United Leadership
A message to the Leaders of the Body of Christ.
By
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
Prelude: - My heart is concerned about somethings I saw happening within the Body of Christ of this past weekend. Governmental order has established social distancing forcing the closure of the doors of restaurants, bars, sport complexes, and to include churches. As a result many Pastors & Leaders have taken to the internet via Facebook and other outlets in order to feed the sheep. However; there have been some that have kept the doors of the church open and continued with packed congregations forgoing the social distancing orders and during the preach word have condemned those that have closed their church doors and even criticized their faith.
During this time of crisis, it is easy to become divided and accusatory of those that don’t operate the way someone else does. It’s easy to say someone isn’t operating in faith because they obey the laws of the land and adhere to social distancing. It is so easy to say they don’t have faith based upon one’s interpretation of faith. The devil desires nothing more than to divide the church during this time of crisis; however, this is not the time for division in the Body of Christ for a house divided cannot stand. It is time for us to come together in unity, to get past denominational differences, organizational habits and customs, worship style conflicts and become united as the body of Christ.
Opening: - Ezekiel 33 talks about the Watchman on the wall, the responsibility of the Watchman as well as the results of the Watchman performing or not performing their duties and the accountability they have.
As a Bishop and Watchman, I feel it is my appointed duty to sound the trumpet and those that have ears to hear please hear what the spirit saith unto the church, the Body of Christ.
The atmosphere is constantly changing, people are being ordered to shelter in place, social distancing is the new normal, personal protective equipment is limited, ventilators are being sold to the highest bidder. People are dying at a rapid pace while others are being told to show up for work or loose their jobs. Confusion, anxiety, uncertainty, and fear grips the world. Government is divided, some of the country believes this pandemic is serious and some feel it’s a hoax that will end in 15 days regardless of the evidence and fact that it has been here already for several months.
One of the effects the Covid-19 virus has is causing faith leaders to wonder about their spiritual and civil responsibilities. Currently we find ourselves trying to stand on faith yet be responsible and obedient to the laws and those that have rule over us. Yet there are some that believe they are standing in and on faith while blatantly disobeying laws and defying those that have rule over us. For to long much of the Body of Christ has been distracted by title and position instead of focusing on purpose and responsibility.
It is now more than ever the time to realize just how much the people of the world are connected. Every time we hear, see, or experience a case of the coronavirus we must understand that there is a person, a family, a community, and a state that is affected and suffering physically, emotionally, and spiritually. As the Body of Christ, the church, not the building but the people, not the different organizations or denominations, but the organism, the living, breathing people of God especially the LEADERS are called to pray without ceasing. We are to pray for those affected, those in leadership, those on the front lines, those who are desperately working trying to find a cure for this pandemic.
The Bible talks in Ephesians 4:11-13 about the 5-fold ministry. Eph 4:11-13 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
UNDERSTAND first and foremost that the responsibility of the 5-fold ministry will not end until we all come into the unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of fulness of Christ.
We know the 5fold ministry in a very generic explanation is made up of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor/Teacher.
Apostle is called to build, impart vision, discern the Will and Word of God.
Prophet is called to speak to present and future situations.
Evangelist is called to point out the way of salvation.
Pastor/Teacher is called to impart principles and truth striving and encouraging for perfection (maturity) in the disciples of Christ.
It’s time that we that operate within the 5fold ministry take this opportunity to firmly, urgently, with steadfastness, and unmovable work together with compassion and handle the souls with compassion, understanding, and gentleness. We must be able to encourage people with a faith-based response to the crisis facing us yet ensure that we offer words that are filled with medical assurance. We must encourage people to have faith and having done all to stand. However, we must also inform them and encourage them to follow the guidelines of the medical profession concerning the spread of the virus. If the law states not to gather in groups more than 10 we need uphold that law and understand that it’s not a lack of faith but obedience which is better than sacrifice. Sure, we understand the meaning of fail not to assemble ourselves together but as leaders of the 5-fold ministry in the Body of Christ as WATCHMEN it is our responsibility, our GODLY RESPONSIBILITY to warn the people of danger and guard them effectively.
We must have compassion during this time of crisis. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen, true, however; faith without works is dead.
God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of love power, and a sound mind. Nevertheless; fear has gripped the entire world and us the leaders of the Body of Christ have an awesome opportunity and a great responsibility at hand, and we need the wisdom of God along with the medical clarity to handle it properly. Sure, salvation needs to be preached and it will, but give a man a fish he will eat for a day teach him to fish and he will eat for a lifetime. We must be informed leaders that adhere to medical guidelines, obey governmental authorities as long as they don’t go contrary to the Will and Word of God.
CLOSING; - The time has come to stop arguments over and jockeying for what’s nothing more than title and position and come together in unity working for the perfecting of the people and bring them into the unity of the faith.
PRAYER: - Spirit of the living God I come today asking that you open the windows of heaven and pour out a spirit of unity among the people of God. We come against division, fear, negativity, pride, and anything that is not according to the will of God. I ask for the leaders of the Body of Christ to have strength to stand against the wiles of the adversary with confidence and develop an understanding that will allow them the ability to make informed medically sound decisions. We pray as a united front, regardless of denominational boundaries, racial differences, geographical locations, economical status against this Coronavirus. This virus attacks the breath of the people and literally chokes the life out of people, but Lord God you are the breath of life and we are standing on your Word and praying in the name of Jesus. We speak life and not death, we pray that you give the medical profession the wisdom to develop a cure against this virus. Protect those on the front lines that are working on the people testing them for the virus and working to keep them alive that have the virus. Lord we pray for the leaders of government that they make sound decisions based on medical data and security for the people. We pray for the nations of the world that your BREATH OF LIFE flows over them rapidly. We pray for the churches and the leaders that they will be able to stand during this time of crisis and having done all to stand anyhow. Lord we ask all these things in your Holy and Precious name Jesus.
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
