Consistent In Church

Leadership is not about power, position, or politics.  In the Church, leadership is about walking together with God and helping others do the same.  That is why passages in Scripture can describe leaders in the following way:

Now the overseer is to be above reproach… (1 Timothy 3:2 NIV)
In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect… (1 Tim. 3:8a NIV)
Since an overseer manages God's household, he must be blameless… (Titus 1:7 NIV)

Remember what the early church looked like.  It was a safe place for people who wanted to worship God and proclaim Jesus as their Lord.  It wouldn't be long before the Church began encountering persecution.  This persecution threatened to destroy people who believed Jesus was Christ.  The church, however, was a safe place to hold those beliefs.  It was a place where others held on to the same faith.  It was a greenhouse.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42 NIV)

In a greenhouse, plants grow.  They grow inside even when the weather and elements are bad outside.  The greenhouse is not just a warm place.  It creates an environment for growth.  The Church does the same thing.  It creates a safe environment for growth.  Everyone in the Church is encouraged to grow in their walk together with God.

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)

Leaders create that environment.  They create it by holding firmly to their own faith.  Then they create an environment where people are loved, respected, and encouraged to grow in their own faith as well.  They invite, empower, equip, and encourage others to walk together with God as well.  The best leaders do this consistently.

How about you?  Are you consistent in your attendance and participation with the Church?  Are you consistent in your walk together with God when together with others in the Church?  Do you invite, empower, equip, and encourage others in their walk?  Do others look to you for leadership because of your consistency?