Church leadership (3) - Concern

Mark 8:1-2 - During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 

Church ministry is not just taking care of spiritual needs. Sometimes you may have to take care of the physical needs as well.

In the last two entries on this subject I discussed  on compassion and losing none as important qualities of church leadership, especially a pastor. Another that came to my mind is showing concern. I am not conjuring this in order of priority but reflecting as circumstances provide an opportunity for learning.

In the above passage, we see one of the instances where Jesus showed his concern for the people. The disciples were more than willing to send them away but Jesus wanted to take care of the physical needs as well.

Compassion is the penicillin for a wayward child and concern is the antidote for the reticent and the weak in the church.  When someone is sick, or undergoing some difficult situations in life, its the honour and the responsibility of the leadership to be discerning and take necessary actions to show concern. Not everyone who comes to church on a Sunday are as good as they look. It takes a lot of spiritual discernment to know who needs help. That's why the Lord gave the gift of discernment to the church but sadly has been abused by unscrupulous practitioners.  Of course discernment is also need to know who are those who take advantage of the benevolent pastor. 

There are some leaders who like to sit in their ivory towers and often would insist that those who need help should come to them and not the other way round. Such tend to think they are spiritual doctors and those who need help should take the initiative. "Its the sick who needs to go and see the doctor"

How unlike Jesus. He was found where the sinners were. Mat 9:10 - While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.In fact Jesus had another name, he was called the friend of sinners.

He took the initiative to meet the woman at the well, John 4:4 - Now he had to go through Samaria. 

He took the trouble to stay with the tax-collector Zacchaeus. Luke 10:5 -  When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.

This was the charge given against the shepherds of Israel - Ezekiel 34:4-6 - You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth,  and no one searched or looked for them.

1 Peter 5:2 - Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly--not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.

How do we show concern, some practical tips:

Visitation, sms texts, phone calls, and praying for them are some examples of how this can be done. 

In fact the idiom : Go the extra mile" originates from the Bible. Mat 5:41-42 -If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.