Was looking at 1 Timothy yesterday and the discussion turned to the first verse of ch3, "Here is a trustworthy saying: whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task." Now it struck me that is the verse that gives the Bible balance to this issue of leadership.
I think I and others have been too quick to teach eldership and the pastorate in a negative way without adding this important balance. So often I have heard others talk about the challenge of becoming an elder, the responsibilities, that it is not to be entered upon lightly, that those who teach will be judged more severely quoting James. Even people saying only do it if there is nothing else God will allow you to do. And I want to say it is a responsibility but I TIM 3:1 makes clear that it is a great thing.
That becoming an elder is something to be aspired to, to want to do not to be avoided, that teaching God's people is a privilege not a chore. I need to live my life in the light of that realisation.
I can't help thinking that is why we as churches in Britain struggle to find male leaders, we struggle to find elders - because it is not something to be aspired to, it is instead treated as something which you do if you have to. It is the same reason we struggle with men filling the empty pulpits in England - it is a privilege to be called to preach the Bible to God's people.
We need to deconstruct this idea of a mythical call too. For me the call consisted of having a gift others identified and a ministry they suggested and then recognising a need and agreement with the elders that God had and would enable me to take on that task.
Do you see a need? Do you have a gift that can meet that need? Then our default setting should be that God has called me to meet that need. Do you see how that flips our thinking?
It is a privilege to be called to serve God in his church as a pastor or an elder, it is something we should aspire to.
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