Gospel as life force

Acts 20:30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.

There was no church in the New Testament for which Paul had cared more and on behalf of whom had  exerted more prayer, ministry and overall effort  than the church at Ephesus.  It was by all accounts the gold standard of churches in Asia at the time of this account.

In the tearful good-bye that Paul had with its elders, he cited many examples of his selfless ministry, his devotion to the truth and his overall life of giving.  Now Paul was not one to boast so his motives in saying all that was to present an example for the leaders.  They were to keep the work of the gospel going even as he had.

The warnings he gave were not vain “what if” statements – they were very real trends he had already seen and encountered in his leadership role.  Indeed, by the time of the writing of the book of Revelation, the Ephesian church had lost its fire, its first love and was in need of revival.

One of the kinds of event that led to its decline was the invasion of the church by those who did not have the gospel as their life force.  They were described as wolves who would come in and prey upon the people, enticing and convincing them to abandon the truth of Christ.  Then Paul said the statement above, pointing to the very leaders he had in front of him.  There would be leaders that would build their own flocks, making up their own truths and stories to gain a following.

The word “disciples’ – “mathetes” in the Greek (from which we get “mathematics”) – are those who don’t just follow, but learn from a teacher.  So the leader(s) that would divide the body would gain those who would be their life-students.  And that’s where the lure is for a to-be-wayward leader.

There is little question that every leader has a distinct style, philosophy and approach to leadership.  Each leader is his/her own person, with an individual mix of gifts and attributes.  However, this verse speaks to the goals of leadership, not the style.  Is it a leader’s goal to create his/her own following at the expense of following Christ.  Too many gravitate towards giving Jesus lip service while dedicating their real effort to guaranteeing their own exaltation.  The underlying motivation is pride – lifting up self above others and at others’ expense.

So, it needn’t be a pursuit of wealth that marks the work of such leaders.  Indeed, pride may be taken in the superior sacrifice of being poor.  The question to ask is who is ultimately being followed in a ministry – Jesus or the local leader?  And it’s a cop-out to say “both”.

May I debase myself, be a blundering, blubbering fool in order to follow Christ.  And if I am tasked and charged with leading others, may I point solely to Him as the teacher.  Of course this means that I must be first a follower.

May I be sure to choose leadership that likewise humbly follows the Master, for self-exalting leadership spawns more of the same; I have seen it.  If pride is seen as normal and good, how terrible will be the demise of the one who practices it.