“Keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant” (2 Timothy 4:5, The Message). The focus of this lesson is the important and essential role Christians must play as leaders in the community. To that end, Paul lays out some very good principles for Christians who serve in community leadership.
In 2 Timothy 3:14-16, Paul tells Timothy he needs a solid foundation if he is to lead people. In order to be a Christian leader in the community, one must have a good understanding of the Word and know it comes from God. It will be the basis for guiding the leader as he steps into the public arena.
Joshua was told to be strong and courageous, not to stray to the right or the left, and that he should meditate on the Word as the source of strength and courage (Joshua 1:7, 8). Timothy also needed to do this, and so must we, for we cannot function without this solid foundation. It is the source of our strength and knowledge as we meet the challenges of leading.
In 2 Timothy 4:1-3, Paul takes it a step further. His charge to Timothy is to preach the Word, be prepared at all times; correct, rebuke, and encourage; and do this all with patience and careful instruction. That is quite a charge for those of us who aspire to be leaders.
PREPARED AND PATIENT
How do we do this in the public arena? Acts 10:1-3 says Cornelius the centurion was a devout man of God. It does not say whether he preached, but it does say he lived in a godly manner that was evident to all.
We have to be prepared at all times for whatever comes up. I know of a Christian superintendent of schools who stood toe-to-toe with the American Civil Liberties Union when it tried to force its interpretation of the Constitution on the school district. He not only had a very good understanding of the Bible, but he also knew court opinions and had enacted policies that ensured students could express their faith or lack of it without fear of retribution. The ACLU attorneys backed away in a hurry when they determined they could not intimidate him.
We are also to be patient as we lead. Paul knew Timothy couldn’t change things overnight. This is still true. William Wilberforce, member of the British Parliament, worked for years to change slavery laws in the Commonwealth, but with little success. He was persistent and stayed at it until the timing was right for laws to be changed. Shortly before his death, he learned slavery in most of the British Empire would be abolished. In addition to his other accomplishments, Wilberforce demonstrated the importance of holding to the Word and the ability to use it for correcting and rebuking.
READY TO FACE HARDSHIPS
Timothy is given some cautions and warnings in 2 Timothy 4:4, 5. He is cautioned that people will pull away from the truth and that he will face hardships. Timothy would face teachers who were willing to prostitute God’s Word for pay. Nominal Christians flocked to these individuals.
Today we face many of the same issues in our society. Community leaders are told they cannot stand up for their faith and do what is right because it is not popular. This was true with the school administrator I mentioned earlier. Fortunately there were Christians serving on his district’s board of education; working together, they were able to protect the rights of the students.
As both Wilberforce and Timothy surely learned, anyone who speaks up for Christian causes will face hardships. People who don’t want to hear the truth will create problems for Christian leaders. Paul warned Timothy about this, and the warning holds true for us, as well. But it is our responsibility to discharge the duties God has given us no matter what hardships this might create.
ONE PERSON INFLUENCING ANOTHER PERSON
In 2 Timothy 2:1-3, Paul adds another dimension to the responsibilities of community leaders: replicate their lives in the lives of others. Timothy is charged to pass on what he has learned from Paul to others who will in turn pass it on. We are not simply to expend our energy on our community position, we are also to bring others along and encourage them as Christians.
Paul’s message to Timothy provides us with principles to guide us as Christian community leaders. Chuck Swindoll in a sermon on Zephaniah said, “One person in a strategic spot can do more than a thousand who are out of touch.” He added that we must be involved in the stream of life, and not just with other Christians.
Where is your opportunity to step into the world beyond the church and serve as a Christian leader? Have you thought about running for an elective office, volunteered to serve on city boards or commissions, or served on a school site council or some other committee? What keeps you from doing it?
What problems and hardships do Christian leaders face today? Each of us has an opportunity to lead for Christ in the world. We must be salt and light in a world that is floundering. This is what Paul charges us to do.
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* All Scripture quotations are from the New International Version, unless otherwise indicated.
