We often see within our congregations people who cannot fulfill the basics (punctuality, assistance, participation, etc.) and those same people, when assigned a position of responsibility, then want to oppress the servants in their charge, imposing on them the same burdens that not even they can borne.
It is surprising and sad at the same time to see how some believers, once they obtain a title or a visible role, change completely. Before having responsibility they did not show consistency, but after being placed in a leadership position, they suddenly expect everyone else to do what they themselves never practiced. This is one of the most serious spiritual inconsistencies that can exist in the body of Christ, because leadership should never be a throne of authority, but a place of service.
On one occasion Jesus confronted the Pharisees and the Scribes, for their attitude of showing works in front of others and not wanting to clean their interior. In this confrontation an interpreter of the law felt alluded to and told Jesus that His words also affront them, to which Jesus responded:
And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
Luke 11:46
The interpreters of the law interpreted the law in a way that they themselves could not borne out what they said. They created rules impossible to fulfill, and instead of helping the people draw near to God, they made the way heavier and more unbearable. Below are some examples of how absurdly they interpreted the law:
– It was taught that on the Sabbath day something could not be carried in the right or left hand, chest, or shoulder. But you could carry it with the back of your hand, your foot, your elbow, your ear, your hair, the hem of your garment, your shoe, or your sandal.
– Nor could a knot be made on the Sabbath, but a woman could tie a knot in her belt. Therefore, if someone needed to draw water from a well, they could not tie the rope to the bucket. The “solution” was for a woman to tie her belt to the bucket and lift it that way.
– Also, in the time of Moses the army of Israel had been ordered to make their physiological needs outside the camp to keep that place pure (Deuteronomy 23:12-14). The rabbis took this and combined it with Sabbath regulations, and went as far as to forbid going to the bathroom on the Sabbath.
This type of spiritual abuse is not new. It has existed throughout history and, sadly, we still see it among us. Many church leaders demand assistance, demand punctuality, demand commitment, desire that everyone participate in every program they think of, but once they no longer hold the position and become one more among the membership, they suddenly disappear. They no longer attend with the same diligence that they once demanded from others, and the same rules they used to impose no longer apply to them.
This hypocrisy is what Jesus constantly denounced. Leadership in the church is not about authority, but responsibility. It is not about asking others to do what we do not do, but about being the first to show the example. A leader who demands but does not practice becomes a stumbling block to the flock.
Dear brothers, we must indeed be punctual and participate in the various programs that are developed in our congregations for their growth. But the next time we have a leadership responsibility and feel the urge to demand something from others, let us stop and think first: Would I fulfill this if I were a member instead of a leader?
If the honest answer is no, then we must humble ourselves, revise our attitude, and remember that Christ—our perfect Leader—never demanded what He Himself did not model first. He carried our burdens, washed feet, and served faithfully. May our leadership be marked by humility, integrity, and consistency.