Was Pastor Right?

The 5-fold ministry offices consist of the Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Evangelists and Teachers (Ephesians 4:11). Their job description is to equip the saints to do the work of ministry and to edify the body of Christ. The expected outcome is that the saints would become mature in faith as their knowledge of God’s increases. And the ultimate goal is that the saints can measure up to the standard of Christ in perfection.

One thing about the group of believers occupying these positions is that they inadvertently function as leaders in the body of Christ. And one of the implications of this is that their whole life is often in public view. They are exposed to a lot of scrutiny, criticisms and attacks from other believers and the world.

But is it okay for other believers to become judges of spiritual leaders?

In First Corinthians 4:1-10, Apostle Paul admonishes us to be guided in our dealings with spiritual leaders. Below are 3 things to learn from 1 Corinthians 4:1-10;

1. Spiritual leaders are Servants of Christ (verse 1), not of men. Yes they are called to serve God and men, but ultimately they are answerable to God.
2. They are Stewards; functioning as custodians of the mysteries of God (verse 1). They are expected to faithfully dispense/share the mysteries revealed to them from God to the rest of the body ofChrist (verse 2)
3. Their actions and motives will be judged by Jesus Christ at the appointed time (verses 3- 5), not by any man.

If you think you have failed in any or all of these things, well, that’s probably why you’re reading this- so that you can act differently, as God would have you do.

One way to avoid judging anyone is to sometimes choose to be a fool for Christ’ sake. If someone creates room to receive feedback or constructive criticism of their actions or lifestyle, take it and deliver your opinion in a most respectful manner. If no such system exists, trust Jesus to handle it.

This is the Word of the Lord ?

Shalom!

AboutGrace Obomanu

Grace obomanu is a Christian Blogger and Founder; 'Grace Obomanu Foundation'. Grace is an inspiring writer who intentionally projects the truth of God's word by sharing simple yet profound truths from the Bible. She writes with a revelational thrust, sharing wisdom, insights relatable to everyday living with particular emphasis on Victorious Christian Living. Her foundation, a non-profit trustee, continues to make impact, adding value to people's lives through outreaches, mentorship, bible teachings and counseling, partnerships. Grace has a diploma in Ministerial Training (with emphasis on Spiritual Leadership from Rhema Bible Training Center Nigeria. She trained as a medical doctor and has years of experience in Health Systems Management. She also holds a master's degree in Public Health from the University of Liverpool.