A Word for Leaders in the Church

“nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3).

I was thinking lately of leadership within the Church; this after reading the section on the Church in Robert L. Reymond’s “Systematic Theology.” It is something with which I have a kind of (how shall I say it) abiding interest; I’m not sure why really. Nevertheless, Reymond’s book started a train of thought that led me to 1 Peter 5:3, which in turn has led me to this post.

In the context of 1 Peter 5:3, the “examples” being referred to were the Elders within the apostolic church. The word translated as “examples” that the Spirit used by way of Peter is tupos from which we derive our own words type, typical, typology and the like. In the Greek it has the basic meaning of a mark left from a stroke or a blow; the resulting impression, and so forth. The picture that pops into my mind is that of coins being stamped with an image, over and over again, one stamp for each coin. So as the original goes, so goes the stamped replica; the coins being minted are “typical” of the original.

In most English translations, the word used for tupos is “example(s)” and I think it is a pretty good word. It is good because it brings out a slightly different meaning of the Greek; the idea of “imitation.” To imitate something is to be like something; it is to become like some type or example given. (You could say by way of illustration that the minted coins were imitations—not forgeries—of their original). And in this verse from Peter’s first letter, the idea is that Elders are examples that other Christians are to follow, to imitate or to become like and not merely to obey.

I think this is very important, and it is an idea that I believe is somewhat diminished in the Church today. In those congregations that still maintain the office of Elder, the Elder is usually, and unconsciously I think, seen by the congregation as an “overseer” (Greek episkopos) which word commonly shares more similarity with our word “manager” (Greek oikonomos—from which comes the English “economy”). And undeniably, one aspect of the office of Elder is that of ruler, overseer, or manager. But as Peter clearly points out, rulership, oversight or management is only a part of this biblical office. In his Christian walk he is also an example for others to follow. And this is not only where Elders in the Church often fail—yes, Elders do sometimes fail—it is where we fail as well. We don’t strive to be like our Elders; if anything we merely try to be obedient to them in the same way workers are obedient to their managers, thinking this enough.

As Christians we are all to become more and more like Christ through the working out of our sanctification (Phil. 2:12-13). But the office of Elder was given, in part, so that we could see in the one who had the charge over us, a type that we could emulate or be like, the underlying assumption being that those who were chosen as Elders, were so gifted by the Holy Spirit as to be worthy of emulation and imitation. They are to be our “examples” in such a way as to make our emulation or imitation of Christ more comprehensible, “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us” (Phil. 3:17). “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). In other words, the Elder is one who closely emulates the Master and so acts as an example of our own sanctification.

Over and over, Christ emphasizes the priestly or shepherding qualities of those who were to care for His Church. In this role these men were known as Pastor(s) (Greek Poimen) and it is this aspect of the office of Elder that I believe is undervalued in the Church today. The shepherd was the one who cared for the flock under his watch. The shepherd was less a manager of the flock than he was its leader, guardian and protector (John 10:10-15).

This train of thought—if correct (and I’ll be the first to admit it may not be)—leads to the conclusion that to be an Elder is to be like Christ but also to be seen as being like Christ. The Elder is an example. But more than this, the Elder is an example whether he likes it or not and he will be either a good example, worthy to be emulated and imitated as a type, or he will be a poor example, not worthy to be emulated. But it would seem clear from Christ’s references that He intended the leaders of His Church to be good examples rather than bad. So what kind of an example did Christ have in mind? How were the leaders of His Church to be exemplary?

Well for one—and perhaps most importantly, at least for me,—they were to be servants of the flock. Even in the verse we are considering, Peter makes it clear that Elders were not to see their duties first as overseers or managers, especially of the type that “lorded it over others” by being a kind of boss. Instead, they were to see themselves as examples—they were to lead by showing others the way of Christ—and this through servanthood, even as Christ came not to be served but to serve. Consider this: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28, italics added). And from John’s gospel we have a wonderful picture of what Christ actually meant by the idea of what I term servant-love: “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded….So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, [have] washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them’” (John 13:3-5, 12-17, italics added).

The servanthood we see demonstrated by Christ and which He exhorted His apostles (and hence all the leadership within the greater Church) to follow is one of lowliness and humility (Luke 14:7-14). It is one where the welfare of others and the progress of the gospel are demonstrated through gentleness, patience, compassion, truth and most of all, love. It is not a holier-than-thou walk; it is a walk based on recognition of one’s abject spiritual poverty and of loving-kindness to those of your charge. The light that Elders should let shine must not be a Pharisaical light but a Christ-like light; a light that demonstrates love for both the commandments of the Saviour and not just one or the other.

So after all is said and done, what application is there to be found here? May I offer the following? Elders (and Pastors and all those with a ministry in the Church) examine yourselves to see if you be true bond servants of the Lord, ready to do His bidding in and out of season, ready to protect and defend the gospel, ready to demonstrate—through action—your servant-love for others. In terms of being an example for others in your care, if your underlying attitude is not the equivalent of washing the feet of another, then I believe you may need to re-examine what you are doing and why you are doing it, even if this leads you to relinquish your office altogether. Remember this: as the original goes, so goes the stamped replica, therefore as the Elder goes, so goes the congregation. In this regard, let us remember the words of the Lord’s brother and the leader of the Jerusalem church before his martyrdom: “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment” (James 3:1). This is a fearful thought and a sobering warning for us all.

Soli Deo Gloria.