“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” Hebrews 13:17
Independence comes natural for most of us in American culture. Our world says, “Be yourself. Fight for what you believe. Don't follow another. Be the one others follow.” In social media it takes the form of the number of followers we've amassed or the number of likes we've accumulated. “How many people are following me?” Vocationally, the world says, “Be cutthroat. Get to the top.” In the face of all of this, within the church, everything is upside down and backwards. Obey and submit. These are words we naturally kick against.
The scripture above is probably one of the most used passages when it comes to our relationship to the leadership of the church, and it goes against the grain of what we know from worldly wisdom. Deep down, as all of scripture does, it deals with the condition of our heart. That is what I want to get at … our heart.
What rises up in you when your leadership says “No” to your request for replacing an audio system or installing/purchasing equipment that you see the need for? How do you respond when your leadership asks something of you that you really do not want to do because of the amount of time/effort/energy involved?
This is what I want to get at ... [the condition of] our heart.
I would like to share a few practical points on how to obey and submit to your leadership and do it in a way that brings honor. All of what follows assumes you have healthy (not perfect) leadership. Healthy leadership genuinely loves Jesus more than they love you. Healthy leadership genuinely keeps watch over our souls. Healthy leadership does it joyfully. Healthy leadership recognizes and admits mistakes. Healthy leadership is trustworthy.
Realize Church Leadership Has Higher Accountability
Remember that your pastors or elders are placed in their position by God to watch over and provide direction for the church. That's a much greater responsibility than a piece of equipment. Scripture indicates that they will have to give an account. See 1 Timothy 5:20 and James 3:1.
Realize Church Leadership Has a Larger Perspective
I have been fortunate to server under leaders in whom I have a great deal of trust and I've learned to lean on their perspective. They have a global perspective of the whole church body that we usually lack in our technical teams. When approaching a higher budget item I want to lean on them for guidance and submit myself to their perspective long before even bringing the item to them. It is as if to say to yourself, “I see the need for this new system, but I really need my leadership's global perspective. I trust them and will follow their guidance even if they say ‘no.'”
Realize Church Leadership is Difficult
I'll be frank. I wouldn't want a position in church leadership ever, ever, ever. Don't make it more difficult for them by grumbling or complaining. Sometimes we might be disappointed about a decision but there is a way to respond in obedience that leads to joy. Besides, the latter part of this passage lets us know that it's to our disadvantage if we do grumble and complain. Our response can actually help them in their labor by producing joy in them.
In addition to remembering these things about church leadership, let's exercise patience. Micah Yost (CXO at Elevate LLC in Omaha, Neb.) recently wrote an excellent devotion entitled “Becoming a Patient Tech Director,” in which he challenges us to practice patience . It’s worth the read or re-read. Patience goes hand in hand with submitting to and obeying our leadership.
