Body Builders Build Like Jesus

Leadership is not about power, position, or politics.  In God’s Church, leadership is about walking with God in the same way that Jesus walked with the Father.

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. (1 Peter 2:21-23 NIV)

Body Builders understand this.  They understand that the world is filled with people created in God’s image, not theirs.  They understand that the Church is Christ’s Body, not theirs.  They know that the sheep entrusted into their care belong to the Great Shepherd and that someday they will need to give an account.  So, Body Builders work diligently using their God-given gifts to help others walk with God, too.

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV)

They do this not because they want to get powerful, rich, or famous.  They do this because they have been called by God to build up Christ’s Body.  They also recognize that we have all been called to the same.  Body Builders don’t quit with a person until he or she is building up Christ’s Body as well.  They don’t quit themselves until Christ takes them home to the next life.

For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don't know which is better. I'm torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. (Philippians 1:21-25 NLT)

Body Builders understand that the statistic still holds true.  One in every one person dies in this life.  They know that Jesus laid down his life so that everyone else would have a second chance with God.  That’s because the most important way we can spend this life is to prepare ourselves and others for the next.  So, Body Builders walk with God and help others do the same.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:15-17 NIV)

Body Builders Build Together

One of the more divisive questions about leadership in God’s Church is this: “Can a woman lead or teach a man?”  It seems obvious at first glance, because Scripture says, “No.”

I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. (1 Timothy 2:12-14 ESV)

My first introduction to this passage came from a discussion with a woman who found out I was going to Seminary (many years ago).  She had concerns, not because of the women teaching men topic, but because of the next line in her Bible.

But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. (1 Timothy 2:15 NIV84)

Her question to me was this: “I can’t have children.  Does that mean I can’t be saved?”  At that moment, I made it clear that I was in my first Semester in Seminary and hadn’t come across this topic yet.  However, I couldn’t imagine that could be the case knowing what I knew so far about God’s plan of salvation.  I did, however, promise to check into it…and I did. 

The question went on a list of questions I had as I was going through school.  Each class would give me a little more insight into the topic.  Theology classes showed me how the command against women teaching men goes back to creation order.  Eve was formed second and was deceived first, so women today cannot teach men.  It was taught as an eternal command.  The childbearing verse was interpreted wildly different from one scholar to the next, across the departments in school.  Studying it as a “problem passage” in Exegesis class didn’t help much either.  It was in Greek class that I had my first breakthrough.

When studying the Greek, I found that my translation was not accurately rendering the original language.  In the Greek, the verse in question reads more like this:

Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control. (1 Timothy 2:15 ESV – Emphasis Mine)

The sentence was clearly in the singular for the first segment and then the plural for the second segment.  In the context of Paul’s explanation to Timothy, it only makes sense that she is Eve and they are women.  This was good news for the woman who asked me the question.  Women are not saved through childbearing.  Eve is saved (redeemed, restored) through childbearing when women live in faith, love, holiness, and propriety.  In other words, something about Eve changes when women walk together with God.  This is not an eternal command as I had been taught.  This is a problem that has existed since Eve and now, through the lifestyle of women, can be changed. 

In searching for an answer to a question about childbirth and salvation, I stumbled upon a solution to this “problem passage.”  The solution goes something like this:

Paul does not allow women to teach or have authority over men.  This is because women are considered second-class citizens since Eve was formed second and deceived first.  (We still make jokes about it today!)  But Eve will be restored (to equal status) when women live in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

Do I think all women should teach or have authority over men?  No.  I don’t think all men should teach or have authority over men.  That’s because leadership in God’s Church is not about power, position, or politics.  It’s about walking with God and helping others do the same.  Women, when you walk with God you will have a double-benefit.  First, your walk will give you what you need to help others do the same.  Secondly, though, it will shut down your detractors.  You will not need to argue to convince them that you have authority from God.  They will see it in your life and, eventually, have nothing negative to say.  It will work in much the same way as Paul’s instruction to Titus.

In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. (Titus 2:7-8 NIV)

Leadership in God’s Church is not about power, position, or politics.  It’s about walking with God and helping others do the same.

How about you?  Do you walk with God and help others do the same?  Do you build Christ’s Body…together?

Body Builders Build Body Builders

Perhaps one of the greatest weaknesses in our churches today is our willingness to stop short of God’s design for His Church.  We get one-gift focused or we simply quit before becoming God’s design.

We can get too focused on the Apostle giftedness of starting new churches and ministries.  The result is that we may not stay long enough or work through the problems that will shut down that church or ministry in a short time. 

We can get so focused on the Prophet gift of truth-saying that we declare the truth but forget to do it in love.  The result is that Christ-followers look like ranting egotists while the rest of the world looks reasoned and measured in comparison.  People dismiss us and stop listening to God.

We can become Evangelistically focused, which feels really good as we start seeing person after person being baptized.  Those who come home to the Father through the Son, however, never learn how to walk by the newly-received Spirit because no one is helping them figure out this new life.

Pastor-focused churches have arisen because pastors stick around and care.  This is great, except that we can start to think we control the pastor and expect him to serve our every whim.  The church becomes inward focused, wanting everything to be about “me” and it never grows – spiritually or numerically.

When we do turn to the teachers, we allow it to become so academic that we lose sight of foundational truths like, “Theology is about God.”  We can lose sight of the forest as we examine the drip of sap on one particular piece of bark on only one of the trees.

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Ephesians 4:15 NIV)

Leadership is not about power, position, or politics in God’s Church.  It’s about walking with God and helping others do the same.  When we do, there is growth.  We grow closer to God.  We grow as we walk with God.  Others grow as God works in and through us.  Through us, God empowers one more to walk together with God.

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:16 NIV)

How about you?  Do you walk with God and help others do the same?

Body Builders Use Their Gifts

Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. (1 Timothy 3:1 NIV)

Yesterday, we started to look at what it means to be a well-respected leader in God’s Church.  These leaders, in Biblical Days, were referred to as ἐπισκοπή.  Episcope simply means investigation, inspection, or overseer.  They were not only servants of people, and shepherds of flocks.  They were mentors to others leaders.  They were leaders of leaders, which merited them the descriptor “overseer” or “bishop.”  Overseers weren’t the only kind of mature, humble, consistent leaders.  Many types were found throughout God’s Church.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV)

Apostles were “sent ones,” roughly the equivalent of our missionaries and church planters today.  Prophets were “truth say-ers,” bringing revelation (truth) from God to people whether they wanted to listen or not.  Evangelists were “good news sharers,” helping people see the bad news that exists because of their rebellion against God and then helping us see the good news that God provided a way home even when we have been far away.  Pastors are shepherds, staying around to care for a flock long-term.  Teachers are explainers, helping us all have “light bulb” moments where we understand what God wants us to know.  

Each of these people are leaders.  All of them serve, pray, plant, and are humble.  All of them walk with God and help others do the same.  Each of them, however, has different gifts, callings, and roles to fill in Christ’s Body.  They are in unity with God and one another, yet diverse in their ministry styles.  Everything they do is intended to give glory to God and to build up the Body.  They are Body Builders.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. (Ephesians 4:14 NIV)

How about you?  Do you recognize Body Builders around us and throughout the world?  Are you a Body Builder?

Body Builders Walk with God

Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. (1 Timothy 3:1 NIV)

Over the past couple weeks, we have been looking at leadership in God’s Church.  We’ve been reminding ourselves that leadership in God’s Church is different than leadership in the world.  In God’s Church, leadership is not about power, position, or politics.  It’s about walking with God and helping others do the same.  The first week, we looked at Team Builders: leaders as servants – table waiters (deacons) who lead by serving.  Last week  we went a step further and looked at Flock Builders: leaders who build into people through prayer and ministry of the word.  This week, we will take things one step further and look at people who have been building into others for awhile.  Their experience and giftedness makes them Body Builders, because they consistently build up the Body of Christ.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up… (Ephesians 4:11-12 NIV)

These builders have learned to serve.  They build into people through prayer and ministry of the word.  They have earned the respect of so many others, though, that they have become leaders of leaders.  They are comfortable with who they are, strong in their relationship with God, and have become effective in using their gifts.  Everyone can see that they walk together with God.

Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap. (1 Timothy 3:2-7 NIV)

How about you?  Do you walk together with God?  Do others recognize it in you?  Can you recognize a true Body Builder?