Jesus is the Head of the Church

Podcast Transcript: 1/8/24

Over the next few weeks, I wanted to get us on the topic of church leadership.  One of the things our leadership team wanted to review early on in the replant process was how our church is led and governed.  We want to get back to a healthier, more biblical form of church government.  So, we’re going to take this opportunity to go to God’s word and see how Christ wants his church to be led.  Let’s get started.

The first and most important thing you need to understand about leadership in the church is that the church is owned and ruled not by the congregation, nor pastors, nor deacons, nor a board of elders, but by Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the head of the body, the church.  Listen to these passages: 

Ephesians 1:22-23, “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” 

Colossians 1:18, “And he is the head of the body, the church.  He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” 

Matthew 16:18, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

The first authority in the church is Christ.  The church belongs to him.  It is his church.  Before we ever begin a discussion about who leads the church and how decisions are made, we need to understand this.

Anyone who has authority as a pastor to lead the church does so as a steward.  I don’t know if you’ll remember that scene from The Lord of the Rings where Gandalf the Wizard confronts Denethor, the steward of Gondor.  Gondor is this great kingdom and a steward was placed over that kingdom in the absence of the rightful king.  In this scene, the steward, Denethor becomes angry at Gandalf because he knows Aragorn, the rightful king, is coming to take back the throne of the kingdom.  Denethor is unwilling to give up his power and authority.  But Gandalf says to him, “Authority is not given to you to deny the return of the king, steward.”  Denethor stands up and with gravel in his voice says, “The rule of Gondor is mine!”  What a great scene!  That illustrates though what could happen in the local church when pastors, leadership boards, or even congregations get the idea that they are the ones in control, that authority rests with them inherently.  But that’s not the true state of things.  There is a rightful ruler of the church, and that’s Jesus.  If we try to maintain our own rule, we only succeed in destroying the church.  The pastor is not the owner of the church, nor is he the primary authority in the church, neither is a deacon or elder board.  Not even the congregation is the primary authority in the church; Christ is. 

But what does this mean, practically?  It means that all decisions to be made in the church come under the authority of Christ and his word, and those delegated with authority to lead the church do so understanding it will be Christ who judges them for how they lead.

It also means that all decisions are to be made prayerfully, considering what Christ would have us do in any given situation.  The church is the representative of Christ here on earth; we are his hands and feet, so we must allow the head of the church to have complete control over the body.  The body must be submitted to the head.   

We see this principle illustrated in the persons of Trinity: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.  Though the persons of the Trinity are co-equal and co-eternal, The Son and the Spirit are submitted to the Father.  In a similar way, the elders of the church are submitted to Christ, and members of the church are submitted to the elders.  The family also illustrates leadership within the church, where the husband, though equal with his wife, has the role and responsibility as head of the family. 

Ultimately, the buck stops with Jesus.  He is the one who is by his Spirit leading the church.  And we elders are stewards submitted to Christ’s authority, delegated to lead.  Church members are submitted to Christ, looking to Christ to guide his church, prayerfully seeking him in all things related to the church. 

So, we have Christ, the head of the church, our ultimate authority. 

That’s all for this episode.  Next week we’ll go deeper into the role and responsibilities of pastors, also known as elders of the church.  How do elders lead and what are their primary tasks.  That’s next time on By the River.  We hope you have a great week.