Imagine that you are a Christian in a time of persecution. The government keeps a watchful eye on the congregation. For the least item of concern the members are taken into custody. The church leaders are especially paying the price, of course. The thinking is, by eliminating the leaders, the church will be weakened most.

Forced?⤒🔗

In that time, you are chosen to be a church leader. You did not ask for it, your name was suggested. Then you are nominated with others, and two weeks later you are appointed to be an elder, a shepherd of the congregation.

How do you react then?

Are you surprised? Does it seem nice to start doing this work? Do you see a “good work” in this?

Or do you have quite different thoughts; are you thinking of the danger, do you feel forced into this, in these circumstances you do not really want to be shoved to the front line?

This second thought is easy to imagine. Who likes to put himself in danger? The congregation is thanked. And by her choice you could well land in a heap of problems. As Christian you cannot put on your camo gear anymore. You are noted as one of the leaders.

Free Movement←⤒🔗

If you can imagine all of this, then it is remarkable that in Scripture the talk about this is quite different. Peter writes in such a time. The congregation lives in the fire-glow of persecution. Suffering comes upon her, but let the Christians be glad that they may share in Christ’s suffering, to then also share in his glory.

And when you are called to office, do not feel yourself forced into this, but do it freely. Let it be your own choice! How wonderful this may also sound in our ears, with this we touch the heart of the matter.

The first thing in office is not whether you are eloquent of speech, or something, or that you have a lot of knowledge. Sure, that is also important. The gift to lead must be recognizable.

But primarily, Peter mentions the willingness, after God’s will (1 Peter 5:2).

Why is that?

Because the offices are meant to show something of Christ.

With words you might at times make a mistake, and your knowledge does not always help you. Then you are not immediately unsuitable for service. But your attitude, your motivation, is nestled deeper within you and works through in everything you do. If that is wrong, it becomes almost impossible to serve.

Your willingness, not forced, but by your own choice, out of love, even in times of stress and danger; why is that so real in the service for the Lord?

Because Jesus came like that to the earth, in complete willingness, not being forced, but driven by unending love. This is how he came in a time of danger and persecution; it would cost him his life. But he came! He wanted to be with us, in our misery. He was not much appreciated. He was despised and spat upon, but he persisted. For God so loved the world…

So if you now want to be in his service, and do something on his behalf, then some of his character must be noticeable in you. That is indispensable. If this voluntariness is missing, then you are not doing it in his name.

Faithful Inspiration←⤒🔗

Why this article? Because we are at the beginning of a new season. And because the office and the matters regarding the office bearer are under discussion in several ways. The task of the pastor is in full view, what elder and deacons are doing has been observed for some time already.

The question is raised whether methods and structures are still current? And how do you deal with the functioning (or lack of it) of a servant. All of this is very good and necessary, and it is good to continue with all of this.

But in the midst of it is also much that is difficult to organize. And especially here are very real elements embedded.

What inspired the pastors in the time of the Reformation, the travelling ministers? From areas where they were relatively safe, they kept coming to the congregations which found themselves in the fire of persecution. They knew the risk, but they came, and they encouraged the Christians with words of eternal life. That was their choice. Many sealed that choice with their own blood. What drove them to this? The love of Christ.

Paul encourages Timothy to do his task as evangelist faithfully. “Be ready, in season and out of season”, he adds in 2 Timothy 4:2. Those words are sometimes interpreted as a license to suddenly jump on unsuspecting people with the gospel message. But that cannot have been the intentions. It is about Timothy himself, that he ought to be ready always, heartily and with love, when he is asked to witness to the truth. In good times (when it works out timewise) and in bad times (when it may be inconvenient). In the above quoted text it does not say that you cannot plan your workweek in an orderly fashion. But it does indicate where God expects your heart to be, your heart for the people and their salvation.

In various way we begin to see the image of the Chief Shepherd, who gave everything.

And this is not limited to office bearers; the whole congregation must display his image. Peter writes to the Christians in the same fire-glow of persecution and hardship: “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling” (1 Peter 4:9). With that he does not mean an all too easy hospitality, like a coffee visit in a time of plenty, etc. No, rather think of a roaming and rushed family without a roof over their head, who is standing hungrily at your front door, while you yourself have hardly enough for yourself. Then it is easy to “grumble”, in the sense of: hey what are you coming to my door for—I have hardly enough for my family to eat. Those are difficult times, but at the same very suitable to show the image of him, who became poor for us while he was rich, and who hung naked on the cross so that we could be clothed.

Permeated by the Spirit←⤒🔗

No person can do this on his own. Of course not.

But then it will also show where all of this comes from. The office bearer is sometimes called “steward” or perhaps “key keeper” in the house of God.

Keys of what? Of the kingdom of heaven! Not only to allow entry, but also to bring out the riches and to serve those.

When we say “steward or key keeper” we must think of someone like Joseph, in the service of Potiphar. He had the complete trust and had access to all the riches and supplies of the estate. With the purpose to serve everyone on time and give them their portion.

In short, in church we receive things from God. The father of the lost son said at one time: “All that I have is yours”. In church this may be endlessly applied: everything in Christ is given you out of grace. Then we speak about forgiveness of sins, but not only that. The Son wants to share his life with you. He wants to share who he is. His Spirit comes over you, his character becomes your character, you start to think and want as he does.

To make a long story short: in your service you must display something of Christ. But no one has that from themselves. You can only show this when you have first received it yourself. This is the deepest essence of the office that can never be compensated by conversation techniques or whichever other expertise you bring in. To stand in the service of the Chief Shepherd is first of all a matter between him and you, through the working of his Spirit. Who he is for you will permeate you. You will receive him in true faith. And trust him in everything. He may lead you wherever he wants, even on a road with opposition, persecution or even worse. When you so completely accept him as your Shepherd (even with an incomplete faith), then you can let others hear and see who he is for you as Shepherd; for you and for others. We call that “permeated” by the Spirit.

People experience that you do not float on your own abilities or knowledge, but that you speak and act as someone who himself is also guided and carried. This cannot be replaced by anything else; people would notice it right away.

On the other hand, even when you are not so handy and perhaps less dynamic than others, when you show the fullness of life in Christ, you will make contact. People will not quickly complain about you then. For everyone will feel: this is it, this is all I need.

Broadly in the Congregation←⤒🔗

Am I only talking about office bearers now? Not at all! This applies broadly in the congregation. Peter writes just as easily that all members in the congregation are “stewards” (1 Peter 4:10-11). “Land agent” it says in the translation, but that is just a different translation of the same word in the original language. Stewards in the service of God, everyone, each with and from the gifts they have received. And this applies to everyone: you can only give, after you have first received yourself.

“When someone speaks, let it be words as from God”: this can only happen when you have first listened attentively yourself, have pondered the content, when you have come to know the value of Scripture.

“When someone serves, let it be from power given by God”: this does not work, unless you know how Jesus serves you with his whole life. What you receive in him, you can then pass on to others. This is the only way it works, from that Source, not in any other way.

Instructions for office bearers? No, for every member of the congregation, man, and woman, young and old. Otherwise, you can still say true things, and even mean well spiritually, but the heart is gone, God’s voice cannot be found in it. Paul then compares you to a “noisy gong” or a “clanging cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1) It does not sound like music, but like noise which hurts your ears.

Your attitude then becomes different too, not giving (in the Name of Jesus) but demanding, focussed on yourself and your rights (not at all according to the image of Christ).

Meant for Eternity←⤒🔗

But when we focus on this, then something will also happen in the congregation! Something that rises above the daily issues.

We live in a situation where everything is being discussed and being moved (changed). That leads to many effects; on the one hand it results in openness and space, on the other hand we see concern appears and alienation occurs. But no one can turn it around. There is criticism of just about all aspects of church life; what gave a hold in the past appears to be able to be done quite differently today. And so on. Do we give up hope because of all this?

Not at all. It becomes even more clear what is from God. This gives depth and provides guidance, which is permanent for all times. Yes, it is meant for eternity.

The Preacher says it in a very fitting manner: there is a time for this, and a time for that, for building up and for breaking down, for gathering and for throwing away.

That is how it goes in this temporary time, everything passes and is being repeated, the one time like this and another time like that. No one can stop it. But in the midst of all that passes, God does things that endure forever (Eccl. 3:14).

Where does he do those things? For starters in the hearts of people. For this reason, he gathers a church, he draws us toward him, to change us according to his image.

Therefore, as starting point: together we serve the Chief Shepherd. Perhaps it is worthwhile to organize a start-evening and talk about this together. Not just about what we are going to do, but especially how.

Together as stewards in the house of God: receiving everything from him, to live from him and so to be a shepherd for each other. If we focus on doing that, we will most certainly recognize this in each other. And we want to recognize this; we want to see it during home visits, at the Bible study and in conversations amongst each other. It is a tie for eternity.

This is not only for office bearers. This is to be real church. Together in the Name of Jesus.