Digging For Truth : Leaders (Separate page)

I saw that many souls will sink in darkness because of their covetousness. The plain, straight testimony must live in the church, or the curse of God will rest upon His people as surely as it did upon ancient Israel because of their sins. God holds His people, as a body, responsible for the sins existing in individuals among them. If the leaders of the church neglect to diligently search out the sins which bring the displeasure of God upon the body, they become responsible for these sins. But to deal with minds is the nicest work in which men ever engaged. All are not fitted to correct the erring. They have not wisdom to deal justly, while loving mercy. They are not inclined to see the necessity of mingling love and tender compassion with faithful reproofs. Some are ever needlessly severe, and do not feel the necessity of the injunction of the apostle: "And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire." Testimonies, Volume 3, page 269, par. 2

L e a d e r S h i p ( 250 )

Chapter ► Elements of Good Leadership ( Publishing Ministry, Chapter 23 )

+ burdens of leadership ( 7 )

+ Divine Leadership ( 8 )

+ positions of leadership ( ) > in the high position of a leader ( 2 )

> positions of authority ( 15 ) > positions of authority in the church ( )

> high position ( ) > Duties of high position ( )

+++ in positions of responsibility ( 194 )

++ standards of leadership ( 2 ) >> high standards of leadership ( 1 )

Later, when choosing seventy elders to share with him the responsibilities of leadership, Moses was careful to select, as his helpers, men possessing dignity, sound judgment, and experience. In his charge to these elders at the time of their ordination, he outlined some of the qualifications that fit a man to be a wise ruler in the church. "Hear the causes between your brethren," said Moses, "and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's." Deuteronomy 1:16, 17. {AA 94.1}

- - Church Leaders - -

+ Leaders in the Church ( 25 ) > chosen as leaders in the Church ( )
> Leaders of the Church ( 28 ) > Leaders of the flock ( 2 )

+ Church officers ( 53 ) Church officers to be free from prejudice ( 2 )
► Officers in the Church ( 4 ) >

+ President of a Conference ( 46 ) > president of a conference should . . . ( 3 )

+ conference president ( 128 ) > conference presidents ( ) + presidents of conferences ( 109 )

> Conference officers ( )
> General Conference president ( see quote below )

My attention has been called to the instruction the Lord has been pleased to give in Gospel Workers. I have arisen at three o’clock a.m., and have read the matter in the little book entitled Conference Presidents, page 232. The same things have been presented to me again and again. Will our brethren take heed to these things? Or will they turn aside from the light? The president of the General Conference should act upon the light given, not contrary to this light. If men close their eyes to the testimonies God has been pleased to give, and think it wisdom to walk in the light of the sparks of their own kindling, it will spoil the church. Such men are not qualified to become either ministers or presidents of conferences; they have not taken counsel from the Source of all wisdom. { TM 327.1}

+ Ministers ► who minister on sacred things ( 20 ) > some who minister on sacred things

> those who minster in sacred things ( )

+ Religious authorities ( 8 ) > positions of authority in the church ( )

+ wise ruler of the church ( 1 )

Sometimes a man who has been placed in responsibility as a leader, gains the idea that he is in a position of supreme authority, and that all of his brethren, before making advance moves, must first come to him for permission to do that which they feel should be done. Such a man is in a dangerous position. He has lost sight of the work of a true leader among God's people. Instead of acting as a wise counselor, he assumes the prerogatives of an exacting ruler. God is dishonored by every such display of authority and self-exaltation. No man standing in his own strength is ever to be mind and judgment for another man whom the Lord is using in His work. No one is to lay down man-made rules and regulations to govern arbitrarily his fellow laborers who have a living experience in the truth. — Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 491 par. 4 { ChL 33.1} { PaM 54.3}

- - Religious Leaders

+ Religious leaders ( ) > these leaders ( 51 )

+ Teachings of Religious Leaders ( 2 )

+ Leaders at Jerusalem ( 3 )

  +     Undershepherd  ( 11 ) >   undershepherds  ( 37 )
> position of undershepherds  ( 4 )
>   His undershepherds  ( 5 )

- - Bad Leaders

+++ Blind Leader ( 2 ) > Blind leaders ( 41 )

+ Dictatorship Quote from Christian Leadership, page 31

> dictatorial ( 162 ) > dictatorial vigilance ( )

+ determined to rule ( 7 ) > leaders who have ever been determined to rule ( 1 )

+ Satan as their Leader ( )

+ Withdraw from the Leaders ( )

Those who occupy the position of undershepherds are to exercise a watchful diligence over the Lord's flock. This is not to be a dictatorial vigilance, but one that tends to encourage and strengthen and uplift. Ministry means more than sermonizing; it means earnest, personal labor. The church on earth is composed of erring men and women, who need patient, painstaking effort that they may be trained and disciplined to work with acceptance in this life, and in the future life to be crowned with glory and immortality. Pastors are needed -- faithful shepherds -- who will not flatter God's people, nor treat them harshly, but who will feed them with the bread of life -- men who in their lives feel daily the converting power of the Holy Spirit and who cherish a strong, unselfish love toward those for whom they labor. {AA 526.1}

- - Men in responsible positions

+ men in responsible positions > those in responsible positions ( 70 )
> those standing in responsible positions ( 1 )
► Men in the highest positions ( )

+++ men in positions of trust ( 69 )

+ who hold responsible positions ( 18 ) > Those who hold responsible positions in the church

> Selected to hold responsible positions ( 1 )

► positions of responsibility ( 290 )

+++ In positions of responsibility ( 194 ) > occupy positions of responsibility

+ Men in positions of responsibility ( 58 ) > men in high positions of responsibility ( )
> Pray for the men in positions of responsibility

> stand in positions of responsibility ( 7 )

Those in positions of responsibility who follow their own way are held responsible for the mistakes of those who are led astray by their example. RH, Sept. 14, 1905 { ChL 10.1 }

here is the Original quote in RH

Those in positions of responsibility who follow their own way are held responsible for the mistakes of those who are led astray by their example. “Shall I not judge for these things?” God asks. { RH Sept. 14, 1905, par. 8 }

⇒ occupy positions of responsibility   ( )
    > occupy positions of authority ( 1 )    >   occupy positions of trust  ( )
   > occupy positions of trust and authority  ( 15 ) Same thing in many places

+ men in positions of trust ( )

+ men in authority ( ) + Those in authority ( ) > those in positions of authority

+ Those in important positions ( 3 ) > those in important positions of responsibility

I am instructed by the Lord to say that position never gives a man grace or makes him righteous. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Some men entrusted with positions of responsibility entertain the idea that position is for the aggrandizement of self. Let no manager think that all minds must be subjected to his mind, that all wills must be subordinate to his will, and that all methods must be laid aside for his methods. Greater injury cannot be done to any institution than by allowing such a man to remain in his position, after proper test and trial. It is a sin against God to permit unfaithful stewards to remain in positions of trust; for the Lord's people are liable to be misled by their unfaithfulness. -- MS. 154, 1902. {MM 165.4}

From this record we may learn how little dependence can be placed in men who trust in men, and do not make God their reliance. Those who are living in these last days are in the greatest danger of placing their confidence in men rather than in the true and living God. The Lord has given instruction that the history of the apostasy of Israel is now to be presented, because men who in the past have had great light have become self-sufficient, and are looking to men, trusting in human leaders, who are themselves practising evil. Men who ought to stand as firm as a rock to principle are treading in the same path that the Israelites followed. “Some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” This is the snare that has come into our ranks. There are wrong sentiments that have to be met. There are men who are acting the part of Aaron at the very time when every soul should be working to seal the law among God’s disciples. They are building up the very things that God has specified should not be built up. { RH February 4, 1909, par. 8 }

The time and strength of those who in the providence of God have been placed in leading positions of responsibility in the church, should be spent in dealing with the weightier matters demanding special wisdom and largeness of heart. It is not in the order of God that such men should be appealed to for the adjustment of minor matters that others are well qualified to handle. "Every great matter they shall bring unto thee," Jethro proposed to Moses, "but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace." {AA 93.1}

There is need of Nehemiahs in the church today, -- not men who can pray and preach only, but men whose prayers and sermons are braced with firm and eager purpose. The course pursued by this Hebrew patriot in the accomplishment of his plans is one that should still be adopted by ministers and leading men. When they have laid their plans, they should present them to the church in such a manner as to win their interest and co-operation. Let the people have a personal interest in its prosperity. The success attending Nehemiah's efforts shows what prayer, faith, and wise, energetic action will accomplish. Living faith will prompt to energetic action. The spirit manifested by the leader will be, to a great extent, reflected by the people. If the leaders professing to believe the solemn, important truths that are to test the world at this time, manifest no ardent zeal to prepare a people to stand in the day of God, we must expect the church to be careless, indolent, and pleasure-loving. -- Christian Service, p. 177. {ChL 22.1}

Related Phrases: Real Greatness ( 19 ) - - - True Greatness ( 75 )

other topics: Domination / Dictatorship, Christian Leadership, page 31

My personal favorites

"The widening will increase until there is a breach made between those who accept these views and those who believe the third's angel's message. Just as soon as these ideas are accepted, then there will be a drawing away from those whom God has used in this work, for the mind begins to doubt and withdraw from the leaders because God has laid them aside and chosen more humble men to do His work. This is the only interpretation they can give to this matter, as the leaders do not see this important light. {20MR 356.6}

Satan's chief work is at the headquarters of our faith. He spares no pains to corrupt men in responsible positions and to persuade them to be unfaithful to their several trusts. He insinuates his suspicions and jealousies into the minds of those whose business it is to do God's work faithfully. While God is testing and proving these helpers, and fitting them for their posts, Satan is doing his utmost to deceive and allure them, that they may not only be destroyed themselves, but may influence others to do wrong and to injure the great work. He seeks by all the means in his power to shake the confidence of God's people in the voice of warning and reproof through which God designs to purify the church and prosper His cause. {4T 210.5}

Satan is constantly endeavoring to attract attention to man in the place of God. He leads the people to look to bishops, to pastors, to professors of theology, as their guides, instead of searching the Scriptures to learn their duty for themselves. Then, by controlling the minds of these leaders, he can influence the multitudes according to his will. Great Controversy, page 595.2 Read entire chapter 37

God did not on this occasion pronounce judgments upon those whose wicked course had so provoked Moses and Aaron. All the reproof fell upon the leaders. Those who stood as God's representatives had not honored Him. Moses and Aaron had felt themselves aggrieved, losing sight of the fact that the murmuring of the people was not against them but against God. It was by looking to themselves, appealing to their own sympathies, that they unconsciously fell into sin, and failed to set before the people their great guilt before God. Patriarchs and Prophets, page 418.3

non Adventist church leaders

"Men in responsible positions will not only ignore and despise the Sabbath themselves, but from the sacred desk, will urge upon the people the observance of the first day of the week, pleading tradition and custom in behalf of this man-made institution. They will point to calamities on land and sea — to the storms of wind, the floods, the earthquakes, the destruction by fire—as judgments indicating God’s displeasure because Sunday is not sacredly observed. These calamities will increase more and more, one disaster will follow close upon the heels of another; and those who make void the law of God will point to the few who are keeping the Sabbath of the fourth commandment as the ones who are bringing wrath upon the world. This falsehood is Satan’s device that he may ensnare the unwary." - ST January 17,1884, par. 12

Conference presidents

I learned from letters received from you that you did not read the testimonies to those concerned and decidedly point out their errors. Here you failed to do your duty as President of the General Conference. You were presented to me in Council meetings, listening to the statement and decisions of strong minded and hard-hearted men who were not under the controlling influence of the Spirit of God. You knew that these decisions were not according to God’s order, yet you did not protest against them, and thus suffered them to pass as having received your sanction. Thus things have been going according to the will and impulse of men who are opposed to God’s will and are bringing in an order of things that God cannot accept or sanction. { 1888 1316.2 } { PC 416.4 }

The president of a State Conference is, by his manner of dealing, educating the ministers under him, and together they can so educate the churches that it will not be necessary to call the ministers of the conference from the field to settle difficulties and dissension’s in the church. If the officers in the conference will, as faithful servants, perform their Heaven-appointed duties, the work in our conferences will not be left to become entangled in such perplexities as heretofore. And in laboring thus, the workers will become solid, responsible men, who will not fail nor be discouraged in a hard place.—Gospel Workers, 419. { ChL 55.2}

Brethren, do not depend on the President of your Conference or the President of the General Conference to think for you. God has given “to every man his work.” When men look to the President of the Conference as their helper in all their difficulties, the bearer of their burdens, the counselor in their perplexities, they are doing the very opposite of that which Christ told them to do.— Manuscript 11, 1883, p. 1. { ChL 63.2 }

Note: Numbers shown in ( ) is the ( number of texts ) containing this phrase

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Leaders (Separate page)

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L e a d e r S h i p ( 250 )

Conference presidents

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