The Church Today In Its Leadership

The Church Today In Its Leadership THE CHURCH TODAY IN ITS LEADERSHIP
BATSELL BAXTER

God has always called for a trained leadership. He has in ages past trained his men for what he desired them to do. There are many striking examples. An outstanding leader is Abraham. God led him out from Chaldea to the west, where he could learn to be the Father of a nation that should bring back to the world the name and the worship and service of God.

One of the greatest leaders of Old Testament history is Moses. God set about the task of delivering Israel from the bondage of Egypt. He brought them out “by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm.” How did he do ft? It goes back to the birth of a baby. That baby was adopted into the king’s family. That boy was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians. Why? God is training him for leadership. But he quits training before God is done. He blunders, trying to do the work of God in the way of the Egyptians. Out in the desert of Midian he goes to school forty years to God. He received his diploma at the burning bush. This time, as a prepared leader, he does it right. The successor of Moses was Joshua. Everywhere Moses went, Joshua went—up into Mount Sinai; into battle for his God; into the tabernacle; against the enemies of Israel, Og of Bashan, Sihon of Heshbon. Why? God is training him to be a leader. The day came for Moses to die. This great leader of Israel went up into the. Mount of Nebo to lie down in death. Though he was 120 years old, his eye was not dimmed nor his natural force abated. Israel mourned for Moses. They had lost their leader, but they were not without a leader. Moses had taken care for that. He had trained Joshua forty years for this very day when he should leave Israel and turn the leadership over to this young man. There was hardly a ripple when Joshua took command of Israel. He was already experienced, he was certain of his duty, and he had his eye upon the goal. How emphatically he called to Israel, “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve * * * as for me and my house we will serve Jehovah.” Joshua 24:15. The splendid success of Joshua’s leadership was partly due to the fact that he had been well-trained. During his life Israel remained true to Jehovah. When Jesus came as the Lamb of God, to take away the sin of the world he selected some men to help him. Our Lord chose twelve men. They went almost everywhere he went. They saw his miracles they heard his teaching, they heard him pray daily, they saw his life. For three and a half years there was a more intimate companionship than exists between teacher and student in any school today; He wa:? with them day and night, twelve months of the year. They saw his death, they were witnesses of his resurrection. They were given the Holy Spirit direct from Heaven to guide them. And somebody has called them ignorant Galilean fishermen! Far more reason to call a college graduate an ignorant country high school boy. Why all this training? They are to be leaders—leaders in the great work of saving souls. And today some men say that all you need is to eat a big breakfast and borrow a dozen sermon outlines!

After our Lord, the giant figure of the New Testament, towering high above the others is Saul of Tarsus. He was educated at the feet of Gamaliel. Far above the average student of his day. He studied at Jerusalem in its most famous school. He was trained in the learning and philosophy of the Greeks and Romans. Why? God plans to send the Gospel to the Gentile world. He is training Saul for leadership. He can talk with the humble women by the river-side at Philippi, he is at home in the synagogue at Thessalonica. He is equal to the occasion the next Saturday when the whole city—Jews and Gentiles—is gathered together. He takes care of the situation when he is mistaken for a god at Lystra and confronted with a sacrifice. He arises fiom the scattered stones that have but taken his life, and goes back into the city to preach again the Gospel of his Lord. He stands in the mart of commerce at Corinth or in the seat of learning at Athens; he preaches in his own hired house in Rome, chained to a soldier. He writes most of the New Testament. Why? He was trained for leadership.

One of the sweetest associations of Paul’s life was that with the young man,‘Timothy, the noble boy whom Paul found at Lystra. “Him would Paul have to go with him.” Acts 16:3. That intimate companionship, over a long period with an inspired man! Why? Training him for leadership. Why choose Timothy? He had some training on which to build. “The unfeigned faith that is in thee; which dwelt first in thy grandmother, Lois, in thy mother, Eunice; and I am persuaded in thee also.” 2 Timothy 1:5. This and other young men Paul trained. Why so much training? These men are to teach men things that are so vital that eternal destiny depends upon them. These men were admonished to study continually. “Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God.” 2 Timothy 2:15. There is nothing finer and more filled with pathos than the charge of the old soldier to his young lieutenant: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept thy faith.” 2 Timothy 4:2-7. “The things which thou hast heard from me * * * commit thou unto faithful men who shall be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2.

Jesus established a church. He called it "my church.” “Upon this rock (the fact that he is the Christ) I will build my church.” Matthew 16:19. In this church the scripture plan provides for leadership. The leaders1 are called elders or bishops. See 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9. Below we have listed the qualifications for these men: without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, given to hospitality, apt to teach, no brawler, no striker, gentle, not contentious, no lover of money, having his children in subjection, not a novice, good testimony from them without, desire the office. The fellow who has none of the other is sure to have that last one. These come from long training and experience. No wonder these leaders are called elders, or older men. He would be a remarkable character who could gain these, qualities in youth. The leaders in the New Testament church were trained men. The deacon’s qualifications were nearly the same. Of course, no man may attain all of these in a perfect state here, but he can approximate them.

It is hard for us to see the need of training for leadership. Young men especially desire to get out and preach without preparation. Of course, it is not right to discourage anybody from trying to save souls', but Paul told Timothy to “study’’ or “give diligence.” “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15.

Some time ago a young man came to enroll for a course, “Preparation and Delivery of Sermons.” Four and a half months. “I don’t need that. What I want is your sermon book so I can copy the outlines. I want some sermons.” He did not take the course.

Twenty years ago at Thorp Springs Christian College I was trying to teach a young man grammar and composition. He was making a great many blunders in English and his written compositions were very poor. I have never seen a young preacher who I thought more sorely needed training in English. Of course, the work was hard for him. He knew so little about it! Finally, one day he asked me in disgust, “What’s that got to do with baptism for the remission of sins?” It has this to do with it—if we make too many mistakes in our speech it will hinder us in our attempts to get people to hear us when we preach baptism for the remission of sins. In worldly affairs, in business, and in government it is easy for us to see the need of training for leadership. Every business of any consequence trusts its responsibilities to trained men. The success of government depends largely upon trained men. In the World War I, the German hosts were advancing steadily upon Paris, sweeping one French fortress after another. As these men retreated and left their homes to the enemy, they cried, “Where are the Americans?” Where were the Americans? They were over there in France, a million of them. What were they doing? Marching up and down, marching, marching, wheeling to right, to left, learning how to light, how to obey orders, how to react under the trying situations of the battle field. Finally, one day the German offensive rolled up against a solid wall that did not yield; but rolled them back and crushed them in one of the greatest counter-offensives known to the history of armies. Why was this? The Americans had been training—training for the task. So it is in every business. Leaders are trained for their work. It is only in the church of God that men assume and hold positions of leadership without training.

I talked to a young man a few days ago about what he intended to be. He has been here some time. He is not gifted with oratory. But he can speak. His talks are clear and plain. His prayers are well worded and from the heart. His life is clean and Christian and his habits are studious. He does not intend to be an evangelist. He plans to go back home, after two more years and serve many years. “I want to grow to be an elder.” God bless him and keep him and all like him. He desires a good work. He appreciates the need and he knows how it must be met.

Paraphrasing the words of a poet we say
Leadership is not reached at a single bound.
We build the ladder by which we rise
To lead men from earth to the skies.
And we serve to its summit round by round