Biblical Culture: Transparency

1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. 13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. 14 Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Would you bow with me?

Short Prayer

Roll through this intro FAST...

Last week we began discussing how our vision and mission as a church stems from the Bible and how we live that out as a church creates a culture within our church.

That culture should be violently divergent from that of the culture of the world.

Knowing who we are in Christ matters for those of us who make up the Covenant Membership of the body.

Last week we talked of several cultural values that we are striving for in the church:

For people to be KNOWN, LOVED, and to BELONG here…creating a culture of family

For people to know Christ and to fully surrender their lives to His Lordship:

Joining the body through Covenant Membership

Baptism

Devotion to be a Discipleship

Devotion to become a Disciple-maker

Self-feeding on the Word

Serving with your TIME, TALENTS, and RESOURCES

We value communication

Two we didn’t mention, but must is: Diversity and social justice in the world that would be pleasing to Jesus.

We also value Generosity. We want our church and our culture to be one marked by living open handed, not tight fisted.

and most definitely, we value Theology and Worship

And one of our cultural values that I said last week that we are striving for, yet over and over I feel the struggle of how foreign this value is to our sense of social-intolerance, traditionalism, and our ever present and joyful facade that everything is okay, when it’s not.

The value we struggle with most in both society and especially in church is transparency.

Transparency makes us uncomfortable.

Look right at me God didn’t call us to be comfortable, he called us to suffer for His namesake.

As we have been talking about becoming a more Biblical structured church instead of a church built on man-made traditions, I’ve made some of you very uncomfortable and the Holy Spirit has made me very uncomfortable, as well.

Let me clear some things up first before I draw you into this text and how transparency fleshes out, especially in pastoral leadership.

I have always tried to stand before you as honest as I can allow myself to be with you, in my own struggles.

Over the past few weeks as we’ve talked about Church leadership: elders, deacons, and the Biblical role of women…I’ve made some waves. Some that are much need because you and I need to be stirred by the Word of God to what he says.

But I’ve also made some mistakes. I’ll explain:

Many of you are uncomfortable; some with the thought of moving to an elder lead church model, and others because of my challenge to re-examine how we view the God’s Word by not simply taking it as it has been presented by one school of thought.

The mistake in which I made is when dealing with a subject like the Biblical role of women in the church, I left my own stance in the balance, confessing that I struggled with the clarity of how some interpret it. The truth is it is unclear. Scholars have argued over it for centuries, but some pastors have landed on one-side or the other and state “this is what I believe, and this is what we believe as a church.” I tried to play Switzerland and messed up.

So before I give you my Biblical stance on where I stand on the topics of elders, deacons, and women. I first want to deal with what I am called to Biblically as your pastor.

And let me warn you... I’m going to make you uncomfortable. Here’s why:

A Biblical culture of transparency is based on Biblical authority and vulnerability of its conviction.

Pastoral Authority - The Apostle Peter teaches us this about my role as an elder, overseer, pastor, shepherd and how I am suppose to lead the flock.

1 Peter 5:1–3 ESV

1 Peter 5:1-3

v.1 is the Apostle Peter exhorting (strongly encourage or urge [someone] to do something—Like come on guys!!!! Do this and do it well!!!) fellow elders to v.2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you.

Press Pause

Look at what v.2 is saying… shepherd the flock that you have; that is among you, not like, the flock you are dreaming of. The call of a pastor is to shepherd those who he has.

And believe it or not that’s exactly what I’m trying to do in this series, by calling into question what you’ve grown up believing your whole life in church.

For those of you who are just starting to walk with Christ’s church this may not be as difficult for you. You bring less baggage to the argument. If anything you have second-hand, Bible-belt saturated culture where you always heard about or revered a deacon as one who has authority in which you submit too. So you may feel somewhat uncomfortable, but not near as much as those who have grown up in a traditional Southern Baptist church culture.

I know I represent and have made my stand on not being a “traditional” baptist pastor…but that’s not a black and white statement. Because not all tradition is bad. I’m all for Biblical tradition. What I tend to challenge others on is what I call man-made tradition, or a more affectionate term that I’ve come to love: “maw maw theology.”

Lets tease that out…what I’m saying is that I am trying to shepherd you in a way that causes you to read the Scriptures for yourselves. I am trying to shepherd and foster among our flock a high value on the authority of Scripture, the redemptive plan of God through His One and only Son, Jesus, who bought us who have been awakened to His goodness, with His blood. I’m trying to shepherd you to submit to the nudge of the Holy Spirit that has been deposited in you and that advocates for you in then broken place.

So as I shepherd those of you who I have, the goal is to make you look at Jesus, submit to His authority, by which God’s grace cracks into your heart a sliver of faith, and allows you to understand that you and I are broken and that we need a Savior.

I Shepherd you to allow the Holy Spirit using me as a vessel to press you into His Holy Word and with each verse you inhale and chew on, I’m praying the Spirit of God takes a crowbar to that sliver of faith in your heart and He goes to work on you in a way that is violent, painful, convicting, while at the same time freeing you up to see you don’t know what’s best for you. The God who created you and rescued you does. And that Holy Spirit crowbar would crack open a transformative work that allows you to get free from the bondage of sin, an all up in and sold out for some Jesus!

And in doing that I’m trying to keep your idol worshipping heart from attaching yourself to any pseudo-authority that you think I may have, because I have none, I’m just a broken man who has gotten really good at sinning through-out 43 years and somewhere along the journey the Holy Spirit crowbar opened up something in me to realize that my way is death, but God who is rich in mercy has a bigger plan for me. “Take your jack-up self and go preach my Word to some jacked-up people so that they might be awakened to the truth of my Son Jesus.” So here I am.

I stand before you not an authority but one who welds the authority of the Scriptures of the Holy God who made everything that was made…for His glory alone, not mine, not yours…His.

I am trying to shepherd you and live out this Scripture as the Apostle Peter has called us too, and why does he call me to that? He tells us in at the end of v.1

1 Peter 5:1 ESV

1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:

He witnessed the suffering of Christ, but is also a partaker in the glory that is going (future tense) to be revealed. He calls me and other men, other elders and shepherds to do what Christ called him to do…so that we would build a culture and a community of people who bask in the glory set before us by Christ Jesus, Himself.

But Peter is specific in his instruction...

1 Peter 5:3 ESV

3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

This is a struggle for me. My brokenness craves to domineer and control and to seek fame and self-seeking glory, and I smell it on me and reeks of death.

Yet it is the Holy Spirit who is actively working in me as the Apostle Paul says, “from one degree to another” to transform my heart, slowly…yet in a way that awakens me daily to fight on, so that I might be an example. I fail at this. You know me. But if anything, see past the brokenness of my flesh and see the hope that if Jesus can use me, surely He can use you.

A Biblical culture of transparency is based on Biblical authority and vulnerability of its conviction.

2. Transparent Servanthood () Transparent servanthood is the posture of heart from which the shepherd leads. This is from a place of humility and grace. So that the sheep would live out this same humility and grace with one another.

A Biblical culture of transparency is based on Biblical authority and vulnerability of its conviction.

1 Peter 5:4–6 ESV

4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

-6

I must shepherd you in a way that you are constantly looking forward to the Chief Shepherd. Like when you look at me, I’m the guy who is lovingly and provokingly trying to stir your affection toward the Chief Shepherd, Jesus.

Which requires me to “clothe my self in humility” which is not my go to move. But prayerfully my transparency to vileness in which I can stoop (I’m capable) would again show you how powerful the transformative power of the gospel is! You are called to submit to my oversight, as I submit to Christ’s oversight. We are submitting humbly together as Christ’s bride the local church.

Why? So at the proper time God may exalt you.

But it’s uncomfortable to submit. But necessary.

A Biblical culture of transparency is based on Biblical authority and vulnerability of its conviction.

3. Transparent Suffering () Transparent suffering is the call of the shepherd to not walk as one under immense pressure, but trusting in God’s redemptive plan, accomplished through the cross of Christ. Fully knowing that whatever is suffered in this sinful world is temporary.

Peter instructs:

1 Peter 5:

1 Peter 5:7–11 ESV

7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Anxiety is a in full-swing in this world. Trust me I know because I deal with it. And that’s the problem. My default and your default is that we can deal with it. When the gospel clearly tells us we can’t, but even better we don’t have too.

1 Peter 5:7 ESV

7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

In January I went to a conference where I heard Al Mohler who leads Southern a leading seminary in the country, and he said this:

Symptom of our age is a malformed normative of the Christian life.

What does normal look like?

The culture would say it is pain-free and comfortable.

No one previous to this culture defined normative as pain-free.

We live in an age that idolizes happiness and loses joy.

The larger society thinks what is broken is outside of us instead of inside.

“Either you are in therapy or in denial.”

**Historically the center of the community projected what the society found rescue in.**

The central building would symbolize our culture…would it be a hospital? If so, we are looking for a cure!

“Liberation of pain, turned out to be bondage to a pill.”

--Today’s thinking can lead Christians to think if they suffer something is wrong!!!!

Look right at me… we are called to suffering. But here’s the good news...

1 Peter 5:10 ESV

10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

:10

The good news is all suffering is temporary. Because one day you will leave this fallen world and your flesh will fail and you will die. Life in these bodies that we love so much that we fill in with narcotics and fast food will believe it or not one day shut down. You will die.

But the good news is that for those who put there faith in Christ…you suffer for a little while… until the active, transformative grace of God, the “God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

And to that end is where I am trying to shepherd you. To the glories of Christ. To life everlasting.

A Biblical culture of transparency is based on Biblical authority and vulnerability of its conviction.

So where do I stand? unapologetically on the Word of God.

I believe the office of elder is the authoritative office of the church. That you are called to submit not just to one man, but a plurality of men, who would shepherd you well. That’s what the Bible teaches. Jesus is the one who designed the model of the plurality of elders that Peter and Paul talk about. He designed it when he called twelve diverse outcast and trained them to shepherd His church. His bride. The very church he gave his life for.

I believe the deacon is not an office of authority in that one submits to it. Deacon means servant, so by definition it means that to those honorable enough to take up that task are actually submitting themselves to serve others. That’s the Biblical and clear instruction of God’s word.

And to that of the role of women: I believe they are to submit to the God created order in which is laid out clearly in Scripture. Which means they are not to have authority over a man, but by the definition of Scripture that means they are not to serve as elders or pastors in the church.

Women have always led throughout Scripture, but usually because the men wouldn’t step up. I believe we are blessed to have women lead as servant-leaders in this church. Which means they teach women and children, and even lead co-ed Bible studies.

Leading a Bible study does not make you someone with authority. You are a servant. Submitting to the authority of the elders. Man or woman. Deacons are qualified servants. We need men to serve faithfully as deacons, but we also need women to serve women, just as we need men to serve men.

Which means most of us have an unbiblical understanding of the definition of authority, elder, and deacon. I highly recommend you unwinding the birds-nest of improper definitions in your mind and submit to what the authority of Scripture instructs.

Here’s where I stand. We need a plurality of elders in order to be a Biblical church. Men to shepherd this flock among us faithfully. Let’s start there because that’s Biblical. The rest is just titles. And if you are looking for a title, instead of trying to grow in God’s Word and serve His church from a humble posture of heart, the truth is you’ll never get a title here at this church. Not as long as I’m an elder.

Are you uncomfortable? That’s a great place to grow from. Dig into to the word and seek truth for yourself.

A Biblical culture of transparency is based on Biblical authority and vulnerability of its conviction.

Here’s how I want you to respond. Starting next week all of our Groups will begin a six week study on Elders, deacons, and the Biblical role of women in God’s church. If you are not in a group I ask you to join one If you are in New Beginnings, don’t worry, I’ll catch you up. If you are a Covenant Member in you are not in a group, get in a group.

Understand, I am simply trying to shepherd this church to be a Biblical church. I am humbly pressing you into this study so that the church can make a prayerful and informed decision about the future of our Leadership structure. I am not trying to be domineering in this challenge, but humbly shepherding this flock that is among us to press into the awe inspiring Word of God and challenge what you believe, test what you believe, to His Word.

If we do that, there is no way we will make a bad decision.

If this series has made you uncomfortable here’s the good news...

1 Peter 5:1

1 Peter 5:10 ESV

10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.