Bishan church

Stewards vs Leaders Part 1

October 4th, 2007

I don’t like the word “LEADER” as used in the church. The word “Leader” is not found in the scripture the way the secular world operates.

Modern Christian churches love this word. Just look at the number of books written on Leadership. Many church leadership expectations and practices are more towards “Thus saith the latest management bestsellers” than “Thus saith the Lord”.

Did Jesus use this word at all in His teachings? How many books or sermons have you read or heard on servant hood? Being a servant is not grand. No glamour. No visibility. Such books do not sell well. Even when we want to teach servant hood we secularized it with the latest from management bestsellers and called it Servant-Leader. We just find it unpalatable to call someone servant without elevating it somewhat with the word leader inserted. Some folks find submission difficult and so they resurrect their “old self” in a hyphenated name.

As mentioned in another article, the apostles often called themselves slaves or bond servant. A more unglamorous word! The modern Christian is uncomfortable to be lowly. Have you noticed a change in your modern hymn book in Isaac Watts’ famous hymn - “Alas! And did my Saviour bleed”? In the 1st stanza the words “such a worm as I” have been changed to “such a one as I”! Some modern day Christians squirm like a worm to be considered one and could not resist changing the lyrics to be more genteel.

Yes, the church requires people to take the lead but we do not need Leaders per se. It is important in this situation to use biblical words to minimize the strong influence of the world. The biblical word is Steward.

Stewards are leaders BUT Leaders are not necessary steward. This is not a play of semantics. Its implication is great on the discipleship of God’s people.

A steward by his role is and should keenly be aware he is not Owner. He has been entrusted to manage what was given by the Owner. His role requires him to take the lead to manage whatever resources including himself for the service of the Master. Leadership is expected because accountability comes with stewardship. A steward should know his place. When you are called a steward or assume this role, you should know your place. You are oikonomos, manager of the house, NOT the Owner.

A steward by its role and accountability is Necessary condition to conclude that he has to take a lead to what he has been entrusted with. A Leader on the other hand may not give one the Sufficient moral condition to be a steward because personal agenda may come in. The role of a Leader is brings in more glory in the carnal world.

What are Necessary and Sufficient conditions? An example to consider:
1.A normal human being is a creature with two legs.
“Normal human being” is Necessary enough condition for one to conclude it is a creature with two legs

2.A creature with two legs must be a normal human.
Here “two legs” is not Sufficient enough to conclude it human. Birds have two legs too!
We can only conclude it is a Possibility, not a certainty that two-legged creatures may or may not be human. We need more conditions or validations before we can insist certainty.

Likewise stewards as used in the scriptures necessarily require them to take leadership in whatever has been entrusted. The unscriptural word, leader on the other hand may or may not be a good steward by definition.

Words are important because they give life. Whether it is life in the spirit of God or the spirit of the Age depends on how true we are.

How many full time workers feel more respected as Minister instead of the actual meaning - Servant? It is true the word minister is found in the scripture. It is another word hijacked and elevated by the secular world. It is used widely in the government service.

Would you put ‘Church Servant” on your name card? “Church Minister” sounds more respectable isn’t it? Would you feel guilty if you elevate yourself as Senior Minister? It does not feel so bad. does it? But….. you will feel the unease if you try calling yourself Senior Servant or Senior Slave. Doesn’t it make you think twice before you attempt to elevate yourself above the rest of the flock?

Scriptural words are very humbling, aren’t they?

Luke 12:42-43 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant( doulos), whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

A steward is also a doulos, a bond slave. Read Luke 16 on stewardship.

Stewards are leaders BUT leaders are not necessary steward. A leader can only exist if he has followers. To call yourself a leader means the church is your followers. This is outrageous! You become the focus unwittingly instead of Jesus. A leader may want to do great things because he is expected by others. Submitting to him is critical for the success of the church to realize the leader’s plan to bring the church to greater heights. A leader forgets we are not called to be successful. We are called to be faithful. Our calling is to fulfill His will not the church leader’s grand ideas. Pressured to lead, church leaders may be tempted. Modern church leadership brings forth a different fruit of the spirit, one man’s spirit instead of the Holy Spirit’s.

So it is possible for a humble faithful servant, once placed in leadership position with the burden of responsibility may be forced to behave un-Christlike way because of the pressure of expectation comes with the role/title LEADER. With the right biblical term used, you will be constantly think reminded, think twice about your approach because of your place. The burden is indeed great. It is a big dilemma for the modern church especially when size matters to the incumbent ‘leaders’.

We are all Stewards just as we are all priests whether we like it or not. As stewards we do not opt out of “leadership” with excuses e.g. we are not good enough or do not wish to be involved. As stewards we are to take the lead in whatever God has entrusted to us. It may be very unglamorous, even unnoticed. You can “tai-chi” away your leadership responsibility but you have to give an account as a God’s steward.

We tend to limit the word stewardship to money. How often to you hear of lessons with such an association? i.e. a lesson on Christian stewardship is money management? Is this word limited to this usage in the scripture?

1.A steward is a doulos

Luke 12:42-43 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward (oikonomos), whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant(doulos) , whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

2. The apostles saw themselves as ministers. The word used is huperetes meaning subordinate (not leaders!) They are stewards, required to be faithful.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers (huperetes) of Christ, and stewards (oikonomos) of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards(oikonomos), that a man be found faithful.

3. A bishop is an overseer who is a steward entrusted with the flock. To steward what God has entrusted to him. How should be steward himself?

Titus 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward (oikonomos) of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

4.Each of us is a steward and a minister. How faithful are we in taking the lead in what God has entrusted to us?

1 Peter 4:10-11 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards(oikonomos) of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Stewards, slaves, subordinates, servants, ministers are such un-glamorous terms used by the apostles.

How then should be view church leadership? How should the church be organized scripturally?

What do you think?

more thoughts in Part 2

Entry Filed under: General, Articles, Doctrinal, Respecter of persons, Servants Vs Leaders