Chapter six

False leaders and weak leadership

The church is not like a worldly organization or institution. The church is God’s kingdom, governed with divine principles and led by called and chosen vessels. As we all know, the growth and stability of a kingdom stand on leadership. This is one reason we need true leaders. The Holy Scriptures guide, while the Holy Spirit directs us.

However, the Holy Spirit needs vessels to work with. This is one reason Christ Jesus chose twelve Apostles to embark on the ministry. The church cannot stand without our input. In this case, God calls and chooses people to work with. God is the one who chooses, and He has given us the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Spirit as a guide.

We don’t use worldly principles to appoint or elect church leaders. The sad truth is that most churches appoint and elect leaders based on academic qualifications and wealth. There is nothing wrong with choosing a wealthy, highly educated person whom the Holy Spirit endorses.

The problem arises when we appoint leaders without the Holy Spirit's approval and the instructions of the Holy Scriptures. When we ignore the instructions of the Holy Scriptures and the leading of the Holy Spirit and appoint leaders based on their educational level and wealth, the church will break.

The enemy will break in to destroy the church because the unapproved appointed leader does not have the spiritual capacity to lead the congregation to the promised land. An individual may have the intellectual capacity to lead. However, if he lacks the spiritual capacity to manage the church, the church will die. The vessel needs the virtues enshrined in the Holy Scriptures to lead the church.

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

1 Timothy 3:1-7

For a man to qualify to lead the church, he must have a desire for the ministry. He must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, and hospitable. He must be able to teach the word of God. The person must not be an alcoholic, drug addict, or abuser. He must not be greedy and covetous. In summary, a person qualified to lead in the church must be mature in the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Titus 1:7-9

Someone who has a weak character cannot lead the church because he will bring conflict into the flock (the church). A proud person cannot lead the congregation. Appointing people who are not spiritually mature and biblically qualified will damage the church's spirituality and growth.

The church will be full of witchcraft activities if unqualified people take leadership positions. Since the leader is unqualified, his lifestyle and leadership will not encourage the church to live in the holiness of the Lord.

When unqualified people take leadership positions, pride, carnality, wickedness, manipulation, and grave evil will dominate the church. When you appoint an unqualified person to lead, he will maltreat the church. The church will be in darkness. Evil spirits will dominate the church if an unqualified person takes a leadership position.

The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

Proverbs 11:3

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

Proverbs 29:2

If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.

Proverbs 29:12

We must understand that the church is a community of God’s flock. We lead the church with the love of Christ. Ignoring spiritually mature people because of weak finances is unbiblical. The church needs the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It takes people full of the Holy Spirit to minister with the anointing.

It takes people full of the Holy Spirit to understand the church. Educated people and wealthy people have a role to play in the church. They should not take the role of spiritually and morally mature people. We need qualified, faithful, and anointed people in the leadership position so that the enemy will not break in to destroy the church. We must not be partial when appointing leaders in the church because God has standards.

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

James 2:1-4

I hope you know how the twelve Apostles chose leaders in the church. In Acts 6:1-8, the Apostles chose seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit, and wisdom.

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch:

Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

Acts 6:1-8

The Apostles prayed before laying hands on them to do the work of God. Before adding Matthias to the disciples of Christ Jesus, the eleven disciples appointed Joseph and Matthias.

And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Acts 1:23-26

The Apostles prayed earnestly before giving out their lots. It is time to remove unqualified Church leaders and appoint called and chosen leaders because leaders play a vital role in church growth. If the church leadership is weak, it will affect the church's spirituality, finances, growth, power, unity, and salvation.

Further Holy Scriptures for study: 1 Corinthians 5:6–7, 1 Corinthians 1:26-27, James 3:1, 1 Peter 5:2–3, Acts 20:28–30, 1 Peter 1:15–16, Hebrews 12:14, 2 Timothy 2:19–22, Proverbs 11:3