God's Word Changes LivesSample

REAL AUTHORITY

Leading people is difficult. Leading God’s people as a young person has always been super duper difficult. There will always be congregation members who question your capability, legitimacy, commitment, and decision-making skills. When you are a young pastor, there will always be someone older in your church who thinks they should be the pastor instead of you. Trust me. I know this from personal experience.

But even though things were not easy for me, it was exponentially harder for Timothy. I didn’t have to deal with false teachers trying to take over my church. Nobody showed up at our church questioning my legitimacy as a pastor because of my non-Jewish heritage. There was no pressure from my members to start celebrating Jewish holidays. Most importantly, my mentor was not lying in a Roman prison waiting for his execution.

Things were so hard for Timothy that he probably wrote to Paul asking for someone else more experienced to come and take over the church in Ephesus. “Please send someone who can impose their authority over these rebellious people!” But when Paul’s letter arrived, it was not a dismissal letter. Instead, it was a letter of encouragement and advice.

Paul reminded Timothy that theirs were difficult times. They had to deal with difficult and rebellious people. But the solution was not to replace Timothy with an older, wiser, more authoritative figure. No. The solution was for Timothy to rely more on the authority of God’s Holy Scriptures. Stop arguing with these guys and start engaging with them using God’s word.

The Scriptures are God-breathed, divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit. They contain stories, commandments, and prayers that can help us encourage, discipline, train, and inform the people in the church. They can guide Christ’s followers to make all the important decisions in their lives. So don’t engage with their foolish arguments and challenges. Lead them to God’s word instead.

Like Timothy, all of us will have to deal with difficult people in our lives. So my advice to you is the one Paul gave to his beloved apprentice. Don’t give up. Don’t engage with their foolish and rebellious arguments. Go back to the authority of God’s word. And you will always make the right decision for yourself, your family, and your church.