Who's the Boss [Revised]

So, I overreacted in my post several months ago on leadership. Some readers a bit more discerning than myself pointed this out in conversations and comments, so I thought I'd revise the post. (Note, I'm not deleting it. This blog is a living record of my learning process.)

As it turns out, what I was reacting against was probably not real biblical leadership in the church, but "savage wolves" posing as shepherds. Of course, this should come as no surprise, since Paul warned that such thugs would rise up from within the church and ravage it. But the presence of wolves does not negate the need for shepherds—it reinforces it. [And, yes, Mr. Stanley. With all due respect, we should still call them "shepherds."]

Of course, what that leadership looks like is something unusual, countercultural and crucifying to the flesh. There is no model for true New Testament church leadership apart from that found in scripture. It is not found in the business world, in the military, in the classroom or even in the Old Testament religious structure.

I wrote, "The early church had essentially no authority but the Holy Spirit as he worked in the hearts of believers." But, as friends pointed out, elders and deacons clearly had positions of authority and oversight in local fellowships, and bishops seemed to have responsibility over groups of congregations. While the ultimate accountability for spiritual growth lies in the hands of the individual, scripture does point to those who have been called to leadership in congregational life.

Note my emphasis of "congregational." I still don't see much biblical substantiation for modern denominational government beyond the local level—whether Protestant or Catholic—or the similar "apostolic" and "prophetic" spiritual pyramid schemes common in the independent charismatic/Pentecostal community.

But I'm open to change. Show me the scriptures, like you did last time ...