Fourth, ignore the arbitrary unbiblical definitions for “success.” If you try to lead a church a certain direction, and the church splits, but ends up one day being bigger than before you came, then you’re a hero! However, if you lead the church in a direction that causes a church split, and the church never gets bigger as a result, then you’re a failure? See how that works: bigger = success; less people = failure. Where is this teaching in Scripture? Frankly, if you aren’t loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and you’re not loving your neighbor as yourself in your decision-making, then God doesn’t care how big your church grows. He’s not impressed.
If you had to hurt fellow believers in order to get your church to where it is today, then you’ve sinned against God. You may say, “But, we never would be where we are today if I didn’t do what I did.” To this I reply, “Are you a prophet?” Frankly, you don’t know the future. Your church may be even bigger and better today if you had submitted yourself to Scripture. You may have reached more people if you had followed Scripture instead of your own “leadership.” Regardless how “noble” your motives and desires appear to you, if you’re willing to sin in order to lead your church the direction “God is leading,” then you’re an idolater! Repent!
Fifth, churches should follow the leadership of their pastor(s). Why vote in a pastor(s) to lead you and your church if you’re not going to follow him/them? This reality is true, “If you only follow a pastor when you agree with him, then you’ll really only follow yourself.” That’s a sinful mentality (1 Thess. 5:12-13; 1 Tim. 5:17; Heb. 13:17). This, of course, doesn’t mean you must follow your pastor(s) leadership blindly or silently, but it does mean you should follow his/their leadership. Unless he/they tell you to be disobedient to the explicit or implicit commands of Scripture, or he/they encourage you to violate your conscience, you should follow his/their leadership.
What are your thoughts?
