A “happy church” is a joy to see. Believers are allowed to fully share and grow together under the loving guidance and care of a pastor who does his or her best to walk with the Father and serve our Lord Jesus Christ. But what about the times when Satan deceives spiritual leaders? They get a lot of “bad press,” and good-hearted people are appalled at the things done in the name of God and His Son. Let’s see how believers, and specifically other leaders, are to handle such negative situations that arise in the Body of Christ.
The True Standard
The ideal situation for leadership in the Body of Christ is set forth in Ephesians 4. This allows believers to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:3,11-16:
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
God’s Word sets clear standards for leaders in the Church. The epistles written by the Apostle Paul to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon give insight into the proper attitude and conduct of Church leadership. For example, I Timothy 3 gives qualifications for spiritual overseers (bishops) and local ministers (deacons). Titus 1 describes elders and bishops.
Paul’s first epistle to Timothy gives an account of how elders are to be treated with respect when they deserve it.
I Timothy 5:17,18:
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
When elders rule well, they are to be honored and supported as is needed. But what about those who do not?
I Timothy 5:19-21:
Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
Elders who have proven their loving service should not be quickly or lightly accused of wrongdoing. But when there are reliable witnesses of their bad behavior, spiritual leaders should be rebuked before all. This “all” would definitely include other trusted spiritual leaders. The purpose of this censure is “that others also may fear (have respect for God and His Word).”
At times, personal relationships may be at stake. It may not be easy for a spiritual leader who is a “friend” of another to rebuke their fellow minister. But “God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels”—those whose opinions count the most—require that we who are faithful ministers carry out this responsibility without partiality and without preferring one before another.
Let’s see examples of this in the Old and New Testaments.
The Need for Confrontation: Old Testament Prophets, Priests, Kings
The Bible gives many examples of spiritual leaders who did not do God’s will and needed to be confronted. Jesus Christ was the greatest spiritual leader of all time, who always did the Father’s will. He was Israel’s prophet, priest, and king. The Old Testament shows many other prophets, priests, and kings. Some did God’s will for only a part of their lives, others faithfully during their entire lives of service, or some not at all.
Abraham was called a prophet, and he needed to be reproved for his actions by Abimelech (Genesis 20:7-9). Moses was a prophet “whom the Lord knew face to face” (Deuteronomy 34:10), yet God reproved Moses for his wrong thinking and actions (Numbers 20:12). Miriam was a prophetess (Exodus 15:20), and she was rebuked by God for her attitude toward Moses (Numbers 12:1-15). Samuel was a prophet throughout all Israel (I Samuel 3:20), yet his sons “turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment,” prompting the elders of Israel to request a king (I Samuel 8:1-5).
Aaron became Israel’s first priest, yet he was reproved for making a golden calf (Exodus 32:1-35) and for speaking with Miriam against Moses (Numbers 12:1-15). Jeremiah reproved the children of Israel and the children of Judah, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets who provoked God to anger (Jeremiah 32:32). Jesus rebuked the priests and scribes for their evil, and the apostles in the early Church did the same.
Kings were reproved for not leading God’s people according to God’s will (I Chronicles 16:21). David was a king and a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), yet Nathan reproved him for his evil against Uriah (II Samuel 12:1-12).
Examples of Confronting New Testament Leaders
Jesus Christ always did the will of the Father. This included confronting leaders who needed it.
Jesus and Peter
Matthew 16:23,24:
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Peter was one of Jesus’ top three leaders. When Peter thought he knew better than Jesus, he needed to be reproved for his lack of spiritual insight. Jesus did this directly in front of others.
Paul and Peter
Now let’s focus on how spiritual leaders in the Body of Christ should be confronted when they are not doing God’s will.
Galatians 2:11-16:
But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Paul confronted Peter directly, in front of others. For Paul, the truth was more important than “friendship” with Peter or any other minister. Peter responded to Paul’s reproof. Look at the respect that Peter had for Paul’s ministry and his epistles at the end of Peter’s life.
II Peter 1:20,21; 3:15-18:
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
At the end of his life, Peter considered Paul to be a holy man who spoke by way of the gift of holy spirit. Peter knew that Paul’s writings were “scriptures” like those of Old Testament prophets. Paul’s standing up for the truth and correcting Peter long before in Antioch, only brought these two great leaders closer together.
Restoring a Brother in Christ
Life is not always easy. But we can keep our heavenly Father first and stand on the truth of His Word. Then we can help others who want to be helped. That is especially true when it comes to leaders helping each other to stay sound in the faith of the gospel. If a brother needs to be restored, we do all we can to help.
Galatians 6:1-3:
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault [surprised so that he slips], ye which are spiritual, restore [repair, return to a state of wholeness and harmony] such an one in the spirit of meekness [gentleness and humility toward God and those we restore]; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Together, as born-again believers we can help leaders who need our love, support, and (at times) words of confrontation and encouragement. The result will be “the peaceable fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11) to those who receive such loving reproof. Then, God will be glorified in our lives.
