Bread from the Basket: Your Daily Slice

Av 25

NOT a New Believer

“He must not be a new believer, because he might become puffed up with pride and thus fall under the same judgment as did the Adversary.” (1Tim 3:6 CJB)

I am reminded of the story of a professional football player, once he had repented and became born-again, felt that he should be part of the ministry team in the mega-church led by the Rev. T.D. Jakes. Rev. Jakes, very politely yet very firmly, told this star athlete to ‘shut up and sit down’, that until he had proven himself he was not to be in any position of leadership or ministry. While I do not agree with much of what the Rev. Jakes teaches, I do applaud him in the way he handles this situation, as it was done correctly, and scripturally.

We do not give a ten year old child the keys to a Ferrari Pininfarina Sergio (cost of $3 – 5 million[1]). This child may be fairly proficient at handling a four-wheeler or ATV, the child has not sufficiently learned the concept of responsibility or accountability that accompanies the owning and operation of such a vehicle. Yes, I know this example is a bit extreme, the same concept applies to leadership in a congregational setting. It is an open invitation to failure all the way around.

While there are colleges, universities and seminaries dedicated to graduating church leaders and Rabbis, where is the ‘hands-on’ training, where a potential leader sits in submission to one who is tried and vetted? Experience of itself is an amazing teacher, and experience can only be gained through the investment of time.

May I also say that there are those who have the highest scholastic training in the Scriptures that is possible, and have absolutely no people skills. I personally know of one congregational leader that does not particularly like people, is sadly lacking in the compassion department, and has little care or concern for the ones that are part of his congregation. Should this type of person be allowed in ministry? Being as how we will be judged as to the quality of our relationships with others (do we love our neighbor as ourselves?), I would have to say no.

What, therefore, are we to discern concerning the maturity of a potential leader? Our opening verse tells us that he/she must not be a novice, or new believer. Walking the Torah walk is just that: a walk of perpetual movement, constantly moving forward. And only as we walk with one another can we ascertain the depth of commitment, and the level of experience and ability, that we each one of us has.

“…until WE ALL COME to the unity of the belief and of the knowledge of the Son of Elohim, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the completeness of Messiah, so that we should no longer be children, tossed and borne about by every wind of teaching, by the trickery of men, in cleverness, unto the craftiness of leading astray, but, maintaining the truth in love, we GROW UP IN ALL RESPECTS INTO HIM who is the head, Messiah, from whom the entire body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the working by which each part does its share, CAUSES GROWTH OF THE BODY FOR THE BUILDING UP OF ITSELF IN LOVE.” (Eph 4:13-16 ISR, emphasis mine)