Posts filed under 'Respecter of persons'
Biblical words describing Christians are humbling. Makes you think twice whether you should call yourself leader and what behaviours should shine forth instead.
You will realize that not all words translated as ’servant’ or ‘minister’ have the same meaning.
1.Doulos - a bond servant, one who voluntarily or involuntarily bond himself up to the will of another
a. Paul
Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant (doulos) of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God…
b. Apostles
2 Corinthians 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants (doulos) for Jesus’ sake.
c. James
James 1:1 James, a servant (doulos) of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ…….
d. Simon Peter
2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant (doulos) and an apostle of Jesus Christ…
e. Christians
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants(doulos) to obey, his servants(doulos) ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
We become his slaves out of our own free will.We choose to be subservient to Him.
2. Oiketes - house servant, menial servant or in South East Asia we may say “coolie” of a household.
My grandfather used to have a faithful coolie who came from China at a young age. With no family of his own he was just grateful simply because he had a roof over his head and food provided for his hard labour. He remained faithful even to my father after the death of my grandfather.
Luke 16:13 No servant(oiketes) can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Romans 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant(oiketes)? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
If you are a menial worker for one master who provided for you, how can you serve a master from another house? All coolies are judged based on what the Master has instructed. Coolies listen to the call of the Master.
3. Misthios - hired servant, servant paid for their labour; wage earner.
This word is not used for believers. Used by the prodigal son in his reflection about himself compared to his father’s hired hands.
Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants(misthios) of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
Luke 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants(misthios).
The Prodigal son compares himself with outsiders who were paid for their labour. He did not compare himself with house servants who were part of the family structure. He considered himself as an outsider to the family. Even the outsiders got a better deal than him.
4. Pais - child, servant. This word is derived from beat. Was it because you could easily beat up a slave like a child with no rights?
This is an interesting choice of word.This word was used for Israel, Jesus and David .
Could it also be used in an affectionate way? In Hainanese a younger person addresses himself as “nong” when speaking to an elder. Nong in chinese character is nu meaning slave. Grandparents affectionately call their grandchildren as nong.
Luke 1:54 He hath holpen his servant(pais) Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
Matthew 12:18 Behold my servant(pais), whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
Acts 4:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant(pais) David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
5. Huperestes - under rower , officers, subordinates
It literally means under rower. I can imagine a ship with slaves rowing a ship. They have to row in unison with the beat of the drum, thus subordinate to those in charge. Maybe it is akin to the Hokkien word kah kiah or kah chiu i.e. “hands and legs”. Hands and legs are controlled by the Head. They are under the authority of someone higher, thus subordinate.
Matthew 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer(huperetes), and thou be cast into prison.
Paul the huperetes of Jesus. He had to row to Jesus’ authority, not to his own beat.
Acts 26:16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister(huperetes)and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers(huperetes) of Christ, and stewards(oikonomos) of the mysteries of God.
Notice two separate words are used here: huperetes and oikonomos.
5. Leitourgos - a public servant , a functionary in a temple
This is derived from two words laos ( people) and ergon ( work) . He works to serves people. A chrisian is part of God’s civil service.
Romans 13:6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers (leitourgos), attending continually upon this very thing.
Romans 15:16 That I should be the minister(leitourgos), of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
Hebrews 1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers(leitourgos), a flame of fire.
Hebrews 8:2 A minister(leitourgos), of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
6. diakonos - an attendant, servant, one who runs errands, deacon, a person who waits upon or serve tables (diakoneo, diakonia)
This is the most well known word for the English speaking because we are more familiar with the word deacon.
1 Corinthians 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers (diakonos) by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
Romans 16:1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant (diakonos) of the church which is at Cenchrea:
Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister ( diakonos)
Colossians 4:7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister(diakonos) and fellowservant( sun- doulos) in the Lord:
Acts 6:1 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 (diakonia).
Acts 6:2 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(diakoneo) tables.
Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry(diakonia) of the word.
We run errands or do chores for Him. We are His peons. In modern terms, when you diakonos you are doing operational or logstics work to achieve an objective. There is a difference between a responsibility, a role,a title and a full time paid job. Even Phoebe was a diakonos. Was this a responsibility? A role? A title? A full time paid job?
You will notice that the apostles used many words to describe themselves. These words are not titles or full time paid occupation.
We are ALL servants and bond slaves.
With regards to our own will we are doulos. We bond ourselves to Him willingly as His slaves. When we are added into his house we are his house slaves (oiketes) serving only one Master. Although slaves He treats us as His pais. We listen to His voice and act according to His will working together in unison as huperetes rowing to the beat of the shipmaster. We are busy in our Father’s business, serving the public as leitourgos; as diakonos running errands and logistics to do His will according to His beat. We are not hired hands (misthios); we respond to a calling not a job, not a career opportunity.
So tell me what do you mean when you call yourself a church leader?
Is there such a thing as a hyphenated Servant-Leader? One foot in the bible, one foot in the world?
“I’ve got a home in glory land that outshines the sun…”(3X)
Way beyond the blue.
Doulos, O, doulos , O do remember Me?…..(3X)
Way beyond the blue…..”
February 6th, 2008
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
October 4th, 2007
Job 32:20-22
Elihu the Buzite:
I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.
Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.
For I know not to give flattering titles;
in so doing my Maker would soon take me away.
September 13th, 2007
People of certain cultures are more predisposed to being respecter of persons than others.
Asian cultures especially those with some form of hierachy/patriachy would ensure you know which rung of the social ladder one is perched on simply by the title you have. Honorific titles inform the members of such groups whether you are an insider or outsider, elder or younger etc. For such folks being a respecter of person IS showing respect. They may struggle to disguish the two.The struggle to decouple showing respect and being a respecter of person provides fertile ground for favouritism.
The lack of ability to separate the message and the messenger thwarts one’s efforst in truth seeking. To such a person what matters foremost is who said what, before considering the weight of the message. If you are a person of no or low status, or poorly esteemed, what you say does not carry much even if you talk sense. When a person who is highly regarded speaks, even if he tells half truths, share secular worldly message, the audience will just lap it up.To such folks, a common verse to justify this behavior is “give honour to whom honour is due”.
Truth is independent of messenger. If something is true, it is true even if the messenger is your enemy,uneducated, not eloquent, low status or poorly dressed.
How do we know we are respecter of persons? An easy acid test is to use what our Lord suggested.
“By their fruits you shall know them” Matthew 7:20
What spirit is at work from one’s behaviour? Is it the Holy Spirit or the spirit of respecter of persons?
Let’s see 2 examples. Ask yourself , can you detect a hint of respecter of persons in this behavior of speech?
Spirit A
We are going to have a meeting. All bible class teachers: Charlie, Willy, Eddy; and maintenance supervisors: Barney, Fred and elders: Paul, Peter, John meet at the foyer after worship.
Spirit B
We are going to have a meeting. All bible class teachers: Bible Class Teacher Charlie, Bible Class Teacher Willy, Bible Class Teacher Eddy; and maintenance supervisors: Supervisor Barney, Supervisor Fred and elders: Elder Paul, Elder Peter, Elder John meet at the foyer after worship.
Spirt B is very troublesome for me to type. The deliberate effort to capitalise and repeat each role and make it a title reveals a lot of the person who would go to such extent. Such people do exists. To them it is showing respect.What kind of spirit is at work in such a soul?
There is a difference between title and role. We all play various roles. A role serves a function in an organization. What happens when a role is elevated to a title in the name of showing respect?
Elders, deacons, apostles and evangelists are biblical roles. They are not title to elevate one person above the rest of the flock, even if it is done in good intention of ” showing respect”.
The apostles never called each other with capitalized A as in Apostle Paul or Apostle Peter. When the word apostle is used it is mentioned as a role, a responsibility, a stewardship.
Peter mentioning Paul
2 Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
Paul mentioning Peter
Galatians 1:18-19 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.
A word used quite often by the apostles was the word DOULOS meaning ” bondservant or slave” . In NIV, this meaningful word is lost in translation as “servant”.
In the following verses, the word servant is DOULOS. Replace each word servant with slave and ask yourself what kind of spirit did they have.
Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
2 Corinthians 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
Jude 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Revelation 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Revelation 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
If the apostles dare not elevate themselves, conscious that they were slaves of God, dare we elevate ourselves in the name of showing respect?
By their fruits you shall know……….
August 14th, 2007
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons
Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Ephesians 6:9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
Colossians 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
Why is God not a respecter of persons? Truth spelt with capital T is independent of the messenger. If you say the sun rises in the east, it is true whether you are a friend or an enemy, educated or not, rich or poor. God’s Truth does not change regardless of the messenger’s status, possession or character.
It is not good to be a respecter of person. If we are ,this spirit hinders our search for Truth. This is so because we are unable to decouple the message from the messenger.
People who are respecter of persons are partial. Their first instinct is to weigh WHO the person is, instead of WHAT, the weight of the message. If a person talks sense, it is sense even if you do not like him. If he spurts out nonsense, having a PhD or being a CEO of a MNC or being eloquent and entertaining, is not going to make him more credible in God’s eyes.
Yes it is true we individuals sin and make mistakes. On the other hand, as a church we must not encourage a culture of respecting persons i.e. partiality towards men’s glory.
Such partiality has been inoculated in the churches all these years in a very significant way through the pulpit.
I have worked in a well known US MNC for 15 years. Everyone is on 1st name basis even the scientists and engineers in the US research labs. No one knows what your qualification is unless it is deliberately dug up. Yet in the church I often hear speakers being introduced as Dr. this or Prof that. Even in introduction, with much pomposity and formality, we announce a person’s background, achievements and standing in the secular world.
My guess is that preachers who have been educated in US or are used to lectureships forget that they are no more in their alma mater! Maybe they have forgotten they are now in the Lord’s house and no more in bible college or university?
I have worked in the academia for 5 years doing research. In such an environment, researchers , academics and scientists are often introduced with their list of achievements before their presentation. Do you need such a behaviour in the Lord’s house? What relevance is your secular standing in the Lord’s house? What values are you conveying to the flock when we with pomp announce so and so is a PhD or Prof. in this and that? So what?
In the Lord’s house, in His presence witnessed by His priesthood, it does not matter whether the speaker is uneducated. If he speaks from the Word, we should well listen even if he is a carpenter from an unheard of place. If you wish know this person’s background, get to know the speaker personally. It is between you and him. By all means do some background search before inviting a speaker, but avoid too much emphasis on his secular credentials. Spiritual standing and the soundness of the message in the Lord are more important.
I used to mention names and people’s achievements in my sermons. I avoid them now. I am not saying we should not, it is just that I am cautious. I now avoid mentioning nonscriptural books or authors. These authors have their publicists. They earned loads of money. Why should I give them publicity in the Lord’s house? I am aware that some brethren do not read or study the bible during the week. If we offer the flock distraction with the latest best seller or management theory, when is God’s word going to be heard and fed to this brethren?
If I wish to quote someone, I will now say “Someone said/wrote…” “One brother mentioned that………” “It is said……”
If I wish to honour the person, I will contact the person privately or write comments in Readers’Comments in Amazon.com. At most I will honour him in the presence of a small group of people whom he knows on some other occasions. I am just cautious not to shift God’s glory from the pulpit to this and that PhD. or author or managemet guru. It also prevent the slow innoclution of the flock with “respecter of person” virus from the pulpit by our public behaviour.
Have you ever felt you are not up to it? Not good enough? Not smart enough? Not eloquent enough? You can’t compare with brother so-and-so who preaches once a month who is more eloquent, more educated, speaks with an accent? You might be a victim of the “respecter of person” flu virus spreading in the church. You are feeling down because ” the church sees you no up”. Maybe you are not an “active” Christian thus not faithful enough?
Different cultures have ways of showing respect to or honour a person. If we adopt such practices blindly we may be encouraging a culture of partilaity. One such practice is when we elevate roles to titles. Will share more in Part 2.
February 15th, 2007
