Love, Leadership, and Correction: Guarding your heart from offense

Love, Leadership and Correction: Guarding your heart from offense
Loving leaders are not afraid to encourage, strengthen and correct. All of us need strong leaders, even spiritual fathers in our lives who love us enough to tell us the truth.
Apostolic ministries have been unfairly accused of being nonloving. They are, however, the most loving people in the world. This injustice is the result of a lack of understanding of the leader’s role in helping people grow in the Lord. This is especially true in emerging ministries that are transitioning into the new apostolic revolution. You may have heard someone make a comment like, “There is no love in that church.” It’s unfortunate that people make such statements that unfairly target good leadership. I too have been accused of being nonloving. The assaults normally occur after correction or if I ministered on a topic that challenged a rebellious person to change. Usually it’s those being corrected by the Holy Spirit to grow that falsely accuses their leaders. Instead of dealing with their sin they lash out at others to avert attention from themselves.
Sometimes nonloving accusations come from those newly attending the ministry. They bring their own ideas of how ministry should be done to the church. These folks are shocked to find out that ministry in an apostolic church is different from what they are familiar with. If they wear a religious façade, for example, it will be shattered by the unwavering directness of apostolic grace because apostles are foundational ascension gifts that deal with belief systems, why a person believes what they believe. Their grace will cause people to take a closer look at themselves to change. If they don’t want to change they will run and accuse their leaders of being nonloving as they look for a more comfortable, user-friendly, tolerant ministry.
A godly leader must dare confront immaturity, sedition, rebellion, moral corruption and uncivil behavior when necessary and bring correction in love. The response to that correction decides the further action of the leader. Leaders must also stay clear of trying to please men or gain popular public opinion. When discipline is necessary it's always easier to say nothing, but truelove is not like that. Paul was sometimes harsh in his dealings with people, even to the point of turning them over to Satan, not something I counsel you to do. As an apostle and spiritual father, he was passionate and incisive. His actions and scri ptural stance spoke volumes to those who followed his ministry. I am sure that Paul exhausted every effort to reach these men. No minister of the gospel wants to see people miss God's best for them. Apostles, unlike others, view the church as an instrument of change and not as a playground, retirement or day care center nursing the rebellious. They not only feed sheep, but protect them, even from themselves.
Society mistakenly believes that ministers should tolerate ill-behavior and everyone should be accepted as they are and never needed to grow up. Not so with the rotor-rooter ministry of the apostolic. Uncivil, amoral and unbecoming behavior is not acceptable. Apostles view salvation as the beginning of the work of ministry in a person's life and not the end. Yes, they will accept you the way you are but they expect you to grow, change and mature both spiritually and emotionally. Be honest, isn't this the leader you want in your life, someone that loves you enough to tell you the truth about you and help you become all that Christ has called you to be? Leaders do more than minister to the sons and daughters of God, they challenge…
Wolves (Acts 20:29, 30).
Dogs (Philippians 3:2).
Deceitful workers (2 Corinthians 11:13).
Religious spirits (Matthew 23).
Loving leaders are not afraid to encourage, strengthen and correct. All of us need strong leaders, even spiritual fathers in our lives, who love us enough to tell us the truth. Instead of attacking our leaders for their courage to say what's needed to help us, we should give them double honor and appreciate them. "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine" (1 Timothy 5:17). If you hear someone abusing your leader speak up and tell them to stop mistreating your man of God.
Love covers the repentant, not the rebellious. Some demand unconditional love from their leaders. Unconditional love is a myth used as a license by the rebellious to dodge accountability. God is love and He used the word "if" 1595 times in 1420 verses. God's loving response toward man is not unconditional. He expects his disciples to obey him. The Apostle Paul wrote about love. Let's examine true love from an apostolic perspective."Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I give all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up: Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all, believeth all, hopeth all, endureth all. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they will fail; whether there be tongues, they will end; whether there be knowledge, it will vanish away" (1 Corinthians 13:1-8).
After reading this scri pture we discover eight things that love is and eight things that love is not. Let's take a look at them.
EIGHT THINGS LOVE IS
1. ENDURES MISFORTUNE AND TROUBLE: "Charity suffereth long."
Love is longsuffering. Longsuffering, Greek makrothumeo, patiently endures misfortune and trouble. This is love that does not lose heart during tough times. It patiently bears offenses, false accusations and presses on through. Overcoming hardship is the first challenge for any disciple of Christ and longsuffering is the first quality of love mentioned by the Apostle Paul. If there is any ministry that understands hardship yet endures anyway it is the apostolic pioneers.
2. KIND, GENTLE AND COMPASSIONATE: "Is kind."
Love is kind. This is the only place in the New Testament the word kind is written. Love is sympathetic, kind and gentle. Apostolic ministries are filled with the kindest people you have ever met. Kindness doesn't mean weak, meek or pious. This kindness carries sincere compassion for others.
3. THINKS THE BEST: "Thinketh no evil."
Love is not motivated by evil thought but keeps a pure conscience. God tries the reigns of the heart (Jeremiah 17:10). Right motives are important in the lives of disciples of Christ, including examining their own motivation. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever are honest, whatsoever are just, whatsoever are pure, whatsoever are lovely, whatsoever are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these" (Philippians 4:8).
4. CONGRATULATES, COMPLIMENTS, PRAISES: "Rejoiceth in the truth."
Love rejoices with others. Loving people are happy about breakthroughs in your life and take part in your joy. This love is unselfish, compliments and praises your victories.
5. BEARS PLEASANT AND UNPLEASANT ALIKE: "Beareth all."
Love carries burdens. "Bearth" is the Greek word stego, meaning to hide by covering. It is taken from the root word stege, to strengthen. Spiritual strength and fortitude are common traits of apostolic believers, strength to carry one's own cross first and then to bear the burdens and hardship of ministry.
6. FULL OF FAITH: "Believeth all."
Love is full of faith. Faith is visible and seen in the actions of those who believe that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. It is faith that moves mountains and the substance of hoped for. By faith we overcome the world and receive our inheritance.
7. TRUSTING, CONFIDENT AND EXPECTANT: "Hopeth all."
Love is hopeful. Hope, Greek elpizo means full of confidence, trust and expectation. This love refuses to accept defeat and always looks toward the future with an enduring hope. From this we learn that love is an action word.
8. CONSTANT, DEDICATED AND DETERMINED: "Endureth all."
Love is strength of mind that enables one to endure trouble with courage. Endure, Greek hupomeno means to remain, uphold fortitude and endure. This love will not break rank. Apostolic believers are steadfast in the heat of battle, refuse defeat and will not abandon their post. Paul told Timothy, "Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 2:3).
EIGHT THINGS LOVE IS NOT
1. JEALOUS, ENVIOUS AND COVETING: "Enveith not."
Love is not envious of others. Envy Greek zello means to be jealous. Love does not resent the success of others or envy their possessions. A jealous person holds ill will toward another's advantage or station in life. Love does not covet what belongs to another but empowers and strengthens them for more success.
2. BOASTFUL, PRIDEFUL AND ARROGANT: "Vaunteth not itself."
Love is not a show off. It does not brag or boast about one's accomplishments in an excessive and prideful way. Arrogant people try to make themselves look good by putting others down. Wisdom says it is always wise not to talk about yourself. Let others do that for you. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6).
3. BIGHEADED, SNOOTY AND CONCEITED: "Not puffed up."
Love is not conceited. This deals with pride. Love recognizes victories and accomplishments come by hard work, grace and God’s blessings. One time I met a bigheaded man. The entire conversation was about his accomplishments in ministry. He spoke of how many nations he had preached as if he were carving notches on the wooden grips of a pistol. He was puffed up, conceited and snooty. I have no wish to see him again.
4. INDECENT, UNBECOMING, IMPROPER: "Doth not behave itself unseemly."
Love does not act unbecomingly. Unseemly, Greek aschemoneo is improper or indecent behavior. Believers live a righteous lifestyle and are free from unbecoming, inappropriate behavior. "And they will teach my people the difference between the holy and profane and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean" (Ezekiel 44:23).
"Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God" (Matthew 5:8).
5. SELF-CENTERED, INDEPENDENT AND SELF-ENGROSSED: "Seeketh not her own."
Love is not self-centered and values relationships. An example of apostolic ministries is their concern for others.
6. EASILY ANGERED, PROVOKED AND EXASPERATED: "Not easily provoked."
Love is not easily exasperated, provoked or angered. "Be ye angry and sin not: let not the sun go down on your wrath" (Ephesians 4:26). There is a place for anger, but only in passionate opposition to evil (Ephesians 4:26) and has nothing to do with the emotion of the soul (Mark 3:5). "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city" (Proverbs 16:32).
7. RECORD WRONGS: "Thinketh no evil."
Love does not remember wrongs. "Thinketh no evil" is from the Greek word logizomai, which means to keep a written record of wrongs. Love is forgiving and doesn't hold a person's sinful past against them. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
8. UNCOMPASSIONATE, UNJUST, REJOICES NOT IN INIQUITY: "Rejoiceth not in iniquity."
Love is not unjust. Iniquity is defined as injustice, unrighteousness and evil deeds. Love takes no pleasure in evil or the misfortune of others. Neither does it engage in immorality and injustice.
ACTION EXERCISE
Apostolic ministries are the most loving in the world. Their leaders understand the true features of love and by them we grow in the principles, precepts and the Word of the Lord. "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loves he corrects even as a father the son in whom he delights" (Proverbs 3:11-12). Love never fails. scri pture said that love one for another was the way you could identify Christ' disciples. Love is gentle, kind and correcting. No one likes correction but when it happens, rejoice because someone loves you enough to help you. Wrong behavior repeats itself. If it is never addressed then it hinders our success in life and ministry. Let your leaders help you become all that God has called you to be. Don't be afraid of those who want to help you on your journey with Christ.
© by Jonas Clark