Church Politics: Spiritual Lessons for 21St Century Church Leaders

By Meric D. Walker and Trevor O'Reggio

This book can change your life. While it is about behavioral practices in church organizations and their spiritual implications, it is more about modeling Christ our Supreme Leader.

Church Politics: Spiritual Lessons for 21st Century Leaders is an excruciatingly painful, deeply troubling, disconcerting but necessary and cathartic read. There were points which brought tears to my eyes, as the graphic examples highlighted were all-too-familiar to me as a Pastor. No sensitive, reflective soul who reads this work can be untouched.

This is a work which should be read by all Pastors and those in ministerial administration. It is an urgent wake-up call to us in ministry. It is a prophetic work, delivered with a cogency that is as chilling as it is irresistible.

None can emerge unscathed, thinking Thanks God, I am not like one of these persons! Which itself would be incriminating evidence that Thou art the man. Walker and OReggio have done a service to the Christian Churchof all denominations and hue. Read, weep, repent and resolve!
-Ian Boyne, Host of Religious Hard Talk, Television Jamaica

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 17, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491829707

Meric D. Walker

Meric D. Walker, PhD, is a graduate of Andrews University, Berrien Springs Michigan and Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville Jamaica. He is a Christian apologist who as a pastor for over twenty six years has given transformative leadership to both his church and country. Trevor O’Reggio, PhD, D. Min., is an alumnus of University of Chicago, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Andrews University, and Walla Walla College. He is Professor of Church History at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. He has been a champion in academic and pastoral leadership.

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© 2014 by Meric D. Walker, Trevor O’Reggio. All rights reserved.

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Cover design by Julia Sanders, photo sourced at layoutsparks.com

Typeset: 12pt. New Times Romans by M. D. walker

Contact address: [e-mail]

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Scripture credited to WNT is quoted from the Weymouth New Testament, copyright © 1998-2011 Olive Tree Bible Software. All rights reserved.

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Published by AuthorHouse 01/15/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4918-2968-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-2970-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013919275

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface

1 In Beginning

Definitions

The Sour Grape Syndrome

Index to Character

A Special Privilege

2 Spiritual Lessons From Two Models

Condescension versus Exaltation

Servant versus Superior

Divine Model versus Human Model

Maturity versus Immaturity

Conclusive Spiritual Lessons

Anchor Points

3 Spiritual Lessons From Church Politics Pertaining To The Unknown

The Known

The Unknown

Conclusive Spiritual Lessons

Anchor Points

4 Spiritual Lessons From Church Politics Pertaining To Passion

Christian Passion

Political Passion

Passion and Dynamism

Passion and Physical Changes

Conclusive Spiritual Lessons

Anchor Points

5 Spiritual Lessons From Church Politics Pertaining To Religiosity And Spirituality

The Difference

Convenient Religiosity

Spiritual Abuse

Conclusive Spiritual Lessons

Anchor Points

6 Spiritual Lessons From Church Politics Pertaining To Preaching

Purpose and Power

Self-centered Preaching

Devotional Daggers

Hermeneutical Malpractice

Conclusive Spiritual Lessons

Anchor Points

7 Spiritual Lessons From Church Politics Pertaining To Silence

The Sin of Silence

Trans-regime Liability

Shouts of Silence

Conclusive Spiritual Lessons

Anchor Points

8 Spiritual Lessons From Church Politics Pertaining To Praise, Promotion, And Punishment

Organizational Psyche

Perspectives on Praise

Self-centered Praise

Perspectives on Promotion

Promotional Pitfalls

A Punishment Mindset

Power and Punishment

Conclusive Spiritual Lessons

Anchor Points

9 Spiritual Lessons From Church Politics Pertaining To Policy, Procedure, And Protocol

Organizational Guides

Policy as Secret

Policy as a Divider

Procedure as God’s Nature

Procedure and Chairmanship

Procedure and Action

Protocol as Reflection of Perception

Conclusive Spiritual Lessons

Anchor Points

10 Spiritual Lessons From Church Politics Pertaining To Privacy And Publicity

Spectrum of Privacy and Publicity

Dealing with Disagreement

Disciplining of Workers

Food for Thought

Conclusive Spiritual Lessons

Anchor Points

11 Spiritual Lessons From Church Politics Pertaining To Friendship

True Friendship

Position-based Friendship

Compromise and Friendship

Blind Friendship

Teams of Friendship

Conclusive Spiritual Lessons

Anchor Point

12 Spiritual Lessons From Church Politics Pertaining To Discipleship

True Christian Discipleship

Followers of the Fallible

Over-stepping toward Discipleship

Interns for Christ or Disciples of Men?

Obligation by Location

Conclusive Spiritual Lessons

Anchor Points

13 Spiritual Lessons From Church Politics Pertaining To Resorces

Indispensable Resources

Caution

Wasted Resources

Diverting Resources

Resource Distribution Equity

Resource Distribution Disparity

Conclusive Spiritual Lessons

Anchor Point

14 Spiritual Lessons From Church Politics Pertaining To Legacy

Three Essentials

Contending Legacies

Legacy Unveiled

Conclusive Spiritual Lessons

Anchor Point

15 Spiritual Lessons From Church Politics Pertaining To Fear

Fear as a Political Tactic

Fearful Countenances

Fearful Words and Gestures

Fearful Acts

Conflict Creators

Conclusive Spiritual Lessons

Anchor Point

16 Spiritual Lessons From Church Politics Pertaining To Humor

Happiness

Value-based Humors

Crafty Humors

Humor and Callousness

Conclusive Spiritual Lessons

Anchor Point

17 Spiritual Lessons From Church Politics Pertaining To Grief

The Inevitability of Grief

Tough-guy Syndrome

Mirages

Attributing Causes

Protracted Grief Mode

Conclusive Spiritual Lessons

Anchor point

18 Spiritual Lessons From Church Politics Pertaining To Education

Education as a Necessity

Motives

Keeping Education Limited

Education as Liability

Education as an Asset

Education Manipulated

Educational Abuse.

Two Paradoxes

Conclusive Spiritual Lessons

Anchor Point

19 Spiritual Lessons From Church Politics Pertaining To Undoing, Redoing, And Outdoing

Undoing

Redoing

Outdoing

Conclusive Spiritual Lessons

Anchor Point

Conscience And Conclusions

Spiritually Formed Conscience

Exit and Conclusions

Conclusive Spiritual Lessons

Anchor Point

Notes

DEDICATED

to all spiritual and Christlike leaders throughout all

Christian organizations

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

W e are indebted to the many church leaders whom we have observed over the past thirty years. They unknowingly, by their church governance have provided important data for this project. We particularly admire and are appreciative of a few retired church leaders, who, through their private chamber’s reflection, voluntarily gave indispensable lessons from their own mistakes in church administration.

The realization of this project, Church Politics: Spiritual Lessons For 21st Century Church Leaders, was certainly not our sole effort, but inclusively the product of those who stood by us intellectually and practically, because for them also, proper governance of God’s church is most vital.

However, we are most grateful to God who has chosen to use us as a medium through which He Himself has produced Church Politics: Spiritual Lessons For 21st Century Church Leaders.

We believe this book will be a helpful resource toward spiritual church administration by converted church leaders worldwide.

Preface

T his book can change your life in many ways. It provides information about the behavioral practices in the governance of many church organizations and the spiritual implications of these practices. While it is about information, it is more about spiritual transformation. It pertains to building a personal relationship with Christ and constantly beholding him as Model Leader.

This account is layreader friendly and useful to pastors, seminary students, administrators in all sectors of church operation, and perhaps helpful to all workers in the cause of Christ.

The overall breadth of the chapters covers a spectrum of issues relating to church governance. The need for and the scope of the book is pinned down in the first chapter; each of the other chapters is divided into two sections: (1) descriptive behavioral trends observed in church governance within many church organizations, and (2) prescriptive Bible-based spiritual lessons.

There is a widespread feeling that Christlikeness is greatly lacking in the governance of many churches. Behaviors pertaining to lack of trust in God to guide one’s future; convenient passion for Christ linked to leadership position; faked spirituality; misuse of preaching; silence regarding sin; wrong motives pertaining to praise, promotion, and punishment; inconsistence in the use of policy, procedure, and protocol; inappropriate disclosure of private information; friendship without brotherhood; discipleship without spiritual disciplines; the wrong use of church resources; self-centered legacy; fear as a political tactic; humor toward self-benefit; grief abuse and misuse toward a selfish end; use of education as a liability; selfish actions toward undoing, redoing, and outdoing predecessor’s achievements; and the outworking of an unconverted conscience, are all factors highlighted as negatively affecting church governance.

Keeping in mind that each church has its strengths and challenges, come with us on this spiritual trek. Fear not! Be open-minded as we critically look together at church politics within the church itself and its spiritual implications thereof. Ask God for spiritual insights and maturity, not only for yourself, but for all members of the Christian faith. Pledge, based on the formation of His character in you, to do your part in rightly representing Him in your operations within His Church.

1

In Beginning

"That you may be filled with the knowledge

of His will in all wisdom and

spiritual understanding"

(Colossians 1: 9 NKJV).

I n as much as several volumes have been written, numerous articles penned, and persuasive speeches given on the issue of whether or not Christians have a role in State Politics, there remains a greater need for the chronicling of critical thoughts regarding politics within the church itself. It is spiritually important to examine the church itself in relation to its own internal operations.

In the context of the Great Controversy between Christ and Satan, and the Great Commission to go and make Disciples of Christ, the intent of this book is to unearth indispensable spiritual lessons for 21st century church leaders.

Definitions

Although church is generally defined as a collection of Christian organizations, which is inspired by, and seeks to represent, the significance of Jesus’ ministry, it also pertains to a single church denomination.

The word politics is believed to be derived from the backdrop of early formation of popular rule in ancient democratic governance which replaced tyrannies in