders.  These men are officially set apart by the church to lead by example through their service.  As we said on Sunday, these men are to be full of “the Spirit and of wisdom” as well as glad-hearted servants of the church.  In Acts 6:1-7, they are unifiers through their selflessness, while at the same time, they are men of lion-hearted faith, who won’t back down when the truth is challenged.

Lastly, pastors/elders, deacons and members of the church together display the embassy of God’s people.  When we are united as one in worship, we show the world the power of God like nothing else (Eph. 3:9-10).  We all serve a purpose through the gifting the Lord has given to each one of us by his Spirit (1 Cor. 12:12-27), but it is under the authority of the pastors/elders and through the example of the deacons that we speak out and live out the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Our desire at First Baptist Church is to see our families, community and our world transformed by the power of God.  To seek this vision, we must know what it is we are doing as a church and why we function the way that we do.  In addition to understanding why we gather, preach, pray, sing, have membership, evangelize, and disciple, we must also hold to a proper structure of leadership.  All of this is for our faithful display of God to each other and to the world around us. 

Serving Him with You,
Pastor Michael Nelson