Leadership, chapter 7

Mark of A Leader - Facing Challenges From Without the Congregation
Peter describes Satan as, ‘A roaring lion, walking about seeking whom he may devour.’ 1 Pet. 5:8
When he inspires an attack on the ranks of God’s people, it can be a most terrifying experience. This is especially so for their leader, for it usually is against him that the attack is centered. Be assured that Satan knows the Scripture and has no qualm against applying its principles when it is to his advantage; he knows the truth written by Zechariah (13:7) and quoted by Jesus, (Matthew 26:31) ‘Smite the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.’
Yet, whether the attack is upon him, personally, or a frontal assault upon the group as a whole, God’s leader must never take a position of safety at a rear command post, but must be prominent in the forefront of the fray.

Though the army of Pharaoh had been destroyed in the Red Sea, Satan was not inclined to allow Israel to continue unimpeded in their journey. From the difficulties they faced, we can learn valuable lessons to benefit us in our own battles.
Consider Edom’s refusal to allow them to pass through their land. (Numbers ch. 20) There is no doubt that Israel could have put up a creditable battle, had God so ordered, but this was not the time to fight. There may have been several reasons for not confronting the Edomites, but perhaps the most important was, it was not necessary at this time.
Certainly it would have been shorter to go through Edom rather than around, but their objective could still be achieved with just a little extra effort. Perhaps every pastor should be required to present an essay on Romans 12:18 before entering his field of labor. ‘If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men’!

Whether or not the Church will be drawn into a particular battle will depend, largely upon the pastor. If he is spoiling for a fight and jumps at every challenge which comes his way, soon, neither he nor the church will have time to do the job they have been commissioned to do. He will have all the controversy and excitement he needs, simply from preaching the Gospel and standing for the Truth. Any time one can avoid a battle with the world without compromising Biblical principles , he will accomplish more positive progress in the long run.

In his instructions to both Timothy and Titus, two young pastors, Paul gave as part of the requirements of a Bishop, that he should be ‘not a striker’. (1 Tim. 3:3; Tit. 1:7) A striker is one who is quarrelsome or pugnacious. There is no question, God does not want his pastors to be afraid of a battle, but neither does he want them to be constantly spoiling for a fight.

I once knew a young man who was definitely lost and claimed nothing else. He was large and muscular and his scars and crooked nose told of a violent past. Yet, when I knew him, he was almost gentle, and seemed willing to go to almost any lengths to avoid a confrontation. After witnessing him in such a situation, I asked him why he had such a mild manner. He said he had indeed spent years trying to prove that he was a man to be feared, and would fight at the slightest provocation. After numerous injuries and arrests he couldn’t even begin to count, he finally was brought to stand before the court again. The judge was the same man he had stood before on other occasions. This time, instead of merely pronouncing sentence, the judge began to read from his ‘rap’ sheet. He had to stand and hear the record of fight after fight, injury after injury, arrest after arrest and hear the jail time added up. Long before the judge finished, this young man admitted he became ashamed and embarrassed by his own life. Finally the judge asked, ‘Is this all your life means to you?’ He had since stayed out of trouble and was enjoying life as never before. The moral of this story is simple; If a young man without the benefit of Holy Spirit leadership could see the folly of being pugnacious, then how much more should God’s men be able, by the grace of God, to follow His instructions? You’ll find all the excitement you need in the Lord’s work without looking for a fight.

There came a time when Israel was faced with situations which could neither be ignored nor circumvented. Such an occasion is recorded in:
Num 21:1 And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners.
Num 21:2 And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.
Num 21:3 And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah.

Arad, king of the Canaanites had taken some of the Israelites as prisoners. This was something which must be corrected. This could not be counted as a mere inconvenience, but was a direct threat and danger to all. Those captured must be rescued and the danger must be eliminated. It is to be noted that the second verse says that ,’Israel vowed a vow and approached the Lord.’ Though Moses had established himself as leader, he did not, on this occasion, seek the answer and inform Israel what must be done. Rather he involved them in the whole process. They vowed a vow. They prayed to the Lord. They were united in their petition to God. They determined to make the victory complete and sure as a group effort.

A pastor is setting himself up for trouble when an enemy invades his flock, and he makes it a personal battle. When a school system begins to carry away the children captive, get the whole church involved. When heretics begin to raid the membership and destroy babes in Christ, it is the business of the entire flock to do something about it. When a planning commission or some other governmental group harasses the Church in spite of every effort to comply, and it becomes clear that the goal of a few men is to block the progress of the Lord’s Church, then it becomes the obligation of the body to take action. Many battles have been lost or unduly prolonged, because the pastor was determined to fight alone.
On this occasion God gave them victory. ‘And the Lord hearkened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites.’ Then, after God had done his part, the people did theirs, ‘and they utterly destroyed them and their cities.’

Can we still expect God’s help when faced with situations such as this? YES! ‘The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds.' II Cor 10:4
It really doesn’t matter what the situation is; God can give us victory. If he chooses not to give us victory as we expect it, it may be that he has something better in store. If a planning commission cannot be convinced to grant your use permit, it just might be that God has a better site waiting for you.

When the world launches a personal attack upon a pastor, it is difficult not to take it personally. He must remember that the hatred is not toward him, but is aimed at the cause of Christ. Paul was imprisoned, beaten, disgraced before men, starved and accused of absurd charges. The only difference between the hated Paul and the admired Saul of Tarsus, was that his zeal had changed from zeal for the Law of Moses, to zeal for the Grace of God through Jesus Christ. Despisers of God attempted to halt the work almost every where Paul labored, not by debating the essence of his message, but by threats and attacks upon his person.

Stephen and James were just two of those who suffered martyrdom. (Stephen: Acts 6:8 - 7:60 James: Acts 12:1,2) This is still taking place. Pastors are being imprisoned, even in our own land, as churches and parents insist upon their God-given right to train their children. Every time a ‘false apostle’ is caught and exposed in any sin, the liberal media takes up the cry, ‘another fundamental preacher’.. The idea being that they all must be discredited. We must remember that our Lord told of these things. ‘Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you and say all manner of evil against you for my sake.’ Matt. 5:11

Paul was an excellent example of the way one should act in such cases. Instead of trying to clear himself, he merely presented Christ with a desire to win his persecutors. There were times when he was at liberty, without hindrance, to labor. On occasion he was jailed, and finally was imprisoned and sent to Rome to face Caesar. Whatever the occasion, he merely used it as a further opportunity to spread the Gospel. Many present day leaders do not win as many in their entire careers as Paul did on his final journey from Jerusalem to Rome in chains!

Peter gave us some excellent advice for such occasions;
I Pet. 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror neither be troubled,
15 but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16 Having a good conscience; that whereas they speak evil of you, as of evil doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.