The Tested Leadership Model – Should Believers Follow the Leadership of the New Testament Church Emphatically, as the Jews Followed Moses Unequivocally?

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The Tested Leadership Model – Should Believers Follow the Leadership of the New Testament Church Emphatically, as the Jews Followed Moses Unequivocally?

Each question asked and how the answer is received will directly impact our walk with God. We’re about to find another quality of this model. Let’s begin by turning in our Bibles to the book of Ephesians.



Suggested Reading: Ephesians 4:11-16

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

The names of the office leadership gifts are apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers.

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Collectively, they’re provided for the perfecting (mending, repairing, or correcting all that’s deficient) of the saints, for the work of the ministry (the work of Christian service), and for the edifying (to cause to grow strong) of the body of Christ so that every member might become mature or fully-grown.

Depending on which church you attend, the ideas of correcting all that’s deficient in the saints, what constitutes Christian service, and what causes a Christian to grow strong are going to be different. This shouldn’t dissuade us. There will always be variations of opinions concerning this or that. But this question remains. Should the New Testament saint follow leadership with no ifs, ands, or buts as the Israelites followed Moses?

To clarify this, please turn in your Bibles to the book of 1 Corinthians.



Suggested Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

Paul stated that when he came before the Corinthian believers declaring the testimony (mystery; secret truth) of God, this wasn’t done with excellency of speech or of wisdom [persuasive doctrines of human wisdom (of human philosophy—a system of principles for guidance in practical affairs31)], but by the Spirit and of power (spiritual power).

9-10 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

The things that God has prepared for them who love him (Christ) will be revealed to them through the Spirit, who illuminates us (helps us to understand) the things (the blessings of salvation; the blessings of redemption—the pardon of sin, justification, sanctification, the divine favor and protection, and the hope of eternal life32) that God has graciously bestowed on us.

14 …neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

The things Paul spoke about weren’t gleaned from human wisdom but from the Holy Spirit. As the Spirit taught him through revelation and illumination, he introduced such to the Corinthian believers. The truth of God is found in the Word of God, and it’s imperative to note that these spiritual truths are given in specific words.33 The things of the Spirit one can only know (understand) by spiritual discernment (it’s only with the help of the Holy Spirit we can examine and investigate the things of the Spirit).

15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

But he that is spiritual (under the influence of the Spirit; to whom divine insight is imparted34 judgeth (discerns) all things spiritual.

As those in leadership claim to be declaring God’s heart by the leading and guiding of the Spirit, there can also be confirmation as to whether these truths are indeed from God’s heart by the Spirit residing in those who are listening, providing them with supernatural inspection.

To further support this perception, let’s take another look at a verse from 1 John that will confirm this.



1 John 2:27

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

The anointing, the person of the Holy Spirit, which you have received of him (Christ), abideth (has taken up permanent residency) in you. While it’s true that God has given some in the church an office leadership gift, whenever they bring forth a message, the same anointing (the person of the Holy Spirit) teacheth us (endues us with judgment and discernment; the corrector and approver of doctrine; he alone can be a witness to himself, [to] convince our hearts that what our ears receive has come from him35) so that we’ll be able to recognize error.

Let’s be clear, I’m not saying that there’s no need for the leadership offices of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher.

Ephesians 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Hopefully, if they teach sound doctrine and we incorporate it, this should bring us to a place in our walk with God the Father where we’re able to seek His will for our lives by means of prayer, the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.

From here, let’s further delineate this attribute by going back to the book of 1 Corinthians.



Suggested Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

1-4 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

During the wilderness wanderings, the Jews were baptized (obligated) to follow Moses, who received instructions from Yahweh directly. They received spiritual (divine provisions) meat (manna), and spiritual drink (the water they took with them throughout their journey when Moses smote the rock). And they drank of the spiritual Rock that followed them, i.e., of Christ.

Some commentators believe that the latter expression is to be taken figuratively. That as the waters from the rock smitten followed the Israelites for forty years until they arrived in the promised land of Canaan, this was a type of the smitten Christ following each believer in the New Testament when they responded to the gospel of repentance and faith.

Furthermore, as Moses received instruction from Yahweh, the Israelites were to follow him unequivocally. As the leaders of the New Testament church conveyed the gospel of Christ to unbelievers, hopefully, they’d respond favorably to it and receive the indwelling Spirit. Those called to church authority would instruct the new believers about the foundational truths of the faith, the many blessings received at salvation, and how to address the weaknesses and strengths of their flesh by relying on the ministry of the Holy Spirit and developing His fruit (divine perspective) as revealed through the Word of God.

Let’s stay in the book of 1 Corinthians and develop this trait.



1 Corinthians 4:15-16

15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

The words ten thousand instructors refer to the many instructors during the culture who were known as Paedagogues. The Paedagogue was a slave to whom boys were entrusted on leaving the care of the females, which was somewhere around their sixteenth year. He was often a foreigner, sometimes educated and refined, but often otherwise; for Plutarch [complained] that seamen, traders, usurers, and farmers [were] engaged in this capacity. The office was one of general guardianship, not of instruction, though sometimes the paedagogues acted as teachers. He accompanied the boy to school, carrying his books, etc., and attended him to the gymnasium and elsewhere.36 To emphasize further, this instructor accompanied the child to school but wasn’t their special teacher.

However, a special teacher, a father, was someone who Paul alluded to as someone who would encourage unbelievers to have a personal relationship with Christ through the presentation of the gospel and their response to it. And as one of these fathers, he made the following statement.

16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

The word followers means to follow his example. What example? The example of those who have learned how to be conformed to the image of God’s Son and can help fellow believers in this regard.

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

The word conformed refers to the process of sanctification, whereby the saint is transformed in his inner heart life to resemble.37 To resemble what or whom? To resemble the image of God’s Son. This word image refers to character. Where is the idea of character derived from in Scripture? It’s found in Galatians 5:22-23, which talks about the fruit of the Spirit. What can be concluded is that believers should be followers of leaders who exemplify the fruit of the Spirit in their lives.

And what can be said of those who decide to leave a church? How should they be thought of? Please turn in your Bibles to the book of 1 John.



1 John 2:18-19

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

Commentators believe this epistle was written by the Apostle John to the churches in Asia under his guidance. He says it is the last time, referring to the character of what was happening in these assemblies. According to his teachings, someone known as the antichrist will come in the future. This is someone who rejects Christ yet proposes to do the work of Christ.

Likewise, he contends that many in the church, antichrists, deny the person and work of Christ. Who are they? John said they were not of us, i.e., in Spirit and divine life. In other words, they were unbelievers. And this is why they eventually left.

By the way, if it was the case that a believer left a church, should they be thought of in this manner? No, they shouldn’t. They might go because the doctrines from the pulpit aren’t supported by Scripture. They might leave because God has called them to a different assembly. They could leave for other reasons, some justified and some that aren’t. Don’t just assume that if a believer departs, it could be because of sin, or maybe they weren’t saved in the first place.

With that said, we can declare another characteristic of this model.



The Tested Leadership Model Characteristic

Church leaders shouldn’t be followed absolutely. Hopefully, what they convey to the assembly is under the leading and guiding of the Spirit and based on the Word of God. As each member of the group listens to what’s being proclaimed, hopefully, they’ll substantiate such utilizing the Word of God and praying to the Spirit for discernment.

As the Israelites were baptized unto Moses, so the New Testament believer is baptized unto Christ by responding to the gospel, receiving the indwelling Spirit, and learning how to cultivate His graces as revealed through the Word of God. (Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16; 1 John 2:27; 1 Corinthians 10:1-2; 1 Corinthians 4:15-16; 1 John 2:18-19)



The Mandated Leadership Model Response - Rebuttal

Exodus 4:31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

As the Israelites followed Moses decisively when he instructed them about God’s plan to deliver them from their captivity in Egypt, so should the New Testament saints follow church leaders determinedly.

Other verses that might be used to support this conjecture are from the book of 1 Corinthians.



Suggested Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

1-2 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

In the Old Testament, the Israelites were baptized (dedicated) unto Moses in the experiences of the Exodus when they were under the cloud, the “Shekinah” - the visible symbol of the divine presence and protection that attended them out of Egypt which went before them by day as a cloud to guide them, and by night as a pillar of fire to give them light,38 and passed through the sea (Red Sea) as the waters rose in walls on each side providing safe passage from the ensuing Egyptians.

As the Israelites were baptized unto (under obligation to) Moses, so should believers be devoted to those in leadership. From this, we can deduce that Moses was a type of the New Testament leader. (Exodus 4:1-9; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13)

Here’s some more verses that could be used to support this perception.

1 Corinthians 4:15-16

For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

The Apostle Paul was exhorting those who responded to the gospel that was presented to them by him to follow him exclusively as a leader thus accepting his teachings and decisions.

Here’s another section of Scripture used to support this quality.

2 Samuel 15:4, 6-7b, 12 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. And it came to pass after forty years,… And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

2 Samuel 18:10 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.

Absalom, one of King David’s sons, killed his eldest brother Amon, after he found out that he raped his sister Tamar. After which, he fled and stayed out of sight for a couple of years. Eventually, his father allowed him to return to Jerusalem. While there, he assumed the role of a judge deciding issues that the people brought before him. After forty years, he was thought of highly by the populace.

Realizing that he had gained the favor of the multitudes, he decided to usurp the throne. His father, aware of this coup, fled with his family, servants, and army. Absalom, realizing that he had to secure his throne from a counterattack from his father gathered his forces and engaged his father’s army. The battle didn’t go Absalom’s way. Not only did he lose many men, as he fled from the scene, his thick hair got caught in the branch of an oak tree and subsequently, he was found dangling there by the commander of his father’s army, Joab, who killed him.

Some might use this story as another example of following God’s leaders unequivocally with the added inference that if someone rebels against them, then bad things will occur in their lives.

What else might be said of those who leave the assembly of believers? Please turn your Bibles again to the book of 1 John 2:18-19.

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

Believers who don’t support the teachings from the pulpit and eventually leave the assembly are known as antichrists.

We have one more characteristic of the tested leadership model to uncover. Let’s find out what this is all about.



Endnotes

31Dictionary.

32Barnes.

33The Bible Exposition Commentary.

34Vincent’s New Testament Word Studies PC Study Bible version 5, 2005, 15 November 2014 ˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.

35Calvin’s Commentaries.

36Vincent’s Word Studies.

37Weust.

38Barnes.



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