Musings: Steve's Articles

Authenticity, Not Age - The Key to Pastoral Leadership

On the whole, the issue of age and authority is no longer a major source of conflict or difficulty for the young pastor. While it may still exist, a situation where a younger person is to have authority in relation to older people is no longer a socially sensitive issue. However, within some ethnic congregations, age can be problematic, especially when the relatively new pastor is much younger than the established leadership, or spheres of influence within the congregation. In such situations, pastoral authority which should be rightly his, is not readily acknowledged or given.

In the specific context of first generation, ethnically Korean congregations, there are enormous barriers that must be crossed in order to minister and work effectively with members who are much older than the pastor. These barriers are essentially cultural ones. Traditional Korean society operates on a very hierarchical model where respect must be given to those who are older for no other reason than the fact that they were born earlier than oneself. While this is not necessarily a fault and can have some beneficial aspects, the system is often abused by equating total deference and obedience with respect. As such, many of the older generation expect automatic obedience, irrespective of the merits of their suggestions.

This is clearly an unbiblical attitude. In many ways, it is similar to the situation that faced Timothy in Ephesus.[1] Addressing this situation, Paul writes, “Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers and example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”[2] In addressing this issue, it would be entirely more productive to base solutions on biblical principles rather than synthesising a piece-meal approach based solely on pragmatism. Thus, we can look to these two verses and unpack their content to reveal the principles which should be adopted to overcome this obstacle.

Before addressing the external issues, the pastor must be secure in his role. He should not be intimidated by those who are older, and realise that he must not be despised because he is young. As Paul writes, “Let no one despise you for your youth.”[3] He has been divinely called into ministry and so has pastoral authority that comes from God.

However, this authority is not an absolute and unconditional authority. The pastor must not engage in a power struggle, or attempt to grasp power. The pastor’s authority comes from his validation of scriptural truth, in the first place, by providing authoritative direction and instruction for the church from the Bible.[4] And secondly, by acting and living in such a way as to be an example of a godly life.[5] As Bonhoeffer writes, “[The pastor’s] authority lies in the exercise of his ministry. In the man himself there is nothing to admire.”[6] The implication here is that in faithful teaching and preaching of God’s Word and exemplary Christian living, this will eventually win the respect of those who may have been measuring him by human standards.

The first aspect in gaining the respect and co-operation of church members much older than the pastor is through faithful preaching and teaching of God’s Word. Throughout Scripture, the function of leadership is associated with the authoritative communication of God’s Word.[7] John Stott emphasises this aspect of pastoral authority. “Here, then, is the preacher’s authority. It depends on the closeness of his adherence to the text he is handling, that is, on the accuracy with which he has understood it and on the forcefulness with which it has spoken to his own soul.”[8] In similar manner, Jay Adams defines ruling as “bringing sheep together as a flock, or congregation, teaching and helping them to live, learn, love, and labour together for Jesus Christ…the authoritative instruction in and application of the Word of God to the individual and corporate activities of the sheep.”[9] True authority for the pastor comes not from personal ability or worldly wisdom, but from the faithful teaching of the Word.

The second aspect of gaining the respect of those older than the pastor is through living a life that models Christian discipleship. Thus, the pastor must think and take action with a conscious desire to “make [themselves] a model for [others] to follow.”[10] In 1 Timothy 4:12, five areas are listed. The first two cover speech and conduct of the pastor, while the last three cover the qualities that he must show. These areas are not just for exemplary purposes but the “normative mould.”[11] Timothy can be an example to other believers because he himself is moulded by the Gospel. This kind of pastoral leadership is powerful, but never manipulative. The motivation of the pastor in doing good, exemplary things is not to get others to imitate or respect them. The pastor lives such a life because they are scripturally mandated. And pastors who live such lives are leaders of influence. They gain support and co-operation not because of clever methodologies, but because they evidence spiritual authenticity in day to day life. They not only preach, they also practice. And the practice gives credibility to their message and power to their pastoral leadership.

The goal of the pastor is not to make his congregation realise and understand any failings they may have. Rather, it is to urge and encourage the flock on towards Christian maturity. This idea is implied in Paul’s words to Timothy. While it is wrong for the older members of the church to despise and look down on the young pastor, it is equally wrong to try and confront this head on and combat it. The solution is not to force the pastor’s authority down the throat of unwilling church members. The solution is to guide them towards Christian maturity. The solution is not to insist on personal authority, but to point to Christ. When such a goal is pursued, the natural consequence of mature Christian living is that those in the flock will submit to the authority that God has placed in the pastor’s care. As Bonhoeffer writes, “Genuine authority knows that it is bound in the strictest sense by the saying of Jesus: ‘One is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren’ (Matthew 23:8). The Church does not need brilliant personalities but faithful servants of Jesus and the brethren. Not in the former but in the latter is the lack. The Church will place its confidence only in the simple servant of the Word of Jesus Christ because it knows that then it will be guided, not according to human wisdom and human conceit, but by the Word of the Good Shepherd.”[12]

It is without doubt that the pastor, irrespective of his age, should have authority and a leadership role within a congregation. Where he is despised and looked down upon because of his age, the congregation is displaying its lack of Christian maturity and understanding. But at such points, the pastor should never grasp for power and authority. The pastor’s authority comes through the preaching and teaching faithfully from God’s Word, the living of a godly life which is a clear model for discipleship, and guiding and encouraging the members of the congregation, no matter their age, to Christian maturity. Pastors, even those who are young, are meant to influence opinion, induce belief and lead the flock to action. However, this must be sought only within biblical guidelines. While such an approach may often take a long period of time to realise, one must always remember that the church is a theocracy. Christ has appointed pastors to have positions of authority within the church. But they must reside and guide in humility and according to God’s guidelines. To do otherwise would be seeking to gain authority where none is to be found.

posted by Steve @ 12:26 pm