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Q4. Humility in Leadership


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Q4. (5:5-6) 
What acts of humility are appropriate for church leaders? 
How can we discern a person's humility before putting him or her in a place of leadership in the church? 
What happens when we fail to do this?

The key to unity and harmony in the church is humility. We read this in Philippians (2:3-8): “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!” Our leaders, and that includes us, could do well to emulate our Lord Jesus, and adopt an attitude of service. Once we realise there is nothing for us to be proud of – and that all we have, even our next breath, comes from God. Our church leaders do not only have to be humble towards God but also towards all their congregation. We all are to clothe ourselves with humility. We might remember that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Acts of humility that are appropriate for church leaders might include being obedient and submissive to authority. Also to be submissive to those that are older, and most definitely not becoming proud because of the power they have received. They are to submit their God-given authority self-sacrificially; submitting themselves to God in humble dependence, looking to Him for their eternal reward at the proper time. Each casts their cares upon Him who is the Great Shepherd, knowing their task is impossible in merely human strength. We most probably all have seen churches that suffer terribly from proud leaders. 
 

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The church leaders must be able to listen to others and respect their comments. It is very hard to discern a person’s humility before putting him or her in a place of leadership. Sometimes they change after they have more authority. When that happens we have anarchy in the church.

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On ‎4‎/‎17‎/‎2004 at 9:14 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q4. (5:5-6) What acts of humility are appropriate for church leaders? How can we discern a person's humility before putting him or her in a place of leadership in the church? What happens when we fail to do this?

1. Being free from pretension (Authentic without artifice), "wearing the garb of a servant" ( inward attitude which shows on the outside in behavior and actions),freedom from pride, arrogance, boasting and disdain toward others, so that service unto the Lord is the focus of the one serving in leadership.

2. I think that's only revealed in prayer through revelation, because many wear faces of humility (false) due to years of covering poor self esteem, shame and guilt, having learned "the right way to speak and act" in order to "fit in" or to be acceptable in Christian circles.

3. Failing to discern invests a prideful, overbearing leader with a platform through which to "showboat" and to lead through intimidation and control. (Jezebel spirit)

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They shouldn't hold themselves up as having no faults or weaknesses. My pastors many times mention and give examples when they have failed. If we have known the person a long time, we can observe and remember when he acted with love and caring. It would be more difficult if the person is new. We can see how he reacts to those in need. If we fail to do this, the person may be a controller rather than a leader/shepherd who is loving and caring.

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On 4/18/2004 at 0:14 AM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q4. (5:5-6) What acts of humility are appropriate for church leaders? How can we discern a person's humility before putting him or her in a place of leadership in the church? What happens when we fail to do this?

True servant leadership is something that will be visible in a leader's walk before given this authority and afterwards. It will be genuine and very obvious. When we fail to do this, we can hurt the body and miss a huge opportunity to minister to others.

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Q4. (5:5-6) What acts of humility are appropriate for church leaders? How can we discern a person's humility before putting him or her in a place of leadership in the church? What happens when we fail to do this?

 Church leaders should practice humility! Leaders should be humble in all parts of their leadership. Just as Jesus stooped to wash the feet of the disciples then leaders also must stoop to in effect washed the feet off the people they serve.

 true humility in another person can only be seen Through The Eyes of the Holy Spirit. Therefore we must pray over and for our leaders. If we do not humble leaders then our churches will become hottie and unfriendly.

 

 

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Q4. (5:5-6) What acts of humility are appropriate for church leaders? How can we discern a person's humility before putting him or her in a place of leadership in the church? What happens when we fail to do this?

Jesus set an example for us to follow: Your attitude must be like my own, for I, the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give my life. Matthew 20:28. Jesus is loving, patient, understanding, tenderhearted, peaceful, merciful, forgiving, etc. All these traits show humility in a person and are a must have for church leaders. Church leaders will encounter many different temperaments, views, attitudes when dealing with the congregation, therefore they must be able to work/coordinate with them. How leaders interact with the congregation says a lot about them. You can see the joy of being of service to God in their faces. They are there because they are fulfilling God's purpose; to make disciples of men, to feed the sheep, to care/tend to the needs of the sheep. They are not there to be known or receive recognition from men nor to be admired by men. They want to please God.

When we fail to discern this spirit of humility in a person and go ahead and give them the role of a leader, we are putting the church of God in the hands of someone who can bring harm to it instead of good. We can expect conflicts, disagreements, church members leaving, and maybe just losing interest in God.  

 

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Acts of humility would be to look to others as better than themselves and have unconditional love for the members.  It is possible to discern if the person has humility by the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and sef-control) before putting him or her in a place of leadership in the church. When we fail to do this the members won´t have a good model that represents a Christlike minded person. 

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Q4. (5:5-6) What acts of humility are appropriate for church leaders? How can we discern a person's humility before putting him or her in a place of leadership in the church? What happens when we fail to do this?

 All acts of humility are appropriate for church leaders. Among these would be but not to be proud or overbearing off the members of the congregation. A leader should be, when  teaching, humble about his knowledge and not put down those with lesser and knowledge. Church leaders should model the humility of Christ.

 it is very difficult to discern the humility off of future leader. The best way to discern this is in prayer and in this name carefully to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

if we fail to pray and consult the Holy Spirit then the wrong person may be chosen as Elder.

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Q4. (5:5-6)

Q. What acts of humility are appropriate for church leaders?

A. Some are obedience to higher authority.

Q. How can we discern a person's humility before putting him or her in a place of leadership in the church? 

A. His obedience to his immediate higher level authority. 

Q. What happens when we fail to do this?

A. We end up having leaders who are full of themselves and proud.

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Q4. (5:5-6) What acts of humility are appropriate for church leaders? How can we discern a person's humility before putting him or her in a place of leadership in the church? What happens when we fail to do this_

We must first understand word Humility for myself and ourselves. And I believe Holy Spirit help us to appropriate for a leader in Family,work, or everywhere.

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 4/18/2004 at 0:14 AM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q4. (5:5-6) What acts of humility are appropriate for church leaders? How can we discern a person's humility before putting him or her in a place of leadership in the church? What happens when we fail to do this?

Acts of humility that are appropriate for church leaders presents them as the under-shepherd who do not lord their position over the flock. We can discern a person's humility before putting him or her in a place of leadership in the church by observing them over a period of time in different settings and under various circumstances.  When we fail to discern a leader's humility we may find them failing  in the position.

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 4/17/2004 at 11:14 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q4. (5:5-6) What acts of humility are appropriate for church leaders? How can we discern a person's humility before putting him or her in a place of leadership in the church? What happens when we fail to do this?

Acts of humility are of a low social status, modest and a humble attitude.

We can discern a persons attitude and humility before putting them in a leadership roll.

If we fail to observe or test a person's humility they may become greedy, lording themselves over others.

Acts of humility for church leaders is helping others in spiritual trouble. They keep the flock well informed of the word of God. 

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  • 6 years later...

I'm not sure it's possible to truly discern another person's humility-quotient. As circumstances change, latent pride may come to the surface  -- many pastors with a big tv/Internet platform succumb to Hollyweird-like pride even though they began their ministry humbly. People do change. I've also watched politicos who had tendencies toward pride become full-blown narcissistics/egoists -- i.e. France's Macron.

It's also difficult to discern when a man is firm in his faith and morality and when he is overweening and proud. We all want leaders to be men of conviction -- we don't want leaders to be proud little Mussolinis. But pride and conviction seem to track together and it's difficult to pry one fully away from the other.

Pride seems to be foundational sin that supports and gives heft to other sins. 

It's good to know that God will eventually stand against the proud, though I haven't seen much evidence of it. Nor have I seen the humble elevated. This may happen after death, in heaven.

We all have negative or sinful qualities and tendencies. This doesn't necessarily disqualify us from service. Some people struggle their entire lives against a particular sin or tendency, but keep it under control. Others cave in quickly. 

Anecdote: A certain pastor was "outed" after having long-term affairs with many women in the church which rarely got to the point of sexual intercourse but were nonetheless manipulative and abusive. He's been in counseling for quite a while. Recently, his church has been debating "restoring" him to ministry. I wonder, now, since his sin has been exposed, if the church will be able to channel him within moral boundaries. Will he cave in quickly or stay the course? He was, admittedly, a very effective leader and preacher ... but proud. 

 

 

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