leadership

The Foolish, Isolated Pastor

/ Richard Bargas / Leave a comment

“And you say, “How I have hated discipline! And my heart spurned reproof! I have not listened to the voice of my instructors, And I have not inclined my ear to my teachers!”  (Proverbs 5:12–13, LSB)

This week I began recording a series in our IFCA podcast Advancing the Cause asking the question: Who Shepherds the Pastor? In this series, I am hoping to draw attention to the fact that all followers of Christ, pastors and elders included, need to have someone (preferably a few people) who watches over their soul.

This morning’s Scripture reading once again brought this necessity to my mind in the context of a father (Solomon) warning his sons about the lure of adultery.

Solomon imparts wise words on how to avoid the pitfalls of lust and adulterous relationships. He employs the eventual fate of the adulterer as a deterrent, illustrating the consequences of disregarding this wisdom and remaining faithful to marriage vows.

Solomon’s words apply to more than the destructive effect of adultery. In fact, they are applicable to everyone who comes to the end of their foolish ways and begins to regret their unwillingness to listen to the voices of reason and warning that preceded their downfall.

In regard to church leaders, this is a particular danger. Some pastors, by virtue of their small church, are often the lone leader. Others, by design, have isolated themselves from any other critics. Either way, the results are the same—words of warning are either unspoken or silenced.

I can’t think of anyone I know who enjoys being confronted for their sin. Confrontation is like good medicine. It’s bitter, but it helps where needed. We take it because we know the alternative is worse.

In reality, biblical counsel is beneficial. However, the challenge for many is that we understand the right things intellectually, yet we turn our hearts away, much like a young child turning away from the bitter syrup in a spoon, lips tightly pressed in rebellious refusal. While this child’s behavior may be considered childish if they are too young to comprehend the consequences of refusing their medicine, if they are old enough to understand and still resist, their childishness has transformed into foolishness.

Pastors are not naive or spiritual children. Instead, they understand the profound impact of the Word on the heart’s pain and brokenness caused by sin. However, they often take on the role of spiritual mother rather than the stubborn child. At least, that’s what we commonly believe.

Perhaps we’ve fallen prey to a subtle deception that acknowledges our imperfections, as all redeemed Christians do, yet still struggles with sin… but not excessively. Our congregants require the medicine, but we, we’re too mature to need it frequently. But is that truly the case?

If you’re a spiritual leader in the Church, you need someone to watch over your soul. Just like a medical doctor, who is still susceptible to illness, his medical expertise and training don’t prevent common colds. Physicians require the guidance of other physicians. Similarly, pastors need to be pastored. We need someone to use the rod and staff to guide and correct us through the Word of God.

To avoid such a relationship is foolish. Rejecting correction and warnings will lead us to a similar fate as the adulterer in Proverbs 5:12-14. As God’s children, we all need each other. Don’t believe the lie that you’re an exception. There are no exceptions. Don’t become the foolish, isolated Christians who, one day, look up and find their life in shambles, with their family and ministry forfeited because they refused to listen.

“Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23, LSB)

Not All Glory is Gold

/ Richard Bargas / 1 Comment

“I do not receive glory from men;…How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the only God?” (John 5:41, 44 LSB)

The glory of men is intoxicating. I know a lot of Christians who won’t touch alcohol, but I see many who constantly sip at the bottle of glory. What’s that saying about pointing at others and there are three fingers pointing back at you? Yes, in many ways we struggle with receiving glory from men.

In a section of John 5, Jesus is instructing the Jews about His identity, and they are very clear on at least one thing, Jesus is “making Himself equal with God” (Jn 5:18). As Jesus teaches, He doesn’t try to diffuse the bomb he has handed to them, but rather adds more gunpowder to the already explosive conversation.

Christ speaks about being able to break the Sabbath, and how he keeps the Father’s will perfectly. This includes the power to judge and give life. Both of these references were not meant to simply refer to common everyday judgment and life-giving actions, but rather to the eternal prerogative of God, to cast into hell or raise into heaven, as well as to raise the dead in the resurrection.

These verses, and the self-reference to the title “Son of Man” (Jn 5:27) refer to Daniel’s vision of the Son of Man being given such powers from the Ancient of Days, the Father.

All of these are powerful references and images that pull back the mask of Jesus’ full identity, showing to his audience that He is more than the carpenter’s son from Nazareth.

In this mix of self-revelation, Jesus adds the truth about these self-righteous leaders. They loved to honor one another, give one another honorific titles, and pat each other on the back. We read about Jesus chastening them often over their self-congratulatory attitudes. And when I read about this, I often see a not too dim reflection of what I see in myself and in many of my fellow Christians at times.

Sometimes called a “humble brag” or couched in “praise reports” or displayed in our Instagram, X, or Facebook feeds, we see the boasting of those who acknowledge that pride is a sin. And when we see another fall, we hear the roar of prideful men speaking with what appears to get the back-slapping approval of their fellow Christians, I am reminded of how cancerous our pride can be.

I, for one, am not done with my personal fight with pride in my own heart. When I am walking in the Spirit, I don’t want to steal the glory from God, and I don’t want to garner the praises of men. So that means I need to watch carefully my life and doctrine, because pride is always there, lurking in the shadows not too far away.

Pastors or Shopkeepers?

/ Richard Bargas / 2 Comments

“The pastors of America have metamorphosed into a company of shopkeepers and the shops they keep are churches. They are preoccupied with shopkeeper’s concerns-how to keep the customers happy, how to lure customers away from competitors down the street, how to package the goods so that the customers will lay out more money. The marketing strategies of the fast-food franchise occupy the waking minds of these entrepreneurs; while asleep they dream of the kind of success that will get the attention of journalists.” —Eugene Peterson

Peterson’s statement strikes at the root of the modern evangelical church today. Don’t speak on controversial issues. Make sure your social media strategy keeps up with the latest trends. Watch where the “market” is driving the tastes of the most “customers” and shift your marketing strategy in that direction. God help us.

What might look like “market dominance” and “success” in this false narrative for so many of these types of ministries will turn out to be more like cotton candy. Appealing to the eyes and the flesh, and yet truly amounting to just a little bit of colored sugar spun into a frenzy that appeals to children and those who hunger for flash over substance.

Give me a church where men stand before their congregation and open up their Bibles and thunder, “Thus says the Lord.” They aren’t harvesting social media followers or their brand. They aren’t gathering up lieutenants who are loyal to them more than to Jesus. No, these men and the churches they lead are content to be faithful and be forgotten.

These types of men aren’t tending to their shops, strategizing how they can better market to the masses under the guise that they are doing evangelism. These men are more on their knees than on TikTok, more in the Word than on Instagram. Instead of selfies they are selfless. Instead of harvesting followers, they are walking with the Savior in humble obedience.

It’s not flashy. It’s doesn’t draw a crowd. But the world doesn’t need a phenom, or a CEO. We need pastors who will gently lead us to Jesus.

Drinking and Spiritual Leadership

/ Richard Bargas / Leave a comment

It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire strong drink,
Lest he drink and forget what is decreed,
And pervert the justice of all the afflicted.

Proverbs 31:4–5 (LSB)

I’ve noticed with increasing frequency that not only are more pastors and even Christians in general drinking more openly, there seems to be a growing number that are using social media to promote their newfound freedom, with some even encouraging others to join in.

Now, before someone makes a comment about drinking not being a sin, and that taking a position of abstaining from alcohol is “legalistic” and is yet another troubling result of fundamentalism, I want to be clear that I understand that drinking alcohol is not a sin, per se. I also understand that there are some that add to the Scriptures and state that all drinking of alcohol is sin, and not simply to be drunk. I don’t agree, even though I do not personally drink alcohol.

I am specifically addressing the issue from a place of wisdom, and in particular, as a spiritual leader. I, of course, mean pastors and elders, but I also am speaking of those men that lead their homes as well. There are other types of leadership—at work, school, etc., but I am thinking primarily of the higher levels of leadership in particular where many others may be influences either by our example or by our decisions—and often by both.

In Proverbs 31:4-5 we have a good reason for any spiritual leader to think seriously about his use of alcohol because of the fallout that might occur if he does so. When the Bible addresses leaders, particularly those such as kings who functioned in judicial as well as civil matters, we must understand that alcohol is not presented in as neutral a place as some would suggest.

Along with foreign wives (and multiplied wives) that will bring ruin to a king, the authority and influence we wield is to be taken seriously by leaders, particularly in regard to consumption of alcohol. Leaders are to be servants to those they lead, and must do so fairly and carefully.

All too many leaders see those they lead as servants who exist to meet their needs. The godly leader works for those he serves. This means he must be able to think clearly and biblically, even sacrificing freedoms and liberties that others enjoy in order to be a better servant leader. To be intoxicated blurrs the ability to do so, and could lead to injustice against those that depend upon the leader.

I want to be a good father and husband, as well as a friend, pastor, and neighbor. I want all those who speak with me and look toward me as an example to be able to trust that I am sober in every way, and that my counsel, words, and actions are uninhibited and clear in any given moment. Strong drink can muddy the senses and can easily slide into sinful drunkenness.

Wisdom says that kings should abstain so that they can be good servants to the people they lead. Yes, in my Christian liberty I am free to drink as long as I don’t get drunk. But I am also free to not drink, and therefore not find my mind hampered, my example followed into disaster, my tongue slipping into sinful speech, or my body craving something that I simply don’t need. I have enough battles in my life to face in my journey to holiness. Why would I choose to invite something into my life that I can do without and thus far have not missed?

I know there are a lot of Christians that would disagree with me because they feel they are free to drink and not sin. I don’t disagree. But I have seen the affects of alcohol on too many friends, family, and those who have testified as believers saved out of a life of drunkenness to see any benefit for drinking. For me, it is a matter of conviction, and from the above passage and others in the Bible, I am personally convicted that it is unwise for many—including myself, to drink.

The Long Term Benefits of Planting Acorns Today

/ Richard Bargas / 2 Comments

As I talk to pastors and missionaries in many contexts, there is a topic that seems to be a repeated refrain that I hear often. It has to do with the shortage of men to take the place of retiring pastors, teachers, missionaries, and ministry leadership roles. It has been clear for many years that there is a growing need for Christian leaders serving in ministry. Today, the swelling need for leaders has grown into a tsunami of massive proportions.

So, whose responsibility is to to provide these new leaders? Does the responsibility lay upon the denominational leaders, seminaries, Bible colleges, and missions agencies? Although there are many who believe this, the biblical answer is a resounding “No.” Leaders for the church may be trained and equipped for the church and mission field within these parachurch organizations, but the duty of identification, discipleship, mentoring, and at least initial training is the responsibility of the local church itself.

The fact that the local church is supposed to be identifying, discipline, mentoring, and training up the next generations of leaders and in many places have failed to do so is the reason that we are in a leadership crisis in the church today. My purpose isn’t to pass the buck, but to put the responsibility firmly where it belongs.

In Acts 13:2-3, Luke records, “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” The sending of these first two missionaries was done through the local church in Antioch and not through a missions agency. Agencies have their place in aiding the church, but it is the Spirit that calls apart missionaries, and it is the church that sends them.

In Ephesians 4:11-12, we see that the Spirit has given pastors and teachers, among others, to the church for the edification and training of the church. “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ…”

This work of preparation by these gifted leaders was done in house, and would have led to the identification of young leaders that would be mentored within the church. An important example of this would be Paul’s identification of Timothy and the church’s agreement in Timothy’s calling: “Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you” (1 Timothy 4:14).

And when Timothy is instructed about his own duties as a pastor in the church, he was strongly reminded by Paul, “and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).

There can be no denying that the New Testament clearly teaches that leaders within the church are to be produced by the local church. So, why isn’t this happening? There are probably many reasons that would be given by some pastors who fail to do this—no time, feeling of inadequacy, fear of being replaced by their disciples, fear of discouraging disciples from ministry, and not knowing where to start. But none of these are valid in disobeying the clear admonition of Scripture.

Where do we go from here? That brings me to the title of this post, “The Long Term Benefit of Planting Acorns Today.” The mighty oak tree is moderate in the speed at which it grows, growing about 12-18 inches per year (30-46 cm) to a height of about 60 feet tall (18.28 meters). Compare this to pine, which can grow to 2 feet (61 cm) in a year.

Sometimes we fail to plan for the distant future, only looking up from our labors as our time of departure draws near. And what happens when we have not discipled men whom we can entrust the gospel, who will be able to teach others also? We will find that we have endangered our local church because the resource it so desperately needs in a leader cannot be easily found. Focused labor is admirable, but discipline leaders for the future is to be a part of our labors.

Growing accords into mighty oaks takes time. The future of many local churches has been jeopardized by short-sited pastors who figured they would simply call the local seminary and order a shiny new pastor to take their place when they retire. But many of these pipelines are empty or the hands-off approach of local churches have produced a generation of young pastors who have little or no loyalty to the local church. What do we do?

The answer from Scripture is the same. We plant the acorns. We may not live to see them fully develop, but we must plant the seeds from which the future church will benefit. If we do not, we will not only be unfaithful to the Scriptures in fulfilling our duty, but we will leave the church poorer than when it was handed to us.