When Leadership Fails a Congregation - The Stronghold Called Authority

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When leadership oversteps their bounds there is a compounded effect upon the lives of the people they once served.

Most recently the news has highlighted a minister who has engaged in certain nefarious activities for over twenty years without any oversight. The devastation that has occurred has no doubt impacted the lives of those who were victims of his misconduct. Then again, the leader’s whole congregation also became a victim based on association alone. No doubt about it; long lasting scars can be the result of such mishandling of the people of God.

Does that scenario sound familiar? Have you at one time been the recipient of abuse due to having placed too much trust in leadership? If you felt the pain and the regret of having participated in leadership’s destructive behavior then it is possible to still be owned by that person; even years later. So when thinking back on an uncomfortable situation do you still find yourself responding with physical, emotional, or spiritual flutters? That in its own way is telling you that the matter has yet to be fully resolved and you remain wounded.

What we are actually dealing with is “a stronghold called authority”.

However it becomes a stronghold by choice. You see, we choose to follow certain people that we perceive as able to add something of value to our way of life. As these people are granted access to us we allow their influence to permeate various aspects of our person. This is a common human response which is known to all. Once choices are made we then begin to reflect certain leadership qualities for better or for worse. We can start to look like them, act like them and in most cases are obligated to conform to their way of reason.

Now no one is perfect and we all have a past that needs redeeming. But it is for this very reason that we want to challenge how dominant figureheads gain control and what we can do about it. So where did this stronghold first appear in our lives?

Our view of authority began in the home and taught us to accept a parent’s direction, counsel and way of life. When home life was healthy we learned to not only respect the chain of command, but we also gained stability in how we approached future interests. A healthy view of authority taught us the meaning of self governance and a reverence for the fear of God.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

However damaged home life doesn’t produce the same assurances. Poor examples of leadership in the home have conditioned us to simply comply in the face of parental instability. In a general sense, this trains us to approach life with an over developed propensity to follow the leader; no questions asked.

Likewise even healthy upbringing can follow a similar path of obligation, but for different reasons. Since leadership did such a good job of taking care of us while growing up, there is a mindset that believes authority will never do us harm.

Both examples reveal a vulnerability in our way of thinking. We fall into a lifestyle pattern of “subjection and submission”.

On one hand we can find ourselves subject to the things of the earth simply by being born into a fallen world. We didn’t ask for this trouble, yet it came with the package.

“Subjection” is then a matter of being under the power of something or someone and is often the result of being forced against our will.

On the other hand, we can also find ourselves subject to things based on an exercise in “freewill”. In this case:

“Submission” represents a willingness to give away aspects of our authority in order to gain some perceived benefit.

If as believers we remain in either of these camps we can find ourselves pressed by a lesser quality of life and frequently “under” the control of a lesser god. For this reason any hope of prospering in life requires that we be more mindful of the choices we make. It also requires that we give thought to whether “improper” ownership is already leading us down a destructive path.

Notice I said “improper”; this is not a call to dishonor authority, or deny them a place in our lives, but since Christ has offered us a new life and access to His throne we are in need of some renovation. In other words, though we once had an obligation to be submissive to leadership as a child, we aren’t children anymore. Our expectations need to grow as we mature in our faith.

Why “faith”?

The Christian is now governed by a connection with the King of Glory. Once we partake of a personal salvation experience with Jesus, He makes all things new.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.

Newness implies that we have been transformed in a way that prospers body, soul and spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23). But that also means body, soul and spirit are responding to the counsel of God due to our renewed mind and heart. Look what we’ve gained.

Corinthians 2:15-16 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

What few seem to comprehend; our first commitment is in preserving fellowship with Jesus; He has made us the temple of His living Spirit and it is by His counsel we thrive.

Secondly we have been seated with Him in heavenly places.

Ephesians 2:6-7 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Seated with Christ means two things; it means we have ceased from our own works, since Jesus has offered us a full and rich existence free of charge. Secondly it means that we have gained a spiritual authority in Jesus that is raised above the dictates of this fallen world.

Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

However as you might have guessed this is where there exists a fork in the road. The counsel of God is moved by the Holy Spirit; where as the counsel of men only knows a fleshly interpretation of life and even faith. Born of fleshly reason, we discover it goes hand and hand with an insatiable desire to dominate or in this case be dominated.

What is it in man that motivates him to take a dominant position over others?

Before the fall man was called to take dominion. As he kept his focus on God he prospered in his attempts to steward creation. However after the fall, man became quite self-centered. As he looked upon his own form and function, he had no other choice but to make life’s journey all about himself. Hence his self centered approach made him a negative force to be reckoned with. God’s commission to take dominion was then replaced by a drive to simply “dominate”.

This infection within humanity was initially inspired by the Devil’s own search for greatness.

Isaiah 14:13-14 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

The Devil’s attempt to become equal with God was also a self centered exploit. His narcissistic attitude made him believe that he was the most likely candidate for advancement in heaven. Of course his reckless coup failed, and he found himself expelled from heaven; yet still seeking recognition. So as Adam and Eve came into the picture he found new converts that would emulate his way of control. Basically as they accepted the Devils sales pitch they set the standard for how all of humanity would respond with unhealthy subjection and submission.

This of course means that men have been conditioned to strive for higher ground in life as well as in faith. Subsequently there is no equality among men, but rather a drive to dominate each other. Hence, whenever a worldly agenda is unleashed upon us it presses us to submit to improper demands; and we often comply. That place of improper submission is the stronghold we call “authority”. We gave up rights over our person and can now find ourselves submitting to unnecessary control in body, soul, spirit, mind, will, emotions, conscience and subconscious, sexuality, identity, Christianity, family, marriage, communication, business, finances, and gender. You name the goal in life; there is always someone pressing us to comply.

For this reason the spiritual new creation that defines us in Jesus has a say over a once dominant and broken world view. Please let this sink in; we have greater authority then that which Adam once knew. Adam had fleshly authority and he gave it all away. But we have been brought into Christ, and have gained spiritual authority which is raised above anything that man or Devil tries to throw at us.

However, what if we have already given our authority away to other masters?

Truthfully we can’t froth up enough attitude in order to gain back our authority. In fact once we bow to the dictates of worldly masters it amounts to being “owned by them for life”. However Jesus provided us away at the Cross to break those bad ownership contracts we’ve made with the flesh, the world and the Devil. Let’s talk about a marvelous way of escape beginning with what happened at the Cross.

When we refer to the “Cross” we are talking about a foundation of Christianity which is based on every benefit delivered to us by the death of our Savior. First and foremost when Jesus died we gained redemption based on His shed blood. This returned us to a relationship with the Father and allowed us to live a new life. Surprising when Jesus died on the Cross He was also taking humanity in to death with Him. No, we didn’t die physically; but rather we were supernaturally brought into Jesus’ own death so that we could know His life.

We read in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

There are 17 bible references in the New Testament proclaiming our death with Christ. This then tells us that the principle of “dying” carries weight in explaining how change once occurred.

Likewise there are other verses that tell us additional things Jesus accomplished within our shared death experience.

• The Curse

We were freed from the curse once imposed upon mankind for failing to live up to God’s standards.

Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

• The Law

The Law of Moses was moved out of the way as our chief standard of performance.

Colossians 2:14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

• The Sin nature

The fallen nature of man is always set towards rebellion, but every act of disobedience has been crucified.

Romans 6:6-7 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

Identifying with Christ’s death on the Cross is also able to finally settle how we become more like Him. What Jesus did on the Cross acts like a big OFF SWITCH for wherever we remain stuck in the world. That amounts to Jesus not only paying the price for our sin, but also burying all our poor choices six feet under.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

What a wonderful gift! Our present and future lives can now be free of all sorts of added clutter and the things that have lied to us about improper purpose, identity and authority.

Romans 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

The miracle of the gospel (the good news) is it remains self correcting. If everything we believe and do is allowed to first pass through death, then the only remaining way to explain the meaning of life comes from Jesus alone. This is how we were born again and it is also how we continue to walk by the Spirit; we let God do the renewing.

OK, so how do we get this ball rolling? Here’s a verse that shows us how to apply this aspect of the gospel to our lives. Paul says;

Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

More to the point; transformation is accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

As believers, who desire to live a godly life, we have at times added unnecessary rules, regulations, and commitments to our existence. These are no less “misdeeds” that keep us in bondage to other people in physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual ways. This also amounts to an inability to move forward in Christ since we gave away our authority.

1 Corinthians 3:10-12 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,

So, who then represents an improper master in your life? Do you live as one owned domestically, socially, politically or in faith? The solution is the same for each. As we let the Holy Spirit change us He redirects how we relate to men, organizations and even a demonic realm. The Holy Spirit supernaturally breaks these contracts so that we can continue on within a healthy faith.

How do we then break these improper ownership issues? We talk to God and trust that the Holy Spirit knows how to free us of the bondage.

Here’s a simple prayer that will provide some help in removing the obstacles that currently impede your walk of faith.

Application

Jesus based on what you did on the Cross and by the Holy Spirit;

• Put to death where I am “improperly” owned by (Name a person) in physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual ways.
• Judge by the Cross the spiritual realm associated with this improper form of ownership.

And I ask that You be the resurrection power that now saves me and makes me new.

It’s that simple.

But let’s add one other helpful change. We started by talking about being owned by improper masters, but that also represents an open wound that continues to fester. Let’s ask Jesus by the Holy Spirit to also resolve a broken heart.

Application

Jesus based on what you did on the Cross and by the Holy Spirit;

• Put to death where I remain physically, emotionally, and spiritually wounded due to this inappropriate connection with this leader.
• Judge by the Cross the spiritual realm associated with these many wounds

And I ask that You be the resurrection power that now saves me and makes me new.

If you are willing, in the days ahead you can expect that the Holy Spirit will bring to mind some of the things that distract you from living a happy and productive life in Christ. Basically wherever we once placed too much emphasis on living life through the dictates of other masters He will be suggesting a course correction. At that moment of introspection, plan on recognizing how He alone was able to deliver you.

Romans 6:4 We were therefore buried with him (Jesus) through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

On a personal note, I began this journey of discovery some time ago and I haven’t been disappointed. New life has been breathed into my faith as I realize that I can gain valuable change at the Cross. This one revelation has allowed me to throw off all sorts of constraints and changed many of my personal habits. That also includes how I have embraced Christianity as a whole. In fact it has allowed me to be effective in life and faith so many ways. What’s been birthed is a living and active relationship with the King of Glory.

Here’s some added helps to make the journey more successful in Christ (Free PDF Versions).

Out from the Shadow of Other Gods

Every Christian is desperate for a true relationship and life changing experience with God, but our most prevalent model of success and failure has been religion. The things that have been taught us have had more to do with man’s search for a god, rather than in God showing us His ways. There is a place where religion dies and genuine relationship begins. The first in a series, the author provides a platform for change and a simple yet powerful way out from the trappings of humanities religion. Ministering with honor to the pastor as well as to the prodigal and revealing a surprising bounty of Jesus in every page. Get ready to be encouraged, challenged, and renewed in your walk of faith.

The Shadow of the Spiritual

Got Spirit?

That’s an interesting question, but after two thousand years of Christian history, maybe we should be asking “which spirit?” Though the Christian faith has been provided with a sure foundation in Christ, our propensity to get worldly or even religious has actually pushed us past safe boundaries. There is a quagmire of spiritual alternatives all vying for our attention, yet none of them has anything to do with a true faith in Jesus. “The Shadow of the Spiritual” is meaty, thought provoking, in-depth look into the rising tide of spiritual pollution within the Church. Its lingering effects remain oppressive and damaging to any believer who desires a pure expression of relationship with the Son of God. This self help book is a must read for any Christian wanting to understand how improper spiritual connections get formed, fed and how unhealthy spiritual bondage gets passed around. Yet, by embracing a simple biblical truth, we can separate ourselves from all sorts of added trouble. The second in a series, the author provides a platform for change and a simple yet powerful way out from the trappings of humanities many fallen exploits.

Lord I Want To Change!

Is It time for a change? The Christian life is not always an easy life. Though we are assured that all things have become new, “New life” may end up looking a lot like the old one. This is due to our inability to properly transition away from certain worldly influences. A growing number of our troubles include the weight of family dysfunction, years of social conditioning and any number of personal failures remaining a black mark on our record. All of these issues have a tendency to warp our sense of “self” and we walk through life emotionally crippled; yet Jesus has other plans for us. The Bible provides the Christian a “get out of jail free card”. Jesus offers us a simple and effective way of escape out from the trappings of a difficult past. If you have ever wondered whether there is more to the Christian life, then get ready to be encouraged, challenged, and set free in your walk of faith.

Free PDF Versions ———————- Send an E-mail message to gordon@shadow-free.com and in the “subject” heading abbreviate the title of the book you want. I’ll send it shortly.

• Out from the shadow of Other Gods = ofs
• The Shadow of the Spiritual = sos
• Lord I want to Change = Lwc