Going in Grace

Welcome to Going in Grace, a podcast where we go beyond simply understanding God's word. We explore how to live it out daily, making a meaningful impact in our lives and the lives of those around us. Let's tune in to this week's episode.

There is a celebrity culture prevalent today that has even infiltrated the family of God. What used to feel like honor has now moved more into cliques and something that appears more like worship. Today, we're talking about how to properly honor ministers, servants of God, while ensuring that Christ remains the ultimate focus of our worship.

Let's start with the foundation. Jesus Christ is the head of the church and our only Lord. Leaders within the church and broader body of Christ serve to guide and take care of us, but their authority comes from Christ alone.

As Paul writes in Colossians 1:18, "and He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence." It's important to remember that while ministers are worthy of respect and honor, our allegiance and worship belong exclusively to God. I don't care how amazing they are, they are nothing without God.

The Bible teaches us to respect and honor those who labor in service to the Lord. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 5:17, "let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine." This means show appreciation for their work, praying for them and supporting them in their ministry. However, respect is not the same as worship. Worship belongs only to God.

Let's look at an example of this being done right. The Bereans in Acts 17:11, "these were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness and searched the scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." The Bereans honored Paul and Silas by listening eagerly to their teachings, but they didn't blindly follow. They examined the scriptures to ensure that the teachings aligned with God's word. Their focus was on Christ, not on the messengers.

Contrast this with an example of leader worship that went all wrong in 1 Corinthians 1:12 through 13. "Now I say this, that each of you says, I am of Paul or I am of Apollos or I am of Cephas or I am of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" The Corinthians started identifying themselves with human leaders rather than focusing on Christ. This caused divisions and distracted them from the one true head of the church.

So how do we ensure that our honor for leaders doesn't become worship? Here are some practical tips. First, focus on Christ. Regularly remind yourself that leaders are servants of Christ not substitutes for Him. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11, one, imitate me just as I also imitate Christ. Follow leaders only as far as their actions align with Christ. Also, make sure you spend more time talking to God than you do to your earthly leaders. Some people schedule more meetings with church leaders than they do prayer sessions with Holy Spirit. Watch this behavior, because our God is a jealous God. We see that in Exodus 20:5, and He wants our attention. He's the only one who can help us anyway, no matter who He chooses to work through.

Two, test everything. Be like the Bereans. Search the scriptures to confirm the truth of the teachings you hear. Don't run off with one scripture thinking you've arrived. Scripture interprets scripture. Take time to pray and study. This keeps your faith grounded in God's word, not in human opinion. Third, guard your heart. If you find yourself idolizing a leader, ask God to refocus your heart on Him. Worship belongs to God alone.

Let's remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 23:10, "and do not be called teachers, for one is your teacher, the Christ." Jesus is the ultimate leader and teacher and our worship belongs to Him alone. Let's honor and support the ministers He places in our lives. God is pleased by this behavior, but let's always keep our eyes fixed on Christ as the head of the church. People may fall away, people may make poor choices, but when our attention is on Christ, we are safe.

Thanks for tuning in today. I hope this message encourages you to honor leaders in a way that magnifies Christ as the head of us all. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to share it with a friend and make sure that you subscribe for more on living out our faith. Until next time, keep following Christ and giving Him all the glory.

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