Church Leadership

A New England based ministry called “9Mauks Ministries” has put out the “9 Mauks” of a healthy church. I’ve posted some of them here to encourage our confused readers.
1.  Expose-itional Preaching.
This is a preaching that “exposes” sin.  The truly spiritual pastor will be investigating the lives of his parishoners for the sins that remain hidden here.  Then, on Sunday morning, he is to use the Bible to point out, or “expose” the sins of the people.

2.  Biblical Theory
Overlooking the herasy of inductive reasoning which has plagued the church, we focus now on the deductive.  A true church will utilize theory and opinion as a basis to draw meaning from the scriptures.  For instance: in the example of church government structure, many have a theory that such a thing exists in the Bible, and they take this theory, and try real hard to practice the divine art of “isogesis” to support it.  This is INDEED the way we need to be doing things…  and this is why we think the “elder run” church is the right way.

3.  Biblical Understanding of Good Shoes.
Many of you know the old spiritual tune: “I got shoes, you got shoes, all God’s children got shoes.  When we get to heaven gonna put on those shoes.  Gonna walk all over God’s heaven…..   “  To properly symbolize our views on this issue, we should all sing this chorus at the end of the service to signifiy the end of our time together.   Some might sing  “The Lord Bless Thee…  “   or “Praise the Name of Jesus”..  but such choruses reveal a poor Biblical Understanding.

4.  Biblical Underestimation of Coversion.
Everybody knows that the Bible is really calling us to “underestimate”.  Sure, the scriptures might give pretty clear qualifications on the conversion experience..  but we aren’t intended to adhere to these strict standards.   No way.  Even the pope gets this one.  He said that Jesus would be a failure if He only saved those who knowingly received Him.   If we are to be truly compassionate, we will underestimate conversion.

5.  Biblical Understanding of Evangelism
Traditionally, the church has used the word “evangelism” in reference to the “spreading of the gospel”.  Biblical understanding leads us to apply this word to the “spreading” and not so much to the content of what is being spread.  A farmer evangelizes his field with his manure spreader.  See the logic?  There are many things to spread in this life, and if we do it honor biblical principle..  whether it be a virus or chain-letter, we are doing it right.

6.  Biblical Understanding of Membership 
Of course, the concept of membership is intended to be a system of organized role-call and accountability.  Pledges should be made, W2’s submitted, attendence taken and duties distributed.  This is what makes a true church a true church.  The old concept of Christians being born into the church is absurb, because it puts the commitment of membership in the hands of the individual, rather than the overseeing hand of the elders.

7.  Biblical Church Disciplin
Some say that the focus of church discipline should be on compassionate restoration.  Instead of obsessing and focusing solely on the system of Matt 18, these compassionate advocates are out to win the sinner back with love.   This is absurd.  In the O.T. the ground opened up and swallowed those who were in need of discipline.  We should go to people by ourselves, confront them.. then, go with another..  confront them..  and then, drag the sinner before the people and have them banished.  All three of these steps should occur within a 5 minute time period.  If the Lord doesn’t open the ground up under them, then we shall pray for fire from heaven.

8.  Promotion of Christian Discipleship and Growth.
All’s we got to do, is read The Purpose Driven Church and everything will be fine.

9.  Biblical Understanding of Leadership
One of the greatest leaders in the Bible was David.  He killed Goliath with a stone.   Let’s get everyone together in the church, have them all throw rocks, and declare the last man/woman standing as the leader.  I know the process seems harsh, but the fruit is something we all can recognize.  The best stone-thrower.. is the best person for leadership.