An open letter to church leaders
February 17, 2025
Beloved brethren,
Joy and I began attending Calvary Chapel BV three years ago, and as a pastor who planted several churches, I was blessed to observe Pastor Eddie’s efforts as he laid the foundation for this work upon the Chief Cornerstone—Jesus Christ.
The Lord willing, on March 8th I’ll celebrate my 85th birthday. Some of you know that I have both Carcinoid cancer, a failing heart, and hypertension, so I’m sort of a walking talking miracle. And with the time of my departure approaching, I empathize with Eddie who has repeatedly warned us that he won’t always be with us because his illness is progressive. But he has nevertheless endured, and though there are serious challenges, he planted the seeds of this local church and has sought to prepare us for that time when the Lord moves him on, as we all inevitably move on.
Eddie’s early labors show that the Holy Spirit honored him too with the gift of church planting, and since I have planted churches, I can testify that Eddie’s accomplishments are as vital as those of any other servant. As Paul, the greatest of all church planters testified in 1 Cor 3:6-9:
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
Eddie has often shared with us how, nearly twenty years ago, God brought him out of a miry pit and set his feet on the solid rock. He has used his Thursday discipleship classes and his periodic leadership meetings, to share his wisdom and experience with us. the elders and deacons whom he appointed to assist him, and who one day will be called upon to carry on the work.
And since I’m preparing myself to move on at the Lord’s pleasure, I want to point out some qualities of leadership that we must never overlook, nor the failures that must never be excused. For if we are excusing sin in our fellow workers, we will soon excuse them in ourselves. A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (Galatians 5:9). If that is happening, this church—while it may exist as a visible body—will not manifest the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. And when those around us, including our children and grandchildren, see hypocrisy in us, their respect for us will die and their faith crumble. And the people who come here and find salvation are, in a sense, our children in the Lord. We dare not soil our legacies.
Never forget, everything rises and falls on leadership! So, look at yourself, and those with whom you labor, because you have been blessed with a leadership role, and authority is commensurate with responsibility. That’s why Jesus warned us:
For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more (Luke 12:48).
It’s our responsibility to correct and rebuke with all long suffering and patience; as Paul exhorted us in 1 Corinthians 6:2-5. But first we are to remove the log from our own eye before attempting to pick the speck of dust out of our neighbors.
We are justifiably concerned because, over the past few months, there have been divisions in our fellowship, over both the questionable conduct of a number of individuals and conflicts over various issues. Sadly, instead of restoring our brethren, we encouraged or allowed them to move on, treating some as though they were anathema. We need to ask ourselves whether they were dealt with according to our Lord’s command in Matthew 18:15-17.
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
There is no question that these divisions among us have embittered some and are responsible for the decline in our numbers. If you are concerned about the church having inadequate income, remember this simple verse, But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33). Or reread James’ warning that ye receive not because ye ask not, because ye ask to heap it upon our own lusts.
Give serious thought to what will happen if we ignore the word of God. Jesus warned the pastor and the Church in Laodicea, “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Rev 3:16).
Have we become respecters of persons? Have we allowed anyone, regardless of his seeming importance or influence, to continue in their role while in a practice of sin. No matter how seemingly innocent, our failures are harming young believers and well-meaning brethren. Many dear individuals have stood by in astonishment while some among us were tearing others apart. And what of the inexplicable illnesses, particularly to Rob and Chris’ beautiful little girl; can her failure to be healed be traced to our failures? God forbid! How many have simply left Calvary without saying a word because the elders and deacons failed to sense and address their concerns?
I humbly suggest that a quick review of the following passages of scripture may help us to ascertain the right and wrong in these matters, but only if we stand up for the truth and bring ourselves and others to the judgment seat.
If we do not, then we ourselves will be held accountable. Paul wasn’t speaking empty words in 1st Corinthians 11 when he warned us that some were ill and others had died because they had consumed the elements of the communion unworthily. If we share in communion without confessing and repenting our sins, we are sowing the wind and we are going to reap a whirlwind.
But consider what happens when someone in the congregation is erring, and reveals by his or her continued behavior that they are either blind to their sin or unwilling to deal with it? We are to take action, even if that means conducting a trial within the fellowship.
And it’s not enough that we pay lip service to God’s holy word! We become culpable!
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin (James 4:17).
Ask yourself the following questions. If you can honestly answer yes to all of them, you do well. But if you, or anyone in leadership, is continuing in a practice of a sin, it would appear you or they are no longer qualified to be a leader in God’s work. If we do not take action, God will!
And after you deal with your own sin issues, look around you, for that is your responsibility as a church leader:
Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to form the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you anyone wise who will be able to decide between his brothers and sisters, but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers? (1 Cor 6:1-6).
If we do not succeed in this, our church will lose the power of the Holy Spirit. It may have already done so. We may have a form of godliness, but lack the power thereof. We may succeed in the eyes of the world, but Christ will spew us out of his mouth! We need to get right with God and pray for revival.
So here are a few important questions.
1. Do you labor continually at the ministry of reconciliation? (Yes) (No)
Do you understand that reconciliation was Christ’s purpose in coming to earth, to reconcile us to God. Are you laboring to reconcile those in the church who are angry and separated by differences? Do you reach out to the lost to reconcile them to God through Christ?
Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation(I Cor 5:18).
More to the point, have you reconciled with others with whom you have issues. It fascinates me that the above verse follows one of my favorites, I Cor 5:17: “When any one is in Christ, he is a new creature.” Are we behaving as though old things have passed away and all things are become new? Are we practicing reconciliation?
Our first and most vital purpose is to reconcile ourselves with those with whom we have differences, and after that to help others to reach agreement. The greater the authority we are given as leaders, the greater our responsibility to fulfill this basic work.
How can we in positions of leadership forget Christ’s commands:
“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either” (Luke 6:27–29).
How are you doing so far? Do you have anything against your brother? If anyone has ought against you, you are to go to him and make it right! Let him who is greatest among you become the servant of all.
2. Do you rule your family well? (Yes) (No)
If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?) I Tim 3:1-5).
Doesn’t this say it all? How can you or I hope to influence others for good in the church if we are failing the family over whom God has given us leadership.
3. Does your wife support you in ministry? (Yes) (No)
Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. (1 Tim 3:11).
In other words, we who would be leaders, do our wife strive to fulfill Christ’s commands in the sermon on the mount? If not, we should withdraw until such time as they too are ready to fulfill their obligations in Christ’s service. Otherwise we sin and we stumble the fellowship.
4. Do you honor your own parents? (Yes) (No)
“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth” (Eph 6:2-3).
Consider the investment in tears and prayer and finances our parents have made in us. According to the above verse, we may not expect to live very long if we fail God in this matter.
5. Does God answer your prayers for wisdom and success in ministry? (Yes) (No)
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him (James 1:5).
We don’t require any commentary on this one. The Bible is rich in examples of how God answers prayer!
6. Is God anointing your labors, or are you content to labor in your own strength? (Yes) (No)
You know the answer to that! Sin cripples!
7. Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness?
Have you become lukewarm? Is God’s word dear to you? Do you love the fellowship of the brethren? If not, why not?
In conclusion:
Those seven questions are far from exhaustive, but good representative issues that are close to home. They should start you on a hunt for personal failings, and help you draw nearer God.
Now therefore, amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; then the LORD will relent concerning the doom that He has pronounced against you (Jeremiah 26:13).
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time (I Peter 5:6).
I pray that the Holy Spirit will use this epistle to set you on a quest for a closer walk with God. And if, during your prayers and meditations, God has brought to mind any such failings in another, remember one more admonition:
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted (Gal 6:1).
As I prepare my heart to meet our Master, I pray that your lives will shine with the glory of God, and that your ministries will grow and prosper.
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 2).
Consider the alternative.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit
be with you all.
Amen
(2 Cor. 13:14).
Pastor Frank Becker