In the next few weeks I will have to make some tough decisions that will speak to how much integrity I have allowed God to work into my life. Like all tough decisions, God is looking at how and why we make them and not so much to what we decide. God is always looking at our desires, motives, and heart attitude that influence our decisions. Brethren let us “take heed” to how and why we decide to do things. I was reminded by Pastor Greg of the imperfect verb tense of the words “take heed” which means they repeat themselves again and again. In Mark, as the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee in a boat, Jesus told the disciples, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. (Mark 8:15) With each stroke of the oars Jesus would say, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod” stroke, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod” stoke, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.” Brethren let us “take heed” to do things with honesty, righteousness, and integrity. This morning before our walk I got a call from Agnes (a wonderful and very special Ghanaian lady living in France) who was one of many great success stories from our church in Germany. During our phone conversation she mentioned she called a mutual Christian friend who promised he would return her call, but never did. I think some Christians think it is okay to say things like; I will come over or I will call you (but never do) and think God does not mind, well I am not so sure about that. Jesus told the multitude that followed Him, “Hear, and understand: 11Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.” (Matthew 15:10-11) Jesus was telling the people it is our own words that come out from our mouth that defiles us. It is our own words that we speak from a heart not dealt with by God that defile our lives, not food or drink. Then Jesus called his disciples and said unto them, “Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying 13But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” (Matthew 12-14) When we quickly speak words that have not yet passed through the pressure oven of God they often are words of flattery and compromise for self-gain ambition, not words of integrity, honor, and righteousness. When we speak such words we are spiritually blind to the truth of our selves, to the word of God, and we stumble and fall out of the way into the ditch. Now God is there for us to recover, but it is our choice not God’s. God wants us to, but whether we do or not is up to us. Will we be people of integrity, honor, and righteousness or will we be people that speak words of flattery and compromise for self-gain ambition? We (and God) know deep within our hearts which person we really are, funny how we try so hard to deceive people.
I feel strong in my spirit as led by God, to speak a strong word about church organization and leadership. Now please know when Karen and I write a strong word we are NOT writing about a certain person, church, or denomination, but if the shoe fits for the love of God please change it. If you get angry we are sorry, this is not our intent. And if you get offended for the love of God please learn the lesson God desires for us to learn and grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here again receiving depends not on God, but on our heart condition, “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” (Titus 1:15) If someone has ought in their heart for us, they will find fault. In my almost 48 years of being a Believer and serving the Lord at many levels of ministry to include serving as a Pastor I have seen many types of church organizations. Now I will be honest, when I think of the word “church” I think of Godly relationships between people and not an organization or denomination of many churches. My friend we are the church and the Kingdom of God is within us. In Matthew Jesus said, “That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18) Jesus was not talking about building on Peter, but on the revelation (Matthew 16:15) Peter received “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And guess what Jesus is still in the process (if we allow Him) of building us into His image. This concept of what we know today as religious organizations and denominations has fractured “my church” so bad and I am sure when the leaders stand before Almighty God they will have much to explain. It is no wonder people do not want to come and hear the Gospel message, the denominations and religious organizations have so twisted the word of God for personal gain and are so divisive even dividing families and countries. Maybe in the past they were needed to share the Gospel to the ends of the earth, but today due to technology (something we must be very careful with) churches can reach out and touch other churches on the other side of the world to establish relationships, God’s idea of “true” ministry. All Godly ministry comes out of Godly relationships. The model in the Bible (our book of example and guidance) is one church blessing another church. They are like most things of God that have out lived their usefulness; the longer they say around the more problems they cause. Sadly, I have seen this from an international and national perspective, If you want to see what I am talking about just get out your yellow pages (if you still have a phone book) and look up the word churches. All of them cannot be right can they? Jesus said, “my church” not my churches. It is His church not ours, but we run them like they are ours. The bad that comes with them far out weights the little good they do.
Working down the chain-of-command I would like to address church leadership styles found in non and denominational churches. It is important to remember some non-denominational churches, due to the number of churches in a certain group, are as much a denomination as the major accepted denominations. Basically there are two main types of church leadership control styles; pastor authority (the pastor has complete control in all issues and decisions) and/or board authority (the board: deacons and/or elders who are over the Pastor in most if not all issues and decisions). When I pastored Christliche Gemeinde Stuttgart it was a pastor authority. We were a Spirit-filled, non-denominational, very international church. Now that does not mean I did not have people over me. When I wrote up our constitution and by-laws I wrote in three names whom I would submit to for correction and whom I could count on for guidance and direction. It was standing public knowledge if anyone had problems with me or our church I would pay for them to call any or all three men who personally knew me and has preached many times at our church in Stuttgart. There is a saying and I have seen play out time and time again in churches; power is corrupting and absolute power is absolutely corrupting. I have seen churches change their constitution and by-laws giving the Pastor absolute power only to fulfill a secret agenda of the Pastor and church leadership that they do not share with their congregation. I have learned from past experience when things keep changing at an increasing pace and the people do not know why, stand-by things are in motion and they may not be God ordained. I believe the Pastor authority is what God is looking for, after all the Pastor spiritually is on the hook for everything that happens (what we call good and bad) before God and will have to give account, but the effectiveness of this style is based on the heart condition of the Pastor. Now if you disagree please feel free to contact me I am learning too. If the Pastor is a spiritual man, humble, and contrite then there is no need for a group of men (not ladies, please read the Bible 1 Timothy 3:8-13 for qualifications of a deacon) to sit in judgment over the Pastor. Many Pastors says we need deacons or elders so we will use ladies, well my friend this is a big mistake. Over our many years we have helped start from scratch five churches, one from our home. I have seen this issue time and time again play out, it is better to do without then go against God’s word. I too have seen Boards of unspiritual men tell the Pastor what to do, what to preach and worse what not to preach, and rule the church with a rod of iron. Some Denominations often add a few more requirements to 1 Timothy 3:8-13, which can really get them in trouble with God. For example: I have been told one of the duties of a deacon is to protect the pastor, church, and denomination. Where is this found in the Bible? Sadly this does not appear. The deacon’s duties are to be executed in righteousness, honesty, honor, and full of integrity before God and to the congregation they serve. When I was in the Navy I had 1000s of people who worked for me at times one group of people I detested were the yes men. When I needed sound advice to help make a decision the last thing I needed was to hear from a man with no character or integrity, a man who drifts and goes both ways depending on what he is going to win or lose, a double minded man. James tells us this type of man is unstable in ALL his ways, “For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:7-8) Often the big losers in power and authority struggles are the people that sit on the pews and with a good heart serve God and their leaders. The cost to others by following unspiritual and ungodly leadership cannot be measured. Only God knows the toll for in secret followers take their tears and loss to God not wanting to make waves or ruffle feathers. But for the truth to be known, uncaring and unspiritual leadership could care less; their goal is in sight so they press on crushing and draining the people of their money, hope, and spirit. As more people come together the more care and feeding is required. We see this in the Book of Acts, but please remember the smaller the administration the more effective it is and the more people that come the more the leadership MUST be spiritual and selfless.
Brethren let us not serve God and His children with a selfish, self-centered heart condition. If we do we are not serving God with honesty, righteousness, and integrity, and why not? Because sadly we have put our trust in man and not in God. In Proverbs we read “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.” (Proverbs 23:7) In God we do not make spiritual decisions with our mind we use our heart. In the Greek for this verse “For as he thinketh in his heart” is translated, as a gate swings open wide. All throughout the Bible the heart is the place of decision making and whatever we allow behind our gate (our heart) we will be that. We must allow behind our gate things that will enable us to be full of honesty, righteousness and yes integrity and then do those things that God is counting for us to do. We must allow God to deal and judge in our lives so that we will be able to be filled with His honesty, righteousness, yes always His integrity, filled with His Spirit and life. For this to happen we must walk before men as transparent as a pool of water reflecting what it sees. We also see this truth in Proverbs, “As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.” (Proverbs 27:19) We must learn to walk with such integrity, righteousness, and honesty that our heart reflects “man to man” as a pool of water reflecting what we allow behind our gate. Written by David Stahl
I feel strong in my spirit as led by God, to speak a strong word about church organization and leadership. Now please know when Karen and I write a strong word we are NOT writing about a certain person, church, or denomination, but if the shoe fits for the love of God please change it. If you get angry we are sorry, this is not our intent. And if you get offended for the love of God please learn the lesson God desires for us to learn and grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here again receiving depends not on God, but on our heart condition, “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” (Titus 1:15) If someone has ought in their heart for us, they will find fault. In my almost 48 years of being a Believer and serving the Lord at many levels of ministry to include serving as a Pastor I have seen many types of church organizations. Now I will be honest, when I think of the word “church” I think of Godly relationships between people and not an organization or denomination of many churches. My friend we are the church and the Kingdom of God is within us. In Matthew Jesus said, “That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18) Jesus was not talking about building on Peter, but on the revelation (Matthew 16:15) Peter received “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And guess what Jesus is still in the process (if we allow Him) of building us into His image. This concept of what we know today as religious organizations and denominations has fractured “my church” so bad and I am sure when the leaders stand before Almighty God they will have much to explain. It is no wonder people do not want to come and hear the Gospel message, the denominations and religious organizations have so twisted the word of God for personal gain and are so divisive even dividing families and countries. Maybe in the past they were needed to share the Gospel to the ends of the earth, but today due to technology (something we must be very careful with) churches can reach out and touch other churches on the other side of the world to establish relationships, God’s idea of “true” ministry. All Godly ministry comes out of Godly relationships. The model in the Bible (our book of example and guidance) is one church blessing another church. They are like most things of God that have out lived their usefulness; the longer they say around the more problems they cause. Sadly, I have seen this from an international and national perspective, If you want to see what I am talking about just get out your yellow pages (if you still have a phone book) and look up the word churches. All of them cannot be right can they? Jesus said, “my church” not my churches. It is His church not ours, but we run them like they are ours. The bad that comes with them far out weights the little good they do.
Working down the chain-of-command I would like to address church leadership styles found in non and denominational churches. It is important to remember some non-denominational churches, due to the number of churches in a certain group, are as much a denomination as the major accepted denominations. Basically there are two main types of church leadership control styles; pastor authority (the pastor has complete control in all issues and decisions) and/or board authority (the board: deacons and/or elders who are over the Pastor in most if not all issues and decisions). When I pastored Christliche Gemeinde Stuttgart it was a pastor authority. We were a Spirit-filled, non-denominational, very international church. Now that does not mean I did not have people over me. When I wrote up our constitution and by-laws I wrote in three names whom I would submit to for correction and whom I could count on for guidance and direction. It was standing public knowledge if anyone had problems with me or our church I would pay for them to call any or all three men who personally knew me and has preached many times at our church in Stuttgart. There is a saying and I have seen play out time and time again in churches; power is corrupting and absolute power is absolutely corrupting. I have seen churches change their constitution and by-laws giving the Pastor absolute power only to fulfill a secret agenda of the Pastor and church leadership that they do not share with their congregation. I have learned from past experience when things keep changing at an increasing pace and the people do not know why, stand-by things are in motion and they may not be God ordained. I believe the Pastor authority is what God is looking for, after all the Pastor spiritually is on the hook for everything that happens (what we call good and bad) before God and will have to give account, but the effectiveness of this style is based on the heart condition of the Pastor. Now if you disagree please feel free to contact me I am learning too. If the Pastor is a spiritual man, humble, and contrite then there is no need for a group of men (not ladies, please read the Bible 1 Timothy 3:8-13 for qualifications of a deacon) to sit in judgment over the Pastor. Many Pastors says we need deacons or elders so we will use ladies, well my friend this is a big mistake. Over our many years we have helped start from scratch five churches, one from our home. I have seen this issue time and time again play out, it is better to do without then go against God’s word. I too have seen Boards of unspiritual men tell the Pastor what to do, what to preach and worse what not to preach, and rule the church with a rod of iron. Some Denominations often add a few more requirements to 1 Timothy 3:8-13, which can really get them in trouble with God. For example: I have been told one of the duties of a deacon is to protect the pastor, church, and denomination. Where is this found in the Bible? Sadly this does not appear. The deacon’s duties are to be executed in righteousness, honesty, honor, and full of integrity before God and to the congregation they serve. When I was in the Navy I had 1000s of people who worked for me at times one group of people I detested were the yes men. When I needed sound advice to help make a decision the last thing I needed was to hear from a man with no character or integrity, a man who drifts and goes both ways depending on what he is going to win or lose, a double minded man. James tells us this type of man is unstable in ALL his ways, “For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:7-8) Often the big losers in power and authority struggles are the people that sit on the pews and with a good heart serve God and their leaders. The cost to others by following unspiritual and ungodly leadership cannot be measured. Only God knows the toll for in secret followers take their tears and loss to God not wanting to make waves or ruffle feathers. But for the truth to be known, uncaring and unspiritual leadership could care less; their goal is in sight so they press on crushing and draining the people of their money, hope, and spirit. As more people come together the more care and feeding is required. We see this in the Book of Acts, but please remember the smaller the administration the more effective it is and the more people that come the more the leadership MUST be spiritual and selfless.
Brethren let us not serve God and His children with a selfish, self-centered heart condition. If we do we are not serving God with honesty, righteousness, and integrity, and why not? Because sadly we have put our trust in man and not in God. In Proverbs we read “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.” (Proverbs 23:7) In God we do not make spiritual decisions with our mind we use our heart. In the Greek for this verse “For as he thinketh in his heart” is translated, as a gate swings open wide. All throughout the Bible the heart is the place of decision making and whatever we allow behind our gate (our heart) we will be that. We must allow behind our gate things that will enable us to be full of honesty, righteousness and yes integrity and then do those things that God is counting for us to do. We must allow God to deal and judge in our lives so that we will be able to be filled with His honesty, righteousness, yes always His integrity, filled with His Spirit and life. For this to happen we must walk before men as transparent as a pool of water reflecting what it sees. We also see this truth in Proverbs, “As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.” (Proverbs 27:19) We must learn to walk with such integrity, righteousness, and honesty that our heart reflects “man to man” as a pool of water reflecting what we allow behind our gate. Written by David Stahl
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