Journal: Conservative Theological Journal
Volume: CTJ 03:8 (Apr 1999)
Article: Leadership Authority in the Church
Author: Paul Benware

CTJ 3:8 (April 1999) p. 6

Leadership Authority in the Church

Paul Benware

Professor of Systematic Theology
Philadelphia College of the Bible, Langhorne, PA

Introduction

It seems that few churches today can avoid those problems that often appear life threatening. Almost routinely, strife, division, and the “devouring of one another” takes place. It is true, of course, that some groups do not face this because they are too apathetic or tired to fight with one another. But even those churches that genuinely experience tranquility and health in their ranks never seem too far away from trouble. There is no end to the reasons for conflict today as battles take place over money, personalities, buildings, programs, staff, and even doctrine. But as the church today, like the church at Corinth of old, operates more and more in the wisdom that is “natural, earthly, and demonic”, it reaps the same results—”disorder and every evil thing” (James 3:13–16).

Such will always be the case when churches replace biblical principles with psychological ideas, and when marketing strategies take the place of passionate praying that is scripturally induced. And when the one who speaks to the church on Sunday mornings is not a theologian exposing the great doctrines of the faith to his people, but is instead a comedian, a counselor, an administrator, or a master of ceremonies for the “sacred show” then spiritual disaster in one form or another lurks nearby.

These things do not have to be. The answer to most of these troubles can be traced back to the church’s leadership. It is quite true that as the leaders go, so goes the church. However, it is also true that not just any leadership will do. Leadership that is effective and empowered understands their role and operates under the guidelines of the Word of God. Leaders have been given authority to guide the church into the will of God with the result that, for the most part, they determine what takes place in a local church setting. But a lack of clarity on the matter of biblical authority in the church can cause immense problems in both leading and following. It is safe to suggest that a misunderstanding of the New Testament’s teaching on leadership authority coupled with an unhealthy dose of the world’s perspective on leadership authority continues to do immeasurable harm to the church today.

CTJ 3:8 (April 1999) p. 7

For example, when a church elder says, “You must do what we say unless the Bible specifically prohibits it”, does he reflect a biblical perspective? When a pastor states, “my messages come from the Lord and to challenge what I preach is to challenge the Lord,” is he right? Is ...