HEALTHY CHURCH: Control Freaks
I will just go ahead and say it out loud — I like being in control! There, it is out in the open, and now we can address it transparently and biblically. If you know me, I am sure you were not shocked or surprised by my open confession. The interesting element in this declaration is that some will see people like me as the problem. Others think we need more people like us. Leadership is given as a spiritual gift according to Rom. 12:8 — “he that ruleth, with diligence.” Paul clearly stated that if God has given you the ability to lead, you should take that responsibility seriously.
James 3 reminds us that those who step into a leadership role as teachers will be held to a higher standard and receive a stricter judgment. Leadership is not to be taken lightly nor accepted casually. The challenge of pastoring is that there is an unrealistic expectation that he will be gifted and equipped in all five roles (not positions) mentioned in Eph. 4:11 — apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher. The church needs a pastor (a caring shepherd) with a heart for the flock and a preacher (a capable teacher) who rightly divides and delivers the Word of God.
You must know yourself to lead yourself, and that requires knowing your gifts along with your strengths and weaknesses, knowing who you are in Christ and then being committed to who you are in Him. You cannot be someone else. If you are not being who Christ created you to be, who are you? The answer is most likely “confused.” Someone said, “A mist in the pulpit creates a fog in the pew.” A healthy leader knows Christ intimately, knows himself and his inclinations (personality and giftings), then seeks out the instruction needed to lead well. Find someone who can pour into your life (Col. 1:7).
Every church needs strong leadership to direct the congregation to be true to its mission, vision and values. The leadership style will look different, but the need for devoted biblical leadership cannot be overlooked or overstated. As clarified in I Tim. 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9, the foundation must be built upon character. The temptation is to look first for charisma and competency, but that is a dangerous approach. Leaders must be observed, watched and proven themselves faithful. When speaking of elders, Paul reminded us in I Tim. 5:22, “lay hands suddenly on no man.”
Leaders are desperately needed. While raising up leaders should not be rushed, it must be intentional with an eye always focused on developing and equipping more leaders. Tony Morgan stated, “People inside the church can get very loud. Those voices are much louder than the people outside the church.” Leaders continually challenge the congregation not to become inwardly focused. As soon as you prioritize the inside voices, you diminish God’s voice in stating, “Go… and make disciples of all nations…” The mission statement at your church must remain the loudest voice in driving you toward the Great Commission.
Leaders know their mission as directed by Scripture, then remain true to the vision of carrying out that mission. Decide if you are truly committed to the mission God has called your church to and in carrying it out. Leaders stick to that vision, even if that means someone is not willing to stick with the church.There will be many difficult decisions, not because you do not know what you should do, but because of the pressure to do something else. Leaders must be willing to make the hard decisions and refuse to compromise or take the easy path.
Most leaders are driven, passionate and determined. While that is usually a strength, it can also become a weakness if you fall into the “I can do it better” trap of perfectionism. Whatever we do, we should strive to do it well — not doing it perfectly, but doing it as well as we can. The old saying, “If you want it done right, do it yourself,” can haunt you and undermine your leadership quickly. Tony Morgan stated, “If you are a perfectionist, people don’t like to be around you.” Just because it is your idea does not guarantee it is the best or the only way. Does any of that describe you?
Tony continued, “Needing to be in control will kill you. It leads to anxiety and fear. It’s an indication that God is not in control. It will paralyze you. If you always do it, no one else will learn, and you will always be stuck thinking you must do it. It’s a vicious cycle.” Now that one hurt. Godly leaders are resolved to fulfill God’s agenda for their church and ministry, but they are also committed to recruiting and training others to help in that mission. A control freak seeks to always do it themselves and that robs others of the opportunity to see God at work in and through their lives.
When you choose to do everything yourself, you are taking the path of least resistance because it is much easier than training someone else how to do it. Building a team requires finding them, training them, coaching them, resourcing them, checking in on them and giving them the authority to fulfill what you have equipped them to do. Are we going to settle for the easier path, even though the harder path ultimately leads to greater accomplishments and fulfillment? It may be time to once again look at passages like John 20:21; Eph. 4:12-13; II Tim. 1:13, 2:2, 3:14; and many more.
Tony Morgan, in Unstuck Church, gave this soul-penetrating thought, “It’s possible to do the work of God without doing the work God has called you to do.” No one is designed to do all the work of the ministry. Instead, God designed His body, His church, to perform and fulfill the ministry He called her to accomplish. More to come on this in the next article!
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Larry Barker
Director of Church Planting and Church Health Larry Barker submits a weekly column titled, Healthy Church Solutions, designed to strengthen and encourage the local church.
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