What are a few more aspects of the Mandated Leadership Model?

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Scriptures Serving as the Foundational Basis for the Mandated Leadership Model - Part II

This chapter will allow us to generate a few more elements of the mandated leadership model. Don’t be surprised at the conclusions. Are you ready to discover what these are as our study turns to the book of Psalms?



Suggested Reading: Psalm 51:1-4

This is a Psalm of King David, after Nathan the Prophet came to him regarding sexual relations with Bathsheba. Some commentators say that nine months had elapsed after David’s illicit relationship with Bathsheba and his directive to have her husband, Uriah, killed in battle. Still, he hadn’t repented of his sins. His murderous act had displeased the Lord, and He sent Nathan (2 Samuel 12:1-13) to tell him that there would be consequences for his actions such as:

●Evil would arise against him from his own house.

●His many wives would have relations with others.

●His child with Bathsheba would die.



And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

In 2 Samuel 12:13, David repented for his transgressions.

Numbers 35:16 And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

Deuteronomy 22:22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.

His acknowledgment and subsequent confession of his sinful actions was David’s atonement or payment for his debt. God forgave or removed the penalty for his transgressions, according to the Mosaic Law, which was death.

Psalms 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight:…

Following David’s repentance, he declared that his sin was against God and God alone. With that said we can formulate another aspect of this model.



Mandated Leadership Model Characteristic

This model claims that whenever someone in leadership sins, they’re only accountable to God, who’ll deal with them in His time and in His manner. Therefore, their sin should be concealed. (Psalm 51:1-4; Proverbs 10:12)

So, there you have it. Now you know why the sins of those in leadership are allowed to promulgate, possibly for years, without correction from the assembly. The assembly is told that God will address sinful behavior. Any attempt to do so by any member will be considered unscriptural. It might even be inferred as judging God’s anointed, the consequence being that divine judgment would be incurred upon anyone who meddles in the leader’s indiscretions. For many believers, this process might be thought of as a tolerable Bible practice because of secret sins in their own life. Don’t judge the pastor, and don’t judge me. Live and let live.

Next, let’s take a look at Proverbs 10:12 where we’ll derive another quality.

Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

One definition of the word covereth in Hebrew is to conceal, not to expose the sins of a neighbor to others. This verse contrasts hatred and love. Hatred keeps the old feeling of revenge alive and seeks opportunities of satisfying it.2 It stirs up dormant quarrels over mere suspicions attempting to expose the faults of others. But love covers (forgives and forgets; doesn’t expose the sins of a neighbor to others; conceals) all sins. This verse illustrates the following feature.



Mandated Leadership Model Characteristic

When we’re privy to the sins of those in leadership, we should conceal them, not telling anyone else. It’s recommended that we pray for them that they’d be able to address this area of infidelity. This versecould be used to convince the assembly that they must conceal the sins of their leaders. The problem with this analysis is that using just one verse to delineate a view on any biblical topic can support the adage that the Bible can say anything we want it to. Along these lines, using one verse from the Old Testament as the basis for interpreting verses from the New Testament can promulgate a view that’s entirely different from what a biblical study (hermeneutics) actually reveals about the topic.

The book of Malachi lends perspective to another characteristic of this leadership model.



Suggested Reading: Malachi 2:1-17; Malachi 3:6-11

The book of Malachi speaks of a time surrounding the second temple. The first temple was built under Solomon in approximately 1008 BC. Later, in about 937 BC, the nation was divided into the Northern Kingdom of Israel (comprised of ten tribes) and the Southern Kingdom of Judah (comprised of two tribes). In 587 BC, King Nebuchadnezzar of Chaldea (the Babylonian Empire) destroyed the first temple at Jerusalem that was located in the Southern Kingdom of Judah and enslaved the Jews. Upon their return to their homeland from captivity in approximately 516 BC, the temple was eventually rebuilt.

Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

During Israel’s apostasy, they had stopped giving tithes and offerings. The Lord said that because the people didn’t render tithes and offerings to the priests, He Himself suffered fraud. His ministers, constrained by hunger and penury, deserted the temple.3

Malachi 3:10-11 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.

The priests could no longer treasure godly discernment and proclaimed that those who did evil were good in the sight of the Lord. So, the Lord said to the people through the prophet Malachi that if they would bring their tithes of corn, wine, and oil into the storehouse (a special room or rooms in the temple4 for what was tithed), then He’d pour out a blessing of rain for agricultural prosperity, and not cause the fruits of the ground to be destroyed by locusts.

The trait that’s derived from these verses is prevalent in many churches today.



Mandated Leadership Model Characteristic

In the same way, the Jews received blessings from God if they brought tithes and offerings to the temple, so will the New Testament saints if they follow in their steps. If a New Testament saint chooses not to give tithes and offerings in the collection, they’ll be cursed (the fruit of their labor will suffer hardship). It’s contended that if a believer doesn’t give financially in this manner, they’re depriving God of His due. And who would want to be on God’s blacklist? Malachi 2:1-17; Malachi 3:6-11

What I’d like to share with you is an interesting story that happened to me in my younger years in the ministry. In the mid-eighties, I was working as a principal for a Christian day school. The church that employed me provided housing not only for staff but also for anyone who was a member. Rent was determined according to the number of people in each family.

One evening, right after the pastor had communicated God’s Word in the church service, the offering was about to be taken. Before the basket was passed around, the pastor mentioned that he’d been disheartened because, over the past few collections, the monetary amounts given were considered insufficient. He concluded that not everyone was tithing, and to resolve the issue, he stated that he’d be open to discussing this matter with any member at a designated place and meeting time the following morning. He assured everyone that opinions were welcome, and no one would be ridiculed if their view of financial giving differed from the church’s perspective.

The following day, I showed up along with about twelve others. Initially, a non-combative discussion ensued about church giving until one member said they hadn’t been tithing because they couldn’t afford to do so. They expressed a willingness to use their time and talent to assist the church in any way that would save it money, which, in their mind, would make up for the money they couldn’t supply. When the pastor heard this, he exploded. He not only said that this approach was unscriptural, but that tithing was God’s method for giving in the New Testament church period, end of the story. Anyone who considered otherwise was asked to leave the church and go elsewhere. And if you were living in church housing, you were told to leave the premises a.s.a.p.

I admit that I was pretty surprised that the pastor reacted this way. People who had been faithful to attend weekly services and participate in church activities for many years were being ostracized for not agreeing with one doctrinal perspective of the church. With this kind of behavior, it’s no wonder people leave churches and never return.

Did you know that there are particular names used to identify church leaders who apply the Old Testament Scriptures in formulating the ideas and procedures that the New Testament church should follow? Likewise, did you know that certain terms are used to recognize those in authority who formulate theology only using Scriptures from the New Testament? Let’s find out more about this in the upcoming chapter.



Endnotes

2The Pulpit Commentary PC Study Bible version 5, 2006, 01 November 2014 ˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.

3Barnes’ Notes. PC Study Bible version 5, 2006, 02 November 2014 ˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.

4Bible Knowledge.



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