LEADERSHIP BY FORCE

Some leadership in the house of God has been what can be described as "by force". When someone has a skill, a status or a personality that is judged as advantageous to the Church, that person is often appointed an overseer. In some cases, the appointees themselves or their superiors, feel they are qualified to be in such roles because of such qualities. For instance, a teacher in a village, who may not even be born again, could easily pass for the elder or pastor of a church because his ability to read and teach forces him there. But in the house of God, bishopric is not based on external qualifications (as advantageous as they may be) - 1 Samuel 16:7. Though some have turned out to be providentially true leadership, we must all be aware of such and avoid it as Jesus Christ of Nazareth did.