Law and Order

This is the third blog written on the subject of maintaining your spiritual safety. You may want to read the others posts from July 30 (Are you being spiritually abused) and July 31 (Prophets have protocols) before continuing this reading on law and order in the church. If you are in a great church with godly leadership and Scriptural accountability, you are blessed.

ARE YOU IN A SAFE PLACE?
If you are not in a safe place, there are some decisions to be made. Let’s explore the concept of law and order. Before you recoil and say we are no longer under the law. Consider Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

NEW LAW AND ORDER
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. The Bible states that we are no longer under the law of sin and death but we are now under the law of the spirit of life. Churches that are vibrant and healthy operate with this new law and they have order that allows everyone to be safe. Churches that are not safe have an invisible foundation called the spirit of bondage.

LAW OF SPIRIT OF LIFE
One of the most profound aspects of living on this ” new law” is that it brings liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. This new law operates in our hearts when we choose to walk according to God’s spirit and not according to our own human thoughts and emotions. 2 Corinthians 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. The Word of God encourages every believer to be sure to maintain this liberty.

STAND FAST IN LIBERTY
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Jesus said in John 10:10b I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. There are 32 references to abundantly in Scripture. Abundantly means in large quantities and extremely plentiful. Believers are not supposed to drag through life with an empty spiritual tank barely surviving on fumes. We are to continually be replenished, resupplied and resurged by the power of God. This is circumvented when we are too busy trying to protect ourselves. Sheep need good shepherds. When we first come to God, we look like an old beat up shoe but then he polishes us, replaces the sole(soul), fills us with good things. We are reconditioned for the journey called life.

IT’S ABOUT LOVE
Sheep need viligant shepherds. sheep need determined shepherds that know how to discipline them when they are going astray. Sheep need healthy shepherds that are invested in their care and growth. It’s not about a megachurch or a mini-church. Why? It’s about love. Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yes I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee. 1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

SIGNS OF BONDAGE
Examine the environment at your church. Are there signs of unrest, contention, confusion, strife, anger and detrimental debate? Is there disrespect of pastoral authority, insubordination and a climate of chaos? A renown Bishop in our area who mentors dozens of pastors successfully has said “Chronic chaos is a sign of poor management”. The pastor is the one who sets the tone of the church. He or she must maintain law and order. This is vital so that the sheep are not harassed and harmed by predators inside the congregation. The Bible describes these predators as “wolves in sheeps clothing”.

IDENTIFYING BAD LEADERS
The Bible provides detailed descriptions of a bad leaders who care little for the sheep and actually bring them into bondage. 2 Peter 2:1-3 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 2 Peter 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. Bondage includes suppression, domination and exploitation.

GOOD SHEPHERDS
The best example of a good shepherd is the Lord Jesus himself. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. What Jesus did during his earthly ministry is extremely profound. He called 12 men who were all very rough around the edges. He became the sandpaper to smooth them out by working in closely with them on a daily basis. Please note they all worked together. There was no “independent study course” for the 12 disciples. Jesus established a vital life giving relationship with them after accepting them exactly as they were. Remember “hothead” Peter, “kiss-up” John, “take the shirt off your back” Matthew and even “money-grubbing” Judas. All of them were accepted not because of their own goodness but because the Lord looked on their potential to be powerful as they became saturated with this presence and procedures.

SIGNS OF A GOOD LEADER
Jesus said there would be indicators of his followers. They are listed in Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Jesus corrected and protected his followers. He gave them clear instructions and demonstrated by example what they should do. Good shepherds are honest, humble, committed and connected to others in the body of Christ through relationship. Followers of Christ are not lone rangers and there church is not the Wild Wild West.

BAD SHEPHERDS
An example of a bad shepherd would be King Saul. He loved having followers but he was not willing to follow orders himself. He was inconsistent and unfaithful to the protocols of a king (leader). God told him specifically and emphatically to do certain things and he fudged it. He did it his way like Frank Sinatra and became disqualified to be a leader for God. The prophet Samuel had to give Saul the boot. God rejected Saul simply because Saul rejected the counsel and correction of God. Rejection of this leader had its root in his own disobedience to God.

SIGNS OF A BAD LEADERS
Today we have some leaders who are extremely insecure. They will surround themselves with yes men or women because they are not getting their affirmation from God instead they seek it from people. This shows a deep struggle with rejection. Rejection is a dangerous place to be. If you cannot receive love and affirmation from God, how can you receive it from other people? Lack of approval from people causes some leaders to be hyperviligant about their titles and positions. This is not necessary when a leader knows their placement and props come from God (primarily) and people (secondarily).

AVOID CLUB LEADERSHIP
Leaders cannot go around clubbing other leaders because they feel like their are being slighted or not properly recognized. Where would we all be in Jesus carried himself this way? Philippians 2:5 makes it very clear how leaders should act. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHERS
So, let us be clear. Leaders for God should not insist that their own name be highly exalted. This honor is reserved for Jesus. It is your duty as a believer in Christ to be in a church that has good law and order. It is your responsibility and privilege to fellowship with other believers and not scrape them off your spiritual plate into the garbage can when they disagree with you. God has not designed for you to be in a place of peril and pain or isolated in your own little igloo. It’s going to get mighty cold in there all by yourself.

FIND A FLOURISHING PLACE
He wants you to flourish. He wants you to be fruitful and multiply. He wants you to grew in wisdom and stature. You cannot do this if you are constantly dodging friendly fire from your own people. Get to a place of safety. Remember these passages. Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runs into it, and is safe. Proverbs 24:6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counselors there is safety. Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

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