Picture yourself being trained to serve as a leader in your church. Here is an assignment you must respond to. Try it. Then go over the “How To” suggestion.
Pastor Johnson of Suburbia Baptist Church was happily surprised when he learned that Tom and Harriet had volunteered to work with the college youth of the church. “Now,” said the Associate Pastor Brian Mitchell, “we can move ahead with the long delayed plans for a college department.”
Tom and Harriet were in their early thirties and seemed ideal for the empty slot. Already they were faithful in helping in the nursery. One glitch, however, did occur to Pastor Johnson. Tom was not a member of the church. Though an active Christian for some years, he had never been baptized and was not a member of Suburbia Church. Brian, the young associate, was reminded of this by Pastor Johnson.
“Okay, I’ll take that up with them when I have the opportunity,” he responded. Johnson reminded the younger pastor that it might be a sensitive subject with Tom, so he ought to plan his approach and be prepared to show from Scripture the seriousness of confessing Christ in baptism and to give the rationale for joining the church. “Talk with both of them present in an unhurried manner. The situation demands it.”
Over the next two or three weeks, plans for the college department developed nicely. Tom and Harriet were truly concerned for the need. “How has Tom responded regarding baptism and membership, Brian?” asked Pastor Johnson.
“I have not had a good opportunity to discuss that as yet,” the young associate responded, “but I will get to it directly.”
Some days later, the older pastor received a phone call from a troubled Brian. “The date for beginning our new college work is almost upon us now, so I knew I must talk immediately with Tom and Harriet about the membership matter. My being sick with a cold did not help any, but I went on and phoned them hoping to have it settled before Sunday. It did not go well.”
“After a brief chat together, Tom called me back with questions. Basically, they are wondering why his membership is suddenly so important since they have worked all this time in the nursery. Then he asked me, ‘Do you want us or not?'”
NOTE: First, discover and list the salient points in the case study above.
Next, indicate how you would develop or handle these points in ways differing from Pastor Brian Mitchell’s procedure.
P.S. The following Sunday evening a relieved Brian reported to Pastor Johnson, “Tom holds no animosity toward me, because I explained to them the orders requiring baptism did not come from me and that I was only passing on to them what I was told. They said they will be speaking with you soon.”
HOW TO HANDLE “DO YOU WANT US OR NOT?”
NOTE: The following thoughts are not intended to be a fine study on doctrines and church polity, rather are offered as an example of simple, direct approach aimed at winning obedience from Tom.
Salient points in the case study: l)Baptism 2)Membership 3)Dealing with People
I. BAPTISM
Introductory Thoughts: Perhaps all this should have been cared for earlier in Tom’s relation to the fellowship.
Probably baptism should have been focused on before membership.
The Presentation: Almost all churches require baptism. (Even pedobaptist communions require a subject to be baptized following conversion in cases where there was no previous baptism.)
Acts 2:38 -~ God’s order to you
Mat. 28:19,20 — God’s order to the pastor
II. MEMBERSHIP
Introductory Thoughts: Helping in the nursery and working with young people were different situations. One was a helper status, while the other was of a more definite, regular appointment.
See Healing for the Church, middle of Chapter 5 for help on speaking to the question of “Serving without Joining?”
We are commanded to strive for the unity of the church fellowship, Ephesians 4:1-6. Regard for the body and for the appointed leadership should lead one to yield wherever there is not compromise of truth.
1 Corinthians 12:13 states that Spirit Baptism inaugurates one into the spiritual Body of Christ. Thus, if water baptism is to physically portray that, then baptism in water ought to lead one into the local expression of Christ’s body. The water experience speaks of the Spirit’s baptism. Uniting with the visible church testifies to one’s incorporation into our Lord’s household.
III. IMPLICATIONS FOR DEALING WITH PEOPLE
- Never make a casual, “oh,-by-the-way” approach in a situation that is considered by you or the other party to be important. Dignify important matters by proper approach and handling. A telephone contact generally falls short of that. ( In addition, young Mitchell was directed not to handle it that way.)
- It is basic when dealing with agitated people to remove as much tension as possible at the very outset. Natural, relaxed talking with mild humor might be helpful sometimes, but a more powerful tool is to move onto a common ground spiritually and seek to touch the upset hearts.
- An assistant must be very careful not to give the impression: “Don’t blame me; I am only a mouthpiece.” Though unspoken, this implies: “Something is wrong here. I do not particularly agree with it myself. If you attack, it must be “higher up.”
This not only invites trouble but, as in the case under study, it fails to stand for what is truth and right. How different things would have evolved if from the very outset Mitchell had used his earnest effort in presenting the case for truth rather than defending himself. A leader must have his own integrity and stand for truth in a loving manner. That is the only way properly to judge and lead a church.