The Responsibility of Leadership

At some point in our lives, we all most likely will be placed by God into a position of authority, whether the role of a parent, teacher, coach, manager or some other type of civic, governmental or occupational leader. Many different leadership courses and books taught throughout the world offer concepts to develop people for maximum efficiency and productivity. Some of these concepts are Bible-based principles and some are not.

In Apostle Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessalonica, he offers a simple yet complete summary of the responsibilities of delegated authority that are applicable not only in the church, but also in every venue of life’s leadership roles.

I Thessalonians 2:10-12 “You are witnesses and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you who would have a walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”

This passage of scripture answers the questions What? Who? How? and Why?, surrounding the responsibilities of delegated authority.

Command, Protect, and Correct

The first issue that Paul addresses is what the responsibilities of delegated authority are. In verse 11 of our theme passage, Paul writes that he “exhorted, and comforted and charged” the members of the church at Thessalonica, outlining the three main authoritative responsibilities of leadership.

The first responsibility that we will address is that of “charging” or commanding. Leadership is responsible for commanding and teaching those under their authority. In the Old Testament, the Father provided 10 commandments to Israel for them to obey and live by (Exodus 20:2-17). In the New Testament, Jesus commanded his disciples to love one another as Jesus loved them (John 13:34, 35). Similarly, Apostle Paul gave Timothy, his apprentice in the faith, five major charges or commands in his first and second letters to him (II Timothy 4:1,2). In like manner, the Bible instructs parents to command their children (Deuteronomy 32:46).

The second responsibility of leadership is to “comfort” and protect those under their authority. Providing comfort entails consoling those who are grief-stricken and easing the pain of loss, discouragement or disappointment. Another aspect of this care-giving responsibility is to protect those under our authority to prevent loss or deception. This aspect of leadership involves at times warning or cautioning those under our authority regarding potentially harmful people, places or activities. There was a grave consequence for Old Testament prophets, who failed to warn those under their care.

Ezekiel 33:6 “But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.”

The third responsibility of leadership is to “exhort” or correct those under their authority. Exhortation not only has a prominent aspect of encouragement, but also entails corrective rebuke (Luke 3:7-18). In the Old Testament, the priest Eli failed to correct and rebuke his two sons regarding their corrupt and vile behavior which included having sexual intercourse with prostitutes at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Because Eli refused to correct or judge his two sons, the Lord passed a perpetual judgment on Eli and his lineage (I Samuel 2:12, 22).

I Samuel 3:12, 13 “In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not rebuke them.”

Every One of You

I Thessalonians 2:11 states that Paul “exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you”, indicating to whom delegated authority are to minister. Leadership should never play favorites despite personal preferences, never yielding to the temptation of leaving less desirable subjects behind “in the dust”.

On the other hand, every member of the Body of Christ should seek pastoral accountability or a spiritual mentor. Nevertheless, the rebellious spirit of this age and previous wounds from abusive authorities have caused many to become “lone rangers”, neither serving nor properly being served in the Body.

Psalm 92:13 “Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.”

As a result, many are floundering in their Christian experience and relationship with God. With a “Just me and Jesus mentality”, many Christians are not receiving from the Lord’s delegated authority the teaching, protection and correction they need to prosper.

As a Father Does His Own Children

Apostle Paul also describes how authority should carry out leadership responsibilities. “We exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children” (I Thessalonians 1:11). The leadership of the church from its conception consists of many teachers, but not many fathers.

I Corinthians 4:15, 16 “For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me.”

With the divorce rate hovering around 50% inside and outside the church in America, fatherlessness is the plague that threatens our nations’ future. Selfish ambition and the “Me” generation attitudes foster fatherlessness and the abandonment of natural and spiritual children nationwide and worldwide. The Father is calling for fathers in this hour domestically and spiritually.

Paul, an apostle and father of the faith, indicated in I Thessalonians 1:10, how a true father ministers to his children: “. . . how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe”.

A true father is devoted to his children, being more concerned about their growth, well-being and success than their own. He glories in his children’s accomplishments, rejoicing when they surpass him. Many leaders in the Body of Christ today are so consumed with their own personal success that they fail to raise up successors and a legacy of ministry that continue after they leave this earth.

Fathers are also just, rightly discerning what each child needs. A father’s administration of blessing and discipline may not always seem fair or equal, but is most often just and appropriate. For example, if one child is having difficulty with school, a sibling may feel slighted because their father is spending more time with the troubled student. The father’s time is not being spent equally with each child, but it is being spent appropriately.

A father is also blameless, and serves as a role model for children to emulate. We have so few true fathers in the Body of Christ today, because so many are secretly struggling with habitual sin. Instead of mentoring the next generation of leaders, many potential church fathers are spending much of their time engaging in or attempting to hide besetting sin. Their guilt robs them of their spiritual authority, diminishes their confidence, reduces their anointing, and compromises their ability to effectively lead.

I Peter 4:2 “. . . that he should no longer live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”

That You Would Have a Walk Worthy of God

Apostle Paul also describes why authority should carry out leadership responsibilities.

I Thessalonians 2:12 “. . . that you who would have a walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”

We know that the gifts and calling of God on our lives are irrevocable. Before time began, the Father called us with a holy calling according to His own purpose and grace. (Romans 11:29, II Timothy 1:9). Realizing our calling is the first step towards fulfilling our destiny. Unfortunately, most people including Christians do not have a clear sense of their unique purpose and calling. Thus the desperate need for insightful leadership to identify talents and gifts early in our lives so that the mark for the high calling of God may be set for us, that we might press toward it.

Although authority figures help us identify our calling, leaderships’ greater role is to prepare us that we “would have a walk worthy of God” as I Thessalonians 2:12 indicates. Without proper preparation, we will never be commissioned by God to fulfill our purpose. That preparation not only includes instruction, but also reproof and correction that ultimately we are transformed into the image of Christ (Romans 12:2, II Timothy 16, 17). To properly represent the King as ambassadors for Christ, we must become like Him in spirit, word and deed. The preparation process is often more arduous and extended for those with greater callings (II Corinthians 5:20).

The third stage in this process is separation or commissioning (Romans 1:1). Once our calling is made sure and the preparation process is complete, the Lord releases His delegated authority to commission and position us. Interestingly enough, the process by which we fulfill our destiny is like running a race (I Corinthians 9:24, Hebrews 12:1).

Calling à Preparation à Separation

“On Your Mark” à “Get Set” à “GO!”

It is imperative that leadership not commission us before we are ready, lest we have a “false start”, which is often characterized by pride (I Timothy 3:6).

In Part 2 of this Leadership Series, we will address some of the greatest deficits in the church today, namely the ability to discern between righteous and unrighteous judgments, the obliteration of unrighteous judgments, and the authorized execution of righteous judgments by church leadership.