Category Local Church

New local churches seem to be popping up everywhere. It is almost the “In Thing” to do. Whoa, don’t miss understand me, I am all behind new church plants … IF they are needed where they are being planted.

There is an important part of a body that every local church should have, and new church plants are more apt not to have this–hence my opening statement about new startups. If this part is not present in the local church body it is most likely not missed, which is sad. You don’t miss what you never had, kinda thing. But when this part is present, it is evident and appreciated.

Clarification needed:  The church body doesn’t need this part to exist; we know that Jesus Christ builds His church. My point is that this part, or piece—as you may call it, is a valuable asset that makes a profound difference in the maturing of the body. It brings stability, longevity, and balance to the body.

So what is it?

I’m not talking about electric praise bands, yard sales, or screaming evangelists. Nor am I talking about coffee shops or the latest church marketing gimmick. Nope, none of that.

Every local church needs what I’ll call in this blog; elder statesmen / stateswomen of the faith. This is not a reference to the church office of an Elder.  We are NOT talking about the pastors, deacons, or any other church office. So I’m clear what it is not, right?

Who am I referring to?

I am referring to men and women within the local body of believers who know God. Who know God. As the Apostle John would put it, ‘They know that they know Him.’ These are men and women who are seasoned by the fire of life and their faith has been tried and found proven. Hence they have true godly character. They are not loud attention seekers. They never follow the latest religious/spiritual fads that American Christianity invents. And like the Apostle Paul, they know in Whom they believe and are fully persuaded that He is able to keep them.

Five traits:

• When one of them reads the Scriptures you can hear it in his/her voice. The Word of God comes from a soul that has been pierced by the love of Christ. You hear this person and you can feel the depth of his/her relationship with the One who authored the Word. You realize that they aren’t merely reading words on a fancy published Bible, they are communicating on God’s behalf. The scripture that is being read is alive to that person’s soul. It is real to them!
• When one of these statesmen of the faith (man or woman) prays with you, it is obvious that he/she prays as a proverbial prayer closet. His/her prayer is from an intimate relationship with the living God. It is a prayer that comes from a sincere soul and doesn’t mix words or draw attention to themselves in the prayer, but the prayer draws attention to the High Priest and Mediator between God and man. This prayer exalts in utter dependence in his/her God.
• This person has fed on the Wisdom of Solomon and others like him. He/she can recognize the shallow so-called wisdom that comes from the unbelieving world and abhors such arrogance and vanity.
• This person is more interested in doing what’s right rather than what works.

And I have to ask:

Where are these men and women? Or maybe the question should be: Does your pastor know who these statesmen/women are within the church? I ask because these men and women are humble,  going unnoticed, working behind the scenes in the church, and most likely filling a role and need.

Do you have spiritual statesmen/women in your local body?  This isn’t a spiritual gift that few have, like the office of a pastor. Every member of the body should attain to this role, so that we may edify one another to obtain maturity in Christ. How about you?