Bible Question: Is there scripture that would say that someone should refrain from a leadership role (worship team) while they are struggling with a particular sin (some drug use)? They say they know they should quit; but aren't saying that they will. |
Bible Answer: Hi, Lynnd... Welcome to the forum! Perhaps this will be helpful to you. Instead of focusing explicitly on your question -- for we cannot know the specifics of the situation you are observing -- I would suggest that we look at what God says characterizes godly leadership. "And now, O priests, this command is for you. If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it. So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the LORD of hosts. My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts, and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction." (Malachi 2:1-9 ESV) Let me pull out from this passage a dozen of the obvious earmarks of a ministry complying with God's standard. A godly ministry will... 1. Be fully committed to the commands of the Lord (v1) 2. Give God alone glory in everything they do (v1) 3. Continuously preach and teach life and peace (Gospel) (v5) 4. Be aligned with God's redemptive purposes (v5) 5. Be characterized by fear, reverence, and submission to God (properly recognizing the attributes of God) (v5) 6. Be characterized by openness and honesty (v6) 7. Have leaders whose walk with the Lord cannot be impugned (v6) 8. Effectually direct others -- by word and example -- to walk in the same way (v6) 9. Cling to sound doctrine, always seeking to be reformed by the Word of God (vv7-8) 10. Carefully communicate sound doctrine to others (vv7-8) 11. Recognize the solemn responsibility as an oracle of God (v7) 12. Be respected and recognized by the church for the work they do (v9) A careful study of the pastoral epistles (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus) fleshes this out in the light of the New Covenant. However, you'll find a very similar pattern. Like any good teacher, when God wants us to understand something, He rarely only says it once. :-) In Him, Doc |