LEGALISTIC LEADERSHIP VERSUS GRACE LEADERSHIP

“Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.”  2 Cor. 10:12 

Legalistic leadership is more than just the promotion of a message that in various ways compromises the grace revelation of the gospel. It is based on an erroneous belief-system with regard to human relationships that binds people to leaders instead of to Christ, thus depriving them of the victory and freedom only available in Christ. We were created to be united with only one Lord, Jesus Himself. Leaders are just servants with a view to uniting others to that one Lord. Nowhere is the contrast between legalistic leadership and grace leadership more clear in the New Testament than in the life of the former legalistic Rabbi, now Paul the apostle of grace. Paul's constant appeal in all his letters is for the saints to fully embrace the authority of the gospel of grace. When he refers to his own authority as an apostle it is always in the context of this gospel. It is never an effort to pull rank or compare himself with others as if he has more merit in his person because of leadership gifting than anybody else.  Anyone who begins to compare himself with others and compare the importance of gifts and ministries in the church relative to each other outside of a gospel context reveals by this carnal comparison that he does not fully understand the message of grace.

The gospel of grace communicates the immeasurable worth and wealth of being united with Christ. Once we see this clearly no title, ambition or leadership position can entice us to sell out what we have received in Christ. What higher position could you seek than being “seated with Christ in the heavens” (Eph. 2:6)? Leaders who do not see this foolishly try to connect as many people as possible to their own gifting and ministry in order to somehow increase their own worth. In the light of the riches of Christ revealed in the gospel and freely available to a simple childlike faith this is truly pathetic. Legalistic leadership is alive and well in the church and it traps multitudes in a ridiculous one-upmanship that completely misses the point of the gospel. Additionally it fools believers into thinking that they somehow have a better standing with God because of their connection and submission to some modern-day "apostle", "bishop", “senior pastor” or whatever other title is used to impress people.  These are functions, not titles.  As long as leaders in the church do not see the revelation of God's riches freely available in Christ they will continue to try and impress people with themselves and their gifting instead of with the gospel. Paul's sole concern was to impress the individual with the spiritual riches available in the message that he preached. His leadership was only an instrument to be used in this high calling. His leadership was never ever his emphasis as a thing in itself. He never gave believers the impression that their spiritual well-being was completely dependent on their relationship to him as a leader (see Phil. 2:12). He did indeed urge them to yield to the authority of the message that he preached as an apostle of Jesus Christ. It is in this capacity that he had apostolic authority. There is a subtle difference here, but it has vast implications for the life of the church.  Leaders should never use (abuse!) the gospel as a tool to emphasise their authority and thus coerce submission to them.  They should rather use their leadership to draw people into submission to the gospel so that Jesus may be glorified and Jesus as our unique leader would be Lord in all aspects of our lives and in the practical administration of the church.