no use trying to do church work without love . A doctor , a lawyer , may do good work without love , but God ’ s work cannot be done without love . 2
I ’ ve encountered leaders who loved the institution of the church and who loved theology but did not love God ’ s people . God ’ s work cannot be accomplished without love for Jesus and love for his bride .
Gospel-Shaped Leaders Reflect Christ
It is time to lead like Christ rather than by merging our sacred calling with profane practices . Too many church leadership teams have adopted “ elemental spirits of the world ” and “ human precepts and teachings ” that have “ an appearance of wisdom ” ( Colossians 2:20 – 23 ). A pastor in Arizona told me how his elders held secret meetings and voted to remove him
as the lead pastor . It was devastating and the church folded within three months . The church closed over the pride of her leaders . It showed the church body that their leaders had no clue how to obey Christ and lead in unity under Christ . Is this a compelling manifestation of Christ to the world ?
You cannot effectively be a leader in the church without Christlike love for others . Leaders who lack spiritual maturity will seek to use their position as a secret doorway to receive love and power rather than a window to display Christ ’ s love to others . Pastor-evangelist Robert Cleaver Chapman ( 1803 – 1902 ) was known as the apostle of love and was called “ the saintliest man I know ” by Charles Spurgeon . 3 Chapman said , “ My business is to love others , not to seek that others love me .” 4 Every church leader ’ s business is to love others as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her . Jesus says ,
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