Studies In The Kingdom Of God

Volume 2: Chapter 5: Kingdom Leadership: Whose Church Is It?

"and in the middle of the lampstands one like a son of man..." Revelation 1:13 (emphasis mine)

"the one who walks among the seven golden lampstands says this." Revelation 2:1 (emphasis mine)

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Revelation 1:7a

Before we begin the subject of Kingdom Leadership, there are a few general things that I need to say about the Church in the western hemisphere, especially at the local church level. I have been an active member, participant, and leader in the local church for over forty years and I am not unaware or unconcerned regarding the spiritual condition that much of the Church finds herself in today. I have a sincere concern in regard to this condition because, as one who has contributed to the proliferation of this unfavorable condition, I want to see the Church turn things around and operate in all that Jesus has ordained for her.

I believe that if a person experiences or observes a problem situation or condition and is willing to be part of the solution, whatever that solution may be, then they should have the opportunity to voice their perspective of that situation or condition as well as their thoughts on possible solutions. I want to be part of the solution to this particular condition in the Church. I believe that the general disregard for the prophetic activity of the Kingdom of God and for the complete ministry of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers today, within the local church, is a contributing factor to the larger condition in which the Church finds herself.

We in the Church can point to many symptoms and ailments regarding our spiritual condition. We are very aware that things are not as they should be. Yet, in most of the areas where we sorely come up short of the revealed will and purposes of God, we can trace part of the cause back to a lack of effective leadership in these areas. Again, as a leader in the local church for many years, I acknowledge that some of my own actions and attitudes, especially in my early years, contributed to this condition. There are specific capabilities and characteristics that Jesus built into the fabric of His Body, the Church, when He established her on the earth 2000 years ago of which we are ignorant, dismissing them outright as irrelevant, or simply putting them aside because they are inconvenient.

These particular attitudes and actions exist for many reasons, some of which are understandable but none of them are legitimate. How can we have a legitimate excuse for putting something aside that Jesus purposely built into the fabric of the Church? Is it legitimate to plead ignorance in regard to something that God has stated plainly in the scriptures? Can we consider something irrelevant that Jesus says is important enough to lust for? None of us are perfect and I don't believe God expects us to be. I do believe He wants and expects moral courage, spiritual integrity, and intellectual honesty from us, especially from His leaders in the Church.

One of my seminary professors said something one time that has stayed with me and I believe may apply to this current condition in which we find ourselves. He said that the orientation of the Hebrew/Middle-Eastern mind is much different than that of the Greek/Western mind. We in the West live in a cultural orientation based on the ancient Greek way of thinking.

When a person says the phrase "lack of knowledge" to someone with a Western orientation, the result will most likely be expressed in the word "ignorance". On the other hand, when a person says the phrase "lack of knowledge" to someone with a strong Hebrew/Middle-Eastern orientation, the result will most likely be expressed in the word "rebellion". You see, we in the West are much more passive in our response to not having the required knowledge to make a necessary decision or to take a necessary action. We say, "What we don't know won't hurt us." The Hebrew/Middle-Eastern mind is much more active and aggressive in their response to not having the required knowledge. They say, "What we don't know will destroy us! "