SMOKE & MIRRORS: DEALING WITH OFFENSE FROM LEADERSHIP

04/30/2024

"Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brethren: the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity" (1 Timothy 5:1-2).

Sometimes, offense may come from our leaders, and most often, it is not intentional. Jesus said, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!" (Luke 17:1). This means that offenses could come through anyone, including our leaders, spiritual and political. 

However, how do we deal with offense from leaders? Do you rebuke the like it says to do in Luke 17:3? Not at all. Understand that the scriptures will never contradict itself. While Luke 17 3 says, "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him," 1 Timothy 5:1-2 is very instructive. It says, "Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brethren: the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity" (1 Timothy 5:1-2).

The word exhort means to appeal or entreat. In other words, when a leader hurts you, let him or her know by speaking politely about it. If this is not possible, the Bible says to pray for that leader. Understand that all authority comes from God and it is not your job to rebuke him or her. "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves." (Romans 13:1-2)

If a leader abuses their authority, your job is to cry to God and watch him enact justice or bring the said leader to a place of repentance. You have no business rebuking or opposing leadership of any kind, even the political leaders that you don't agree with. To do so is to incur judgment on oneself. 

One time, Peter was put in prison by Herod, after he had killed James. The Bible says, "Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church." (Acts 12:1). His motive was to offend Christians. And how did he do this? The Bible says, "... he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread."

How did those Christians respond to this offensive public policy? Acts 12:5 says, "constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church" for Peter. They didn't criticize Herod. They prayed to God. And God responded with injunctions that saw Peter freed by an angel (Acts 12:11), and Herod killed by another angel (Acts 12:23).

Now, I am not saying God will always kill leaders for offending their subjects but He does address the abuse of authority in His own ways, leaders who do so fail to repent over a period. Your duty is to entreat your leader if you have been hurt by them. Otherwise, follow the chain of leadership all the way to God Himself in prayers. This means that if the offending leader has a leader, go to that leader. If the leader is the topmost leader, go to God directly.

May God heal every hurt that has come to you through a leader in your life. May He grant you the wisdom to entreat and may He soften the hearts of your leaders to hear you and take ownership of every hurt caused. If you are a leader who has hurt people under you, the Lord is saying, it's time to make amends. 

Have a blessed day!

Faith-Filled Confession

I am wise in God, knowing the channels of redress for difficult matters that involve my leaders, spiritual and temporal. I find favor with my leaders such that when I entreat them about a hurt that I have experienced as a direct result of their leadership, there is counsel, healing, and elevation for the Body of Christ of which I am a part. Glory.

Prayers

Begin with thanksgiving and praise to God.

Pray against fear, violence, wickedness, and all forms of disruption and terror masquerading as peaceful protest in support of the Palestinian people on campus across the United States. 

Pray that all malicious and antichrist policies and laws, crafted to hinder the gospel on campuses be voided; and that the name of the Lord be glorified in institutions of higher learning.

One-Year Bible Reading Plan: 1 Kings 1-2; Luke 22:54-71