“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You have given us the fellowship of the body of Christ. This is the place for our security and safety. This is the place, where we are corrected, reproved, and grow. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.”
Acts 1:23-26 And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. (24) And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen (25) to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” (26) And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
This was a wonderful process by which the selection was made to find a replacement for Judas. It was not just a few individuals who made this decision but the whole body of believers were engaged in the process. They prayed and sought the mind of the Lord in this matter. The Lord guided them in this crucial decision. Peter had given a clear understanding to the whole group of disciples, of the need to replace Judas. Peter had also made known, all the conditions that must be met in the person, who would take Judas’s place as one of the twelve apostles. They sought the voice of the church. This was a safety net that protected them from straying off in the wrong direction. This is therefore an excellent model that we have for decision-making in any of our circles, be it family, fellowships, church, organisations, or ministries. Sadly, what we often see taking place, in all of these circles, is that this beautiful process of decision-making is not adopted. One or a few individuals take all decisions resulting in long-term, painful, consequences.
Let us consider another Biblical pattern. There was a complaint that the Hellenist widows were being neglected in the daily distribution by the Hebrews. The entire body of the church was engaged in resolving this crisis. Acts 6:2-3 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. (3) Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; The need was explained and the task before the multitude of the disciples was also made known, precisely, to them. There was no ambiguity. All of these are crucial aspects that we must note when we make decisions in our various circles.
The body of believers was happy with the process and they prayerfully went about the task. We see that this method of decision-making not only took care of the crisis at hand but also produced long-term outworking of God’s purposes, through His church. Acts 6:5-7 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, (6) whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. (7) Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith”.
This is the process that we must follow in our decision-making. The danger is when a single individual or a few individuals in the church, fellowships, organisations, and ministries, become a law to themselves and are not willing to remain within the protection of the body of Christ. These individuals become singular, shooting stars, in the ministry that the Lord has entrusted to them. They then cause much harm to themselves and to many others.
As Paul writes to Timothy, he is giving him the basis on how he must conduct himself within the scope of the church. I Timothy 3:15 “but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth”. Paul warns Timothy of this matter that when leaders do not submit to be within the canopy of the church, then they are a danger to themselves and others. I Timothy 1:18-20 “This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, (19) having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, (20) of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme”. When leaders reject the reproof of the church, then they suffer shipwreck, for their faith in God. Their conscience before God and man are seared. They will end up blaspheming, thus leading many astray from the truth. II Corinthians 4:1-2 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. (2) But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
Jude is scathing in his observations of what would happen to leaders, who do not remain in the protection of the church. Jude 1:13 raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
“We strive together, as the church, for people to come to faith in Jesus.”