“Now, I urge you brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.” (Romans 16:17)
Not everyone is qualified to serve and lead in the Lord’s church.
Don’t miss that– “to serve and to lead.” In the Lord’s work, serving and leading often consist of the same activities, performed by the same people. The Lord’s best servants are the congregation’s best leaders. Those who lead best are humble servants willing to stoop and wash the feet or rise and lead the charge, whatever the situation requires.
The one unwilling to serve is unqualified to lead.
Recently, a pastor told me about a staff member his church had been considering bringing on board. When she balked at a background check, refusing to let the leadership look into her history, all the red flags went up and they called a halt to the proceedings. Something in her background apparently worked against her usefulness to that church. Finding this out before she came on board may have helped the church avoid a major problem.
The list of factors which disqualify people from serving and leading in the Lord’s church is endless, as it would include unbelief, a carnal lifestyle, moral problems, criminal records, a history of violence, and so on. However, there is a more selective list of conditions which disqualify otherwise good and respectable church members from serving and leading:
1) You are not qualified to serve/lead if you are unwilling to work in the background without recognition.
If you require recognition and appreciation, we will continue in our search for workers, thank you.
It’s not that you might be required to work in the unseen background, but your unwillingness to do so says volumes about your spiritual condition. A couple of verses come to mind…
“If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself” (Galatians 6:3). “Through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment…” (Romans 12:3).
2) You are unqualified to lead if you do not like change.
If you get saved, you change. If you grow, you change. If you go to Heaven, you change big time.
To restate, all growth is change. Growth into Christlikeness is major change. Eventually, the ultimate change comes when we see the Lord and become like Him (called “glorification” in Scripture; see I John 3:2). Speaking of that moment when we see the Lord and become like Him, the Apostle Paul said, “We shall all be changed” (I Corinthians 15:51,52).
To repent is to recognize the need for change in your life. No one satisfied with how things are repents.
The leader wed to the status quo is no leader, but a dead weight on the Lord’s program.
3) You are unqualified to lead if you have too great a tolerance for conflict and division.
If you enjoy a good church fight, we will not be needing you, thank you.
The health of the body should be paramount with one called as its shepherd, its protector and provider. The “leader” who sees division and ignores it, senses trouble brewing and turns away, is no friend to the Lord’s people.
When trouble threatens the Lord’s flock, you find out in a heartbeat whether you are a shepherd or a hireling (see John 10:11-13). Our Lord calls no one as a hireling.
I am a strong proponent of godly layman handling most of the internal dissent that arises in churches from time to time. Some member is creating a stir with his/her criticism of the pastor. They receive a visit from two or three of the sweetest, most mature leaders who ask, “What’s going on?” They will listen, gently probe into the situation, then deal with it in one of two ways: go to the pastor with the issue for further handling, or ask the member to cease their murmuring for the cause of Christ. Sometimes leaders (pastors and others) insist that this is an unpleasant chore, that they find it difficult to do. I respond, “Good. We do not want leaders who love a good fight. If you hate conflict, you will deal with it promptly.”
4) You are unqualified to lead and serve if unity of the body is not a priority with you.
If you could not care less that a little group within the church is constantly upset about something, you are failing them and the Lord.
In Gethsemane, Jesus prayed that “they all may be one”–and for a specific purpose: “that the world may believe that Thou didst send me” (John 17:21). The overriding reason for unity within the congregation is so outsiders may believe. Likewise, nothing drives away the unchurched like dissension within the Lord’s family.
“You are all one in Christ Jesus,” Paul said (Galatians 3:28). He urged the Philippians to stand “firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27).
The true servant of the Lord will work for harmony within the local church fellowship and Christian love within the larger body (i.e., believers everywhere).
5) You are not qualified to serve/lead if you are not in full support of the pastor and the other leadership.
Recently, I learned of a staff member who dedicated himself to ousting the pastor and worship leader from the church. The only good part of the story–as I got it–is that he is gone and they are still in place. If this wicked staffer is serving any church anywhere, I pity the present pastor.
When a staff member or deacon decides he can no longer support the pastor, unless there are serious transgressions of a moral, scriptural or legal nature, he should resign and leave quietly. (When the pastor is indeed immoral or guilty of criminal activities, the church should have in place leaders able and willing to deal with it.) Otherwise, a leader who works to oust others becomes a troublemaker himself and should be dealt with promptly.
6) You are not qualified to lead if you are not setting the example.
“Proving to be an example to the flock” (I Peter 5:3).
You cannot lead people to do what you are not doing. To attempt it is to earn the label of “hypocrite,” one not practicing what he preaches.
Devotion to your church should not be restricted to your leadership activities, but also financial support, your attendance, positive attitude, etc. He who would lead others to do anything must demonstrate how it’s done.
Is it necessary to point out that the ministers should never tithe or pray or go to church or witness just to set an example? As with every other believer, we show our love for the Lord by keeping His commands (John 14:15,21,23,24 and 15:10,14).
This is so basic it should go without saying, but I confess to having known more than one minister who, like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, laid burdens on the backs of their people which they themselves would not bear (Matthew 23:4).
7) You are unqualified if you are unwilling to pay the price to keep your heart pure, your example strong, and your reputation spotless.
“I felt the rules did not apply to me. They were for other people. We were special.”
A number of fallen evangelical leaders, disgraced before the world for their hypocrisies, have uttered those words in one form or other. I say that to our shame.
“An episcopos (overseer) must be above reproach…. He must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil” (I Timothy 3:1-7).
“Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain….” (I Timothy 3:8ff)
The Lord is looking for a few good men and more than a few good women, may I say. However, He would rather a church remain leaderless than staff it with the ungodly, the immature, the headstrong, the glory-seeking, and the pleasure-loving. The damage they do is not worth any good they bring.
On Facebook the other day, a friend commented (to someone else, not to me), “Well, old Charlie has just been terminated by another church. I don’t think he stayed at this one six months.” Knowing nothing at all about Charlie or his situation, what I thought was, “The Lord may be trying to get Charlie out of the pastoring business. He could be one of those unqualified to lead. To continue recommending him to other churches and peddling his resume around indiscriminately is almost criminal, and certainly unwise.”
To lead the Lord’s church is a great honor and high privilege. Let us treat it that way and seek to honor Him in all we do.
its helps me to see were i went wrong and i pray that many more people get to read this articles, may God bless you pastor
Who is he to say who can cannot serve as a leader in a church ?? He’s not the creator or the maker God is and it’s his call so when someone of this nature is selected it’s because it was meant to be that way for good or for bad God is in control of all things and people and if you trust Him then you will trust his outcome for you alls church regardless of a persons criminal record or key point here THEIR PAST PEOPLE CHANGE BECAUSE JESUS CHANGES THEM WE HAVE TO BELIEVE THAt and give people real love to grow more into their spirit that God has given us
Roxxy6618, you have so much anger. Self-righteous anger, too. Scary.
Should be “required reading”
This is so true! We have too many pew warmers in our churches. Usually these are the worst complainers. They will only serve, donate etc. when they get recognition for it. True servants only want God’s approval!
Brother Joe, Thanks for your writings….this is a GREAT read!
I have been blessed by what you have written…brought home to me some unhappy episodes in our church history, and now I’m enlighten.
I need you to come preach this and have the perfect date… Wish I could send this article out …
Bo, I’m afraid it would be a rather negative sermon the way it is here. Would have to rework it entirely and make “you are unqualified to serve IF” one of the main points. As for inviting me to your church, yeah, right. Talk, talk, talk. 🙂
1- we have a deacon that’s been divorced, never remarried. Due to being caught with another mans wife.
2- went to jail for selling pascription drugs. Did apologize to Church. But still hangs with same crowd.
3- some members won’t come to church with him still there.
4- I’m just a concerned member. What should we do as a church?
According to scripture a Devon must be Above reproach and the Husband of ONE wife, that means, still married to his first wife. He should have never been given the title :Deacon in the first place as the Scriptures had already disqualified him. Read 1 and 2 Timothy
1 Corinthians 5
“Put away from yourselves that wicked person” hello 👋
I’m serving on he Deacon Nominating Committee. I have printed this off and plan to share it with the committee tonight. Thanks for your Godly insights. We stlll think of you often-
Vicki, FBCJ
Gerald and Vicki Heath are precious friends from Jackson, Mississippi. Such a note is better than any gift. Thank you, Vicki.
I read your article, and I am a bit confused with the point of the friend of yours that does criminal background checks on his leaders. If one has been purchased with the precious blood of the LAMB and has been renewed by the redemptive work of the cross and GOD’s word says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” II Corinthians 5:17 KJV
What business is it of theirs to go digging up her past? If it is to become treasurer or do any part of ministry, there should be more than one person involved to reverify what is being managed. Leading is not just for deacons, pastors, or ordained ministers, for all believers are called to be a leader and not just warming up the pews. We have all been ordained by God to spread the Gospel wherever we go. When you just put emphasis on those that are serving in the pulpit, it gives a false message to the remainder of the congregation that ministry should be done by a licensed minister only and one that has no criminal background. I will end with “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” I Corinthians 1:27 KJV but the whole chapter 1 is in text with what we are to be doing and who God has chosen!
I’m concerned about the leadership at a church I’ve recently started to attend. There are pastors there with criminal backgrounds, divorced also. There’s worship leaders with homosexual backgrounds who state they still are struggling. While I know Jesus cleanes us of our sins & while they may have repented, it concerns me that these people are in a leadership role & most have had repentance less than 8-10 years ago. I’ve been struggling with the idea that this is not the church for me & have prayed about it. What advice do you have?
I’ve responded to you privately
I have had an experience this past Friday, as my daughters father was passing away, I went my daughter with information that we needed to go the hospital without going into detail, my daughter in a very disrespectful manner asked that we leave her dad’s house, not mind you I had tried to console her, but at one point I chose to leave because my daughter had been known to be physically abused to my self an her father, as I arrived home I started receiving very horrible an what I consider distract text messages, and into the messages I find out it’s a deacon from her families church, this is not his first time being verbally or emotionally abusive to myself or others ,the pastor of the church refuses to repramend or remove him from his position as a missionary Baptist Deacon. Who could I contact to see how the congregation or community remove him.her dad has been a family member to my family for over 40 years. No matter how I tried to tell him about the situation,he just continued to tell me pretty much so as he refer to me as him beating a dead dog, an referring to me as being the worst excuse of a mother he had even seen. I have done nothing but lay in bed and thought about the hours of his messages, even during the passing of her .
To pray for forgiveness on judging those people the way you are ! You trust God and his word right? Then do in your heart what he is telling you to do ! I know that he wouldn’t have discredited them because of their criminal background that’s crazy Jesus ate dinner with criminals and never once placed judgment on them and pointed finger at them ! Shame on you
I have a situation. I’m a disabled veteran with a Traumatic brain injury living here in West Palm Beach FL. Have had an issue with a married deacon father of 4 from a church named Beyth-el Temple of Coral Springs has been having a 3 year affair with my wife of almost 30 years. I reached to his lead pastor and nothing was done about it. Please advise me. I’m struggling physically, spiritually and emotionally with this. Please help me i!
I sense a calling from the Lord to become pastor or missionary. Since I got born again the Word of God is the only thing that can give me a sense of fulfilment and making a living by living in it is what I feel called to do. I still live in a toxic household and have been hospitalized in my twenties. I have been in and out of hospital for five years, approximately. I am not sick or ill. I got committed, yes, due to some mental and emotional pressure, but all the medications that the doctors tried on me had no positive effect on me. I am currently not taking any medication and have been out for almost a year. During this time out, I decided to pursue a life of dedication to ministry and devotion to Christ. Am I still qualified to be a pastor, or does this history of hospitalization pose too much of a red flag for churches to consider a serious candidate to become to serve as pastor?
I just really need help.
I was cut off from the prayer team because I don’t attend every week. My husband and I are full-time carers and it’s very hard to commit to being at church every week so we watch online also. I was very hurt because I wanted to be involved in the church and I love praying for people. Has this ever happened to anyone? Is this ok?
Much love and many blessings
Suzy, surely you could appeal this. If they knew your reasons, surely they would include you and your husband. Thank you.
Thank you Joe for your feedback 🙏 I thought so too
Listen if they cut you off prayer team for that the. You need to find a new church because that’s not how God would have dealt with it . These people are quacks believe in Jesus and his truth not the lies those people are telling ! Religion. Is fake God wants a relationship with you not conformed religion with rules as to who’s good enough or not to attend their church it’s sad and will pray for that pastor
Criminal records really ??? Jesus sat and ate dinner with the bad people he does not judge as you are doing in this passage ar the beginning! Jesus didn’t turn people away because they were criminals why should you and who are you to say who’s qualified and disqualified that’s Gods choice and His call to make not yours . I’m glad I’m not a part of your cult you have made for yourself there . Jesus is here to save the broken and weak !