“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.
A pastor told me about a minister his church had been considering bringing on to join his staff. 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…