Though we see clear abuse so easily in many denominations and churches of leadership that uses the people rather then serves and matures the people of God this still does not nullify God's true gifting and calling of leadership in the body of Christ. God's heart is to see shepherds who share His heart and burden and act as Christ to others in the body.
This is an excerpt from the soon to be published free Principles for the Gathering of believers book:
Though there is leadership in the book of Acts, the examples we find are of those who serve the body of Christ. A house Church is still an assembly even if there is no de#ned servant leader. But as the fellowship grows in the Lord, the Spirit will gift certain men as shepherds.106 The 12 Apostles were servants to widows giving them bread daily107 for a season, until they realized they needed to fully devote themselves to studying the Scriptures and giving themselves to prayer.108 They delegated the function of physically serving the widows but expanded their service to the congregation to give them spiritual food. Though a shepherd in the body of Christ has concerns to watch over the $ock109, be in the word and prayer110, teach the body, yet this must all be done in a spirit of service to help others.
To serve others is the example our Lord Jesus gave us when, He who was the “teacher” and “rabbi” took the form of a servant111 and washed the feet of His disciples.112 When a leader desires honor for himself, when he wants esteem from men, when he exercises control for gain and power, he is not a leader of the body of Christ. The Apostle Paul was complaining to the Corinthian Church that they had allowed themselves to be taken advantage of by self-centered humanistic leaders. “In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face.”113
When a leader starts to control what people do in their private life he is then not allowing the Holy Spirit of God His proper role of convicting and guiding people in their personal walks with the Lord. When shepherds demand, speak harshly, yell or accuse the Lord’s people in anyway114 you know that individual is not a true shepherd from the Lord. Servant leaders in the body of Christ simply want to see the entire body come to fulness in Christ. They want to encourage everyone onwards in the heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.115 True leaders work themselves out of a position continually trying to raise up others, they never try to be in demand but rather are subservient to the Lord’s will. Servant leaders are genuine and real about their walk with the Lord, their faults and weaknesses. Paul exemplifies this when he says: “I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling.”116
For there has never been a faultless perfect leader in the body of Christ but rather weak, broken vessels that God has raised up for His glory to build a testimony for His Name.
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Footnotes:
106 “It seems quite clear that a pastor (the Greek noun is poimain, meaning shepherd, found only once in the New Testament) is equivalent to an elder (the Greek noun presbuteros, found numerous times in the New Testament), and is also equivalent to an overseer (the Greek noun episkopos, translated bishop in the KJV). Paul, for example, instructed the Ephesian elders (presbuteros), whom he said the Holy Spirit had made overseers (episkopos), to shepherd (the Greek verb poimaino) the flock of God (see Acts 20:28). He also used the terms elders (presbuteros) and overseers (episkopos) synonymously in Titus 1:5-7. Peter, too, exhorted the elders (presbuteros) to shepherd (poimaino) the flock (see 1 Pet. 5:1-2).” - David Servant
107 Acts 6:2
108 Acts 6:4
109 Acts 20:28
110 1 Timothy 5:17
111 Philippians 2:7
112 John 13:4-5
113 2 Corinthians 11:20
114 2 Corinthians 10:1
115 Philippians 3:14
116 1 Corinthians 2:3
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“Christianity was birthed in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and will only continue as we have this empowering from above. God is always looking for the willing vessels that will trust Him afresh for the impossible.” from: Principles for the gathering of Believers under the Headship of Jesus Christ.Since 2012, a growing group of believers in North America started to warn of coming persecution to western countries. This message was shared in a variety of ways. One of the responses to this was to compile a book taking principles from underground Churches around the world of how they thrived under pressure and persecution. The volume, Principles for the Gathering of Believers, had in a short time over 50,000 downloads in ebook format and much interest was shown. Some new house churches started through this and other existing groups were encouraged.