Just a Thought: Caring for the church is not just the pastor’s job, even though he carries the primary reasonability. But it is also the job of the whole church to look out or things that create dangerous situations, or may hinder the growth and overall heath and effectiveness of the church. Using Paul’s analogy of the church as a body, we are quickly reminded when have a hurting member the whole body knows it and is affected by it. For example, if we slam our finger in the door, the whole body knows about it and is affected. And so it goes in the church body; when we have trouble or one place or another is sick, the whole body knows it and is ultimately affected by it. Therefore, the responsibility to care for the body falls on ever member to help keep the body healthy and whole. Having said that, as one writer said; a leader can give everything accept final responsibility, and so Paul instruct Timothy the pastor to be careful to watch for certain things that can harm the body (but again, a pastor needs the full cooperation and help of the church to get this done). 1. Watch out for showing favoritism to individuals (no matter who they are or what they can do for you or the church), “I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.” (1 Tim 5:21) 2. Don’t be too quick to identify leaders: “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.” (1 Tim 5:22) Take time to qualify folks. We have a tendency in church life to play the “fill the gap” game. And we almost always get burned when we do. God takes the leadership of His people serious (as seen earlier) and we should too. Leadership is not a job or a position – it’s taking responsibility to impacting the lives of God’s people; we need to be careful here. 3. Take care of our physical needs – stretching members too thin, or neglecting our physical health impacts us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. A few members do not make a whole body – My hands and feet do different things just as my eyes and ears do – every member is vital and essential to the healthy, functioning of the body. One way you can help people stay physically healthy is to make sure they are bearing too great of load because you’re not baring any. Be sensible about your health, and the health of others. 4. Be aware of the impact people have on the church and that people do have an impact on the church: “The sins of some people are blatant and march them right into court. The sins of others dont show up until much later. The same with good deeds. Some you see right off, but none are hidden forever. (1 Tim 5:24,25) (from THE MESSAGE) Caring for the total wellbeing and health of the church is too big of a job for one man. The pastor bears final responsibility, but he needs the whole church to help because like our physical body’s when one member it hurt it affects the whole body. How helpful are you in helping your pastor care for the health of your church body?
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 12:00:17 +0000
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