The Burden of Spiritual Leadership
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SCRIPTURE:
6 “Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?[a] 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, 19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.”
Galatians 4:18-20, ESV
OBSERVATIONS:
The context of these verses must be understood from the backdrop of what is occurring in this church at Galatia. The Apostle Paul who is masterful crisis theologian and pastor is having to directly address since his physical departure from this church the heresy of the Judaizers who have infiltrated with their syncretism that the Gentile believers could not be true Christians until they submitted to the Jewish ordinance of circumcision. Furthermore, they maintained that the Galatians must adhere to the Law of Moses.[1] The Galatians enthusiastically embraced this teaching just as they passionately embraced Paul’s instruction. The entire purpose of this letter is to combat the heresy that what Jesus fully accomplished at his death, burial and resurrection was not fully sufficient for salvation.
Paul throughout the epistle is reminding them to default back to the Law was slavery and that they had a choice to make that was given to them by Jesus Christ to walk as adopted sons and daughters who have the gift of intimate relationship with God that they can cry our Abba Father (4:6), as well as God has redeemed them from slavery to this new relationship by the power of His Spirit (3:1-6). Here we capture the Apostles burden in which he is telling them the truth and some are perceiving Paul to an enemy (4:16), as he communicates that these other false teachers are using them but not empowering them for the purpose that Christ has created them for as sons and daughters with an inheritance.
Paul loves the Galatians so much that he is willing to risk the pain of their anger, and scorn to remind them of the truth. In the final verses of this passage, we are given a glimpse of the burden of Paul’s heart in which he gives language to describe his love for them as well as the pain that he is feeling for the deception that has grabbed hold of them. He writes, “I am present with you, my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you” (4:18-19). The Apostle is associating his passion for these Galatian believers as a parent who is experiencing childbirth until they become more like Jesus. The crux of spiritual formation is this burden to contend for people to be conformed and formed into becoming fully obedient followers for Christ who are contagiously reproducing this life in others.
APPLICATION:
It is my conviction that at times I have not fully communicated to others who begin to take on roles of leadership that there is a cost with the burden of serving people. It does not matter of its children’s ministry, youth ministry or small groups whenever you are committing yourself to share your life of following Christ with others there is a pain when they begin to stray from the truth that has been given to them. Serving others is not a good idea but it is God’s idea of how people grow and are shaped into the image of Christ. In a Church like New Hope fellowship the burden of helping others on their journey to be formed into the image of Christ must be affirmed and carried by the entire team that serves because not having this burden will keep me or others to not “speak the truth in love” at risk of being rejected or having the perseverance to contend with anguish. Serving others is not always “A Feel-Good Experience!” If the Apostle began to carry offense towards the Galatians, he would have detached from them and no longer would have contended for their freedom. The Apostle even recognizes that because he is not physically present with them that their choices to believe a false doctrine has forced him to be more direct in his tone and his wish was that he could be present with them to see them and to have that relational connection of presence where they would not misinterpret his heart or motive. Allot like modern day “text-messaging” in which people can be misunderstood because you cannot see their heart. Furthermore, people who believe lies tend not to go to the person and address whatever has emotionally gripped them but instead they go to others because creating emotional triangles keeps the focus off themselves. Paul was dealing with this and had to combat this with setting a clear boundary with the Galatians but repeating the truth and sharing his heart for them.
Church can be messy, and people are messy and heresy is real, and it destroys peoples created purpose. Spiritual leadership is a calling that comes with a burden and that burden is that Christ will be formed in others. I feel the Holy Spirit reminding me again that I do not fix anybody nor am I the source of power in anyone’s life. Love people, set healthy boundaries and keep my own heart free from offense. Always recognizing that there are points of pain in serving others. What’s the reward for this calling and burden? Jesus Christ is Glorified, and I am changed through the challenges that servant leadership has and Christ through the fire matures me to become formed into the image of Christ. Ministry is a two-edged sword of transformation.
PRAYER:
“Jesus, I am reminded that I am always your apprentice, and I pray that I keep all offense out of my heart, and I choose to love people because you love them, and we are all on the journey of becoming more like you … Including me … Al Soto. Jesus, I pray that the burden you have given me will never be polluted with bitterness or resentment and that I can serve others by the Power of the Holy Spirit always keeping Your Purpose for them in my heart. I pray that I never get in your way attempting to do only what you can do in people’s hearts. Help me to embrace the pain that comes with serving others. Thank you that I get to serve here at New Hope fellowship. May I honor you in all that I say and do. I pray this in name of Jesus Christ! Amen!
Footnotes:
[1] Hebrew - Greek Key Word Study Bible English Standard Version, ed. ThD. and General Editor Spiros Zodhiares, ESV edition Warren Baker, D.R.E. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1984, 1990, 1991, 1996 and 2013 by AMG International Inc.). p 1347.