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Respect for Church Leaders

Respect for Church Leaders

Words of Faith 4-4-19

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2019

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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1 Thessalonians 5

    [12] Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. [13] Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. [14] And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. [15] Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

 

         Paul had given a great deal of teaching and revelation regarding the events that will conclude the age including the Rapture of the Church, the Resurrection of the dead and the Day of the Lord.  Now, he came back to the present responsibilities as believers in Christ.

        Paul turned from instructions regarding the future to exhortations for the present.  It was important to come back from considerations of the future to the realities of their immediate responsibilities.  We want to be careful not to be so "heavenly-minded" that we are no "earthly good."

        First, Paul gave them instructions concerning their relationships with their spiritual leaders.  Paul was addressing all of the Christian church in saying that leaders are to be respected.  Church leaders are pastors, elders and other leaders who worked hard to provide pastoral care for the flock. Those serving at Thessalonica probably did so in their spare time since in the early church local church leaders often carried full-time jobs outside the church.

       These leaders are further described as being "over you in the Lord." They had positions of spiritual authority and leadership in the church and were responsible to God for those under their care.  The writer of Hebrews also urged believers to "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you" (13:17).  The responsibility of leaders included admonition as needed.

       Paul gave three exhortations to the church regarding their proper attitude toward their leaders.

       1) First, they were to respect leaders.  This term means appreciating and respecting them and their work. The need to regard leaders highly is further stressed in the second exhortation.

       2) Church members are to esteem, value, and respect their leaders for their works' sake. The Greek is strong: "hold them in the highest regard." This should be a continuing attitude. Some church leaders do not command as much personal respect as others, but Paul taught that all should be held in esteem because of the nature of their responsibilities before God. Not just some respect, but the highest respect is due to these leaders, and it is to come from an attitude of affection (in love) for them, again, because of their work, if for no personal reason. Two reasons for this exhortation are the nature of their work and the fact that church leaders do a good service to others.

       3) The third exhortation is to live in peace with each other. This results from obeying the previous instructions. The idea here is to maintain rather than to initiate peace. Peaceful conditions existed in the Thessalonian church, but they had to continue. The command is imperative. Much dissension in modern churches is traceable to church members disobeying these commands.  Nothing is more draining on church leaders than dissension and conflict that grows out of disrespect for leaders.

       How are you doing in the areas of respect for your church leaders?  Do you pray for them regularly?  Do you show them appreciation and esteem their work for the Kingdom even if it has not directly touched you?  Are you living at peace with your church leaders and with those in the congregation, doing all that you can to prevent dissension and conflict?  Are you supporting the ministry of the church with the faithful return of tithes and offerings, so that church leaders do not have to worry over finances?

 

        Father help me to be faithful in the Body of Christ especially in my relationship toward church leaders.  Help me to live at peace and so foster an environment of hopeful encouragement within the Body of Christ.  In Jesus' name.