Body/Head
The Evangelical Herald
Body/Head Relationship -- A Business Model?
The speaker was eloquent and confident as he led a church group in a Bible study. He had been identified as a professor of religion and philosophy at a major Christian college. As I listened, I was impressed with his maturity and his zeal for the gospel of grace and sanctification. At the end of the meeting, I approached him with intentions of getting better acquainted with him and to exchange some thoughts regarding his topic for that evening. Although he was cordial, it soon became apparent that he had no interest in having a conversation with a non-academic, non-pastor, or a non-higher echelon in the religious community.
This encounter illustrates a situation that exists in most human organizations in today's world - be it business, political, or religious. There is a great division between the leaders/officers and the followers/workers in organizations/companies. In politics, the only time you see politicians mingling with little people is when they are campaigning for office. In business, CEO's are not expected to confer with office workers on financial decisions. There is logic to this arrangement. A leader's time is best spent in his own world. His effectiveness depends on the counsel and input of qualified people.
Yet, in the Christian world, we are faced with our Lord's admonition in Mark 10:42-45, "But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
We see that Jesus nearest colleagues consisted of a broad spectrum of the society of that day. Among His support group was a fisherman, a lawyer, a doctor, and a tax collector. Humanly speaking, you would expect that He would have surrounded himself with persons that were at His intellectual and religious level. Scripture tells us that God knows the hearts of men. Jesus knew that the inner being of a man is what counts - not the level of attainment he has achieved through his earthly powers. Likewise, Paul tells us that God, "is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34).
Conforming to the World Model
If the church is to follow suit with the environment of the business and government models of this temporal world, then indeed it's leaders are justified to separate themselves into a upper echelon class. How is this class formed and how can gifted leaders maintain their membership in this class is an interesting study in human relations. As in the world model, membership in this class starts with the educational status of the individual. As a rule, the higher educational degree a member has, the more honor and prestige he will enjoy. On this platform of education there is added the works that he has accomplished to influence people. Unfortunately, material wealth, in many cases, may play an important part in his membership privileges to this select class.
As for maintaining membership, an individual has to develop a support system within the class. This means his most meaningful relationships will be within the same status class. Friendships will be made within this class. Anyone who attempts to penetrate into his world must prove that he indeed deserves his companionship by meeting the criteria of class eligibility. Some examples: a scholar's world will be surrounded by companions in the academia world, a scientist will count as his closes colleagues members of the scientific community, authors enjoy the input and companionship of the literary circles. Accordingly, religious leaders reason that their main support system will be found among the religious elite.
Christ's Model for His Church
The Scriptures are clear as to how each Christian, no matter his or her special gift, is to survive and grow in a nourishing environment. In chapter twelve of I Corinthians, we see the model of inter-relations for the nourishment of each member and for the whole body; "For we were baptized by one Spirit into one body - whether Jews of Greeks, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink" (ICor 12:13). We can draw attention in particular concerning our subject to verses 21 and 22, "The eye can not say to the hand, `I don't need you!' And the head cannot say to the feet, `I don't need you!' On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable". The Bible does not teach that all the heads (leaders) of the body should sever themselves from the body and nourish each other as one giant head. Just as we little people need them, they need us for the edification of each other and the church.
The challenge of the church is to function in its organizational interrelations as modeled in essence in the kingdom of God and not according to the world's system. In order to do this, we must built on the same principles that the kingdom will function under. We must recognize that the basic tenets of the Christian faith as regards human relationships are without argument:
Love - a love for all of God's creatures regardless of race, nationality, greed, education, financial position, or power influence Unity - a union of all believers as members of the body of Christ Service - serving and helping all who are in need and in suffering, especially those within the household of faith Mission - to proclaim the redemptive message of grace so that those who accept it may enter into life everlasting to the praise of God's glory. If we indeed experience these tenets as the driving force behind all human relations, we will recognize that our Lord's model of His church at work is indeed workable. These tenets at work will be manifested, as inferred in Mark 10:42-45, by a humble lifestyle. Contrary to the human model of successful relationships, there will be no pride in our dealings with those we have been called to serve. Also contrary to the human model, we will not form a special interest clique as our support fellowship -- for we have been called to serve all. Contrary to the human model, we have no personal success goal other than to build up God's kingdom. Finally, contrary to the human model, we will not be satisfied with an attitude of "we deserve enjoyment which the fruit of our labors has earned us to belong to an elite class".
The Challenge
Some may protest that this model is impractical - we are still living on this earth and as such we are limited to our human weaknesses. We are limited to our human weaknesses, but to this we can only respond with the apostle Paul, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me " (Gal 2:20). It is those who have truly died to self interests and are busy in the work of glorifying God's name that can be entrusted with Christian leadership. With supernatural empowerment, these will rely in the God given model for their fellowship, growth and mission.
The challenge to the Christian leader (or Christian "professional") is not to look at their work as a human profession. They are privileged to be recipients of Spirit given gifts with the objective of gathering Christ's own unto Himself and to edify His body. As such, they will model Christ's desire for His leaders to be servants. With humility of heart, they will serve all who thirst after righteousness and godliness without regard to educational, economic, race, or political temporal distinctions. Their work is not a "rat race" for success, but rather a continual sacrifice for the betterment of those they have been called to serve. Their position in the work of the Lord is not a arrival to a "comfort zone" where God is now rewarding them the fruit of their labors, but rather they are now more involved in the thick of the battle. As good generals, they will mingle with those they lead and minister to their needs.
Our Lord's prayer for His disciples in John 17: 6-19 was not for them to become part of the world's models. It was not for them to separate themselves into class distinctions or cliques. Rather, it was to set them apart from the world in order that they may become one in unity with each other and with the Father and Son to the end that they may be glorified. Let His prayer be fulfilled in His Body, let not the world's ideas of professional success divide His church. As leaders in His church, let us not become celebrities who can not be reached by those who need us most. Let us serve one another in spirit, truth, love, and humility.