#ReimagineDISCIPLESHIP...as servanthood

[Reimagine Curator]

Good morning. Today, we’re continuing a series of excerpts from Leadership or Servanthood?: Walking in the Steps of Jesus, written by Hwa Yung from Malaysia. Thus, the dual focus on faithful discipleship in life and servanthood in ministry represent the essential thrust of what spiritual and character formation is all about in the Christian life, and not the oft repeated emphasis on leadership development in today’s church. In the whole of the New Testament there is only one verse that may possibly be read as encouraging us to seek after church leadership. In his letter to Timothy, Paul writes, “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task” (1 Tim 3:1). But how are we to understand this? To begin with, although there is no strict uniformity in church leadership patterns in New Testament churches, local leadership in many churches outside Jerusalem were probably divided broadly into two categories. The overall spiritual and pastoral oversight was entrusted to elders, also designated overseer/bishop. They were assisted by a second group called deacons, who probably took care of the daily administrative tasks in the church. Should 1 Timothy 3:1 be read as encouraging those under Timothy to seek after church leadership and “run for office”? The New Testament scholar Gordon D. Fee, commenting on this, suggests that this is unlikely because whatever evidence we have “implies that men from among the earliest converts were normally appointed to such position.”  He goes on to argue that Paul’s concern here is not about the person but on the position. “Thus Paul is not commending people who have great desire to become leaders; rather he is saying that the position of church leaders is such a significant matter, an excellent work, that it should indeed be the kind of task to which a person might aspire.”  Similarly, John Stott comments that “Paul is not condoning selfish ambition for the prestige and power which are associated with the ordained ministry. He is rather recognizing that the pastorate is a noble task, because it involves the care and nurture of the people of God, and that it is laudable to desire this privilege.” This verse therefore cannot be construed to mean that Paul is encouraging anyone to strive after position and status, let alone urging Timothy to get on with leadership development in the church in Ephesus. To sum up, the New Testament nowhere encourages the restless striving after leadership so often seen today. Certainly the apostles are fully aware of the need for good leadership in the churches, but in choosing and appointing leaders spiritual and moral qualities are the fundamental requirements, as seen in 1 Timothy 3:1–13 and Titus 1:5–9.  The overarching concern of New Testament disciple-making is not on leadership development but on producing faithful disciples and holy living. Those making genuine progress in this are then entrusted with leadership and oversight in the churches.    An excerpt from Leadership or Servanthood?: Walking in the Steps of Jesus, written by Hwa Yung, (Carlisle: Langham Global Library), 2021.   An excerpt from Leadership or Servanthood?: Walking in the Steps of Jesus, written by Hwa Yung, (Carlisle: Langham Global Library), 2021. HWA YUNG is bishop emeritus of the Methodist Church in Malaysia. Among his many roles, he has served as a pastor and bishop within the Methodist Church, and as principal of Malaysia Theological Seminary. He has also been involved with various international ministries, including as chair for the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies’ council of trustees and a member of the International Board of the Lausanne Movement. Purchase Book To learn more about this ministry visit langham.org Learn More                 Donate Now