Appreciate and Esteem Your Spiritual Leaders? What Does That Look Like?

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

12 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, 13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work.

What does it mean to “appreciate” and “esteem” those who have charge over us in the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)?  A number of things, the very least of which is the regular, punctual and serious attendance of the preaching ministry.

Regular. There are persons whose attendance at services is as impossible to depend as upon the blowing of the wind. How disheartening this is to both preacher and congregation!

Punctual. Late attendance is a great annoyance to orderly worshippers, disrespectful to the minister, and an insult to God.

Serious. Come from the closet to the sanctuary. The fire of devotion should be kindled at home. Remember where you are, whose Presence is with you, and what is your business in the house of God.

Will you prepare yourself to worship God and bring Him glory by appreciating and esteeming your spiritual leaders in this  way?

- adapted from a sermon by John Angel James (1785—1859)

The Most Broken Vow of All

I came across this challenging article and would ask you to read it.  It is by Carl Trueman and was published at Reformation21:

What is the most broken vow in the church?   The wedding vow?  Divorce rates among Christians are high, but rates of breach of this vow are probably higher still.   Ministerial vows to preach the gospel?  Conservatives in mainline denominations might point to those who are ministers and who deny key tenets of the faith from their pulpits week by week, though, ironically, such may not be in breach of vow if said vows do not explicitly bind them to uphold said tenets.   That’s the dilemma faced by many in mixed churches today.  Baptism vows, to raise children in the fear and nurture of the Lord?   Doubtless there is much delinquency here.  Perhaps it is this one.

No.  The most broken vow is almost certainly that by which church members submit to the authority and teaching of the elders in the church.   It is as solemn and serious as any other vow one might take — marriage, baptism, an oath in court — and yet what does it mean?  How many truly think about the implications?  How many truly act as if the vow really meant something?  The vows are voluntary, but once taken, they are serious and require focused commitment and a particular pattern of behavior.  Yet members feel free to speak as they wish to, and about, church leaders; they move from church to church as, so some say, the Spirit leads them; and they trample their vow to submit again and again.  When political parties enjoy more loyalty from their members, you have a serious problem; and don’t gun for sports stars caught cheating on their wives when your own view of vows is at best selective in how they are honored.

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