The Evangelist and His Work
Carnal Tactics Faced By The Evangelist, Part II
Establishing Rank in the Church
Brethren rightly protest the distinctions erected between "clergy" and "laity" in human religious systems, but they often commit the same error by developing an elitist view of elders in the local church. Such a view sees elders as inherently blessed with wisdom beyond others so they need no input from the rest of the church. They seem to say, "We're in control, and you need to stay in your place." These elders see no need to keep members in-formed about the gospel work being supported, financial matters, or major decisions affecting the church. It is beyond them to request prayers, comments, or suggestions from others. While some may not use these very words, they clearly think them because they never solicit or accept such input.
Closely connected with elitist elders is the practice of lording it over God's heritage. What else would it take for elders to act as lords, in defiance of the Lord and in op-position to his order in 1 Peter 5:3, than to display such secretive modes of operating, to refuse to share information with the congregation, and to refuse to listen to others. Elders must remember the charge allotted to them is God's heritage, for them to lead and oversee as God's stewards or caretakers (Tit. 1:7). They must lead and shepherd God's people as a sacred trust as God wants them led, not as their own selfish desires would dictate. Paul said elders must not be self-willed men.
How can men such as these inspire confidence in the ones they seek to lead? How can they lead people having no confidence in them as leaders? Because open communication is needed to have followers, then elders need to sit down with members of the congregation so both sides can benefit from the two-way communication. When the members don't know what the elders are thinking or planning and when elders lack the confidence of the people, there is no more leading than there is following: NONE! Men that should be warning, teaching, exhorting, and setting an example for God's people, in such circum-stances as these, are actually lame-duck leaders.
Political Machinations
Satan never has more cause for delight than when he enlists purported disciples of Christ for the work of building political machines in local churches, with them feeding on the desire for power and the grab for power made by those claiming to be of Christ. This kind of power does not exist in the spiritual kingdom (Matt. 20:20-28). More times than saints would like to think, efforts to line up a base of political power among members have been exerted by having groups to meet and discuss objectives they want to achieve, by use of petitions to exert negative pressure against someone, by refusal to love actively (even to speak to) those against whom the intrigue is being promoted, by gossip campaigns, and by other arrogant displays of carnality. How can such people love their brethren? They do not, and they lie if they claim to. Paul's rebuke of similarly motivated saints in Corinth should be heeded (1 Cor. 3:1-4). - Bobby L. Graham