Reading: Acts 20:17-35
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A few years ago, I was talking to my friend, who used to attend New Hope Chapel years ago before moving to North Carolina. He’s the type of guy who likes to get involved in ministry, so at one particular church he attended, he said, “I’d like to host a Bible Study.” As a former member of New Hope Chapel, he was shocked by the response. “Sorry, you have to be a member before you can take any leadership role in our church.”
Over the years, churches have wrestled with how to protect themselves – how to effectively keep alert for the savage wolves, the selfish manipulators, and the power hungry about which Paul warned the Ephesians. Many churches have formed policies like my friend experienced. Other churches like ours, desirous to encourage involvement from new attendees, have steered in a different direction. I’m not sure there’s a perfect answer.
In some ways, not much has changed in 2000 years. As I shared on Sunday, there have been factions within churches and outside groups who have voted out pastors, severely altered the doctrine and practices of the church, and hijacked control of the church’s property. It’s a frightening reality for many churches. You can understand why many take Paul’s exhortation in Acts 20 very seriously.
What’s important to note is that Paul’s focus isn’t on policy; it’s on relationships. Paul encourages the Elders at Ephesus to keep watch. Like a shepherd watches over the sheep, Elders and Pastors are also to do the same. How does one watch over their sheep? Jesus says in John 14:10, “I know my sheep, and my sheep know me.” The Greek word used for knowledge is ginosko. It doesn’t refer to head knowledge; it refers to a relationship. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, has a relationship with us, and he models for us the type of shepherds we need to be.
As Jesus demonstrates, the best way to get to know someone, to get to experience their heart, to see where they’re at spiritually, to evaluate their motives is by building a relationship with them. Relationships are built through fellowship and vulnerability, and in turn they build accountability and trust. This is a two-fold commitment on our part. We have to make time to fellowship together and take our relationships beyond a superficial level.
I’m encouraged to know that if I ever did something really stupid, I would have a bunch of guys from within the church either calling me or knocking on my door, saying, “Justin, what are you thinking? Let’s talk about this for a minute.” But those relationships will also cause me to pause and say, “How will my motives or my actions affect these people I love dearly?” That’s accountability, and it’s part of what Paul means when he says, “Keep watch over yourselves and each other.”