Spiritual Leaders as Guardians of God's Glory

Open: Myers Park Baptist - Identity Crisis

In a Charlotte Observer article (Aug 9, 2019) Benjamin Boswell, the senior pastor of MPBC, discussed why the church is considering dropping Baptist from the church name. The group is struggling to gain new members in part due to being associated with Baptist. Boswell complains that “Explaining that we’re the real Baptists, and we do it the right way, is hard ... It’s a long elevator speech, to say, ‘No, no, no, no, I’m not like that. Not Southern Baptist. Not those Baptists. The different kind of Baptist.’“

“(Explaining that) we’re the real Baptists, and we do it the right way, is hard,” Boswell said on the show, addressing the problem his church is having with attracting new members. “It’s a long elevator speech, to say, ‘No, no, no, no, I’m not like that. Not Southern Baptist. Not those Baptists. The different kind of Baptist.’“

The ironic thing is, Myers Park not only doesn’t require members to be Baptist, it proudly counts members of other religions and boasts that its congregation also includes atheists and agnostics. The group’s website has the motto: open to all, closed to none.

Transition: How does something like this take place? What is taking place in the Church of Jesus that entire denominations have become accepting of homosexuality, even to the point of ordaining open homosexuals to the ministry? A thorough answer to that question would take more time than we have this morning, but the short answer is this: A large number of the men that God called to lead and shepherd the Church of Jesus failed to honor Him and His Word.

Our text for today is . This section of the Prophet’s message is directed towards the spiritual leaders, and God addresses the consequences of their failure to honor Him and His Word. Let’s read this text together.

Let’s start with a question: why should you listen to a message that is specifically addressed to pastors and worship leaders? If its directed to the spiritual leaders, what does that have to do with you? I am convinced that every single church member has a great deal of responsibility in this area, and I will address those concerns as we go through this message together.

The Spiritual Leader is Responsible for Guarding the Glory of God ()

I am convinced that every single church member has a great deal of responsibility in the area. The more you know concerning the biblically acceptable role of the pastor, the more you will be able to ensure this remains a spiritually healthy church.

Explanation: The Prophet specifically addresses the priests in this section by stating “this command is for you.” The focus is still on the negative consequences of polluted worship. While the people may have been bringing the culls, the priests were the ones who were performing the substandard sacrifices. As leaders in worship, they bore the primary responsibility for offering acceptable sacrifices.

The prophet is reminding them that their first allegiance is to pleasing God, not the people. And in very clear terms with no room for misunderstanding, the prophet tells them that God is displeased with their failure to honor His Name. The prophet also tells them that God is already set with a curse on them because God knows that in their stubbornness they will not repent.

Because of their unrepentant sin, God is going to publically humiliate and profane the priests. Using figurative language, God tells the priests that He is going to wipe their faces with the offal of the sacrifices. They would become unclean, and be forced outside the camp.

Argument: God takes the honoring of His Name very seriously. And He holds His leaders to a higher level of responsibility in this critical arena. Because He is God, He is the One who sets the standards; we are to follow them.

The reason for which we attempt to change His standard doesn’t really matter. There exists NO Valid reason on the part of man to alter God’s commandments or His guidelines for worship. Nadab and Abihu discovered this the hard way when they “did their own worship routine” ()

Application: Spiritual Leaders are given much honor from the Lord when He places them in positions to shepherd His people. It is indeed a privilege to serve, a privilege for which no man is truly worthy.

The Spiritual Leader is Responsible to Honor the Word of God before the people of God ()

Explanation: Malachi then reminds them of God’s standard for the priesthood as found in the covenant of peace He had made with Levi. Malachi was probably referring to an event involving Phineas, the grandson of Aaron, when he was zealous for the Lord’s honor when the camp was involved in sexual immorality (). Phineas wasn’t at all concerned about man’s opinion when he acted, and God honored him because he was “jealous for his God” ()

The prophet then gives the priests a reminder of the role of the spiritual leader in worship

The Spiritual Leader is to be awe-struck before the Holiness of God

Malachi reminds these corrupt priests that their human role model was the type of man who feared God, one who stood in “awe of my name.”

Malachi Then and Now: An Expository Commentary Based on Detailed Exegetical Analysis 2:5

and stood in awe.” נִחַת is the niphal perfect, third person masculine singular, of חָתַת, which actually means “be shattered, dismayed,” and so is stronger than “stood in awe.” The early priests were overcome by the presence of the power and glory of God and were afraid in the proper and healthy sense

Application: Pray for your pastors. Ask God to reveal His holiness to us in such a way as we aren’t comfortable standing before you. Pray that we never task this important privilege and position for granted

The Spiritual Leader is to handle the Word of God correctly

The priest’s role was to communicate God’s truth to the people. Not many copies of the Word were available, and most of the people were instructed orally. It was of utmost importance that the priests proclaimed and taught the Word in a faithful, intentional manner.

A sloppy handling of the Word, along with a desire to please man rather than God is what has led to groups like Myers Park to sink to such low positions. Their current leader, along with those of the past, have failed to give true instruction. They have not honored the Word as God gave it, and have taken it upon themselves to alter its meaning. They are proclaiming a false gospel and they are no longer a church, at least in the biblical sense

Application: The instruction of much of the Bible, and that of the NT is given to the people. In Baptist Church polity the governing power is in the hands of the congregation. As Jesus people, it is your responsibility to maintain the Church pulpit with a pastor who holds to the Inspiration and Authority of the Word. When a pastor no longer preaches the Word, fire him for being disqualified. And if the Church you are in will not take action to remove him, remove yourself. “Therefore come out from among them and be separate” (). And, if you know those who name the Name of Jesus and they are attending a group that no longer upholds the Authority of the Word - tell them to get out!

If you saw someone picking up a bottle of poison, thinking it was a soft drink, would you watch them drink it in silence?

The Spiritual Leader is to live a life of personal holiness before the Lord and in front of the people

The prophet calls them to return to a personal standard of holiness. The priests were to be role models for the people. Their conduct was to be unblemished and unstained before the congregation and the nations.

Likewise, the pastor is to be “above reproach” as outlined in and . As a pastor, I am not entitled to a division between my public life and my private life. Wherever I go and whatever I say has an impact and someone is always watching

Application: Pray that I as a pastor will stay close to the LORD and will remain clean before him. Pray that I would be protected from the temptations of worldliness. And be willing to involve yourself personally, if necessary. [Me and Shirley taking the SPBC youth to Valley Hills Mall for Christmas shopping]

The Spiritual Leader is Conserve the Word

The phrase “should guard knowledge” speaks to the role the S.L. has in keeping the message as God intended. The S.L. is a messenger, not an editor; an ambassador, not a legislator. The message is not ours to change, alter, or modify.

Summary: The more you know concerning the biblically acceptable role of the pastor, the more you will be able to ensure this remains a spiritually healthy church. God has not called you to be a spectator watching the show; He has called you to engage in the worship ministry of this fellowship.

Summary: The more you know concerning the biblically acceptable role of the pastor, the more you will be able to ensure this remains a spiritually healthy church. God has not called you to be a spectator watching the show; He has called you to engage in the worship ministry of this fellowship.

It is also possible that God may lead some of you to other Churches in the future. If and when that time arrives, you will have a basis for making a good and proper evaluation for choosing your next Church. The choice should not be determined by whether they have an active youth ministry, or a cool-looking worship center.