UNGODLY LEADERS

Toward the end of Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church, things get a bit uncomfortable. 

He is clearly planning a third visit to this church and aims to deal with some trouble-makers during his visit. 

As the founder of the church, he makes it clear that he intends to set things right during this visit.  He warns that bunch that keeps sinning over and over in the same old ways that he will deal with them harshly in the strength of Christ!  You’ll get the full force of Christ, don’t think you won’t. 

Since this letter is written to the church of God that is in Corinth [1:1], we can assume that there were people in the church who were not living out their faith genuinely before the Lord!  These belligerent non-believers were apparently proclaiming a faith that they didn’t really possess.  Their prominence in the governance of the church had become a problem, and Paul intended to confront them directly! 

It was in this context that Paul closes his letter with this recommendation:

⁵ Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it. 

The Apostle recognizes the importance of genuine faith and the urgency of keeping it updated and fresh!  Those who are ‘drifting along’ cannot be allowed to be the major influencers in the life of the church!  And He intends to enforce this principle upon his visit!

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It’s still true today, you know.

Having led churches for four decades, I’ve also had to deal with church leaders who were not keeping their faith current and fresh.  In most cases, I realized that these leaders had, at one time, experienced an anointing from God.  However, they were trying to operate on that past anointing for far too long without receiving a fresh anointing.  Their faith was stale.  Personal desires and preferences were taking the place of what was best for the whole body of believers!  The results of this were almost always the same:  influence peddling, manipulation, intimidation, threats [the most common was to discontinue tithing], and bullying behavior.

Church members often kowtowed to this kind of behavior.  However, as the designated leader of the church, I had to stand strong.  Pastors who do so tend to pay a price!  Paul certainly paid a price!  His language in these last two chapters is full of dread and pain! 

Let it be said clearly and plainly:  the minister and lay leaders of a church must maintain integrity and spiritual accountability in order for a church to thrive!  Their lives are exemplary in every way!  And the pastor – through the strength and wisdom of Christ – is ultimately responsible to use the Word of God for teaching, reproof, correction, and for training in righteousness [II Timothy 3:16]. 

I wish we had a third letter to the Corinthian church.  It would be interesting to know how Paul’s visit went and what the results were.  The fact remains:  if the leadership are not walking closely to Christ and in harmony with His Word, the church cannot prosper and grow!!!!!