In other words, don’t be too quick to make someone a leader in the church, 1st Timothy 5:22. To do so, is to share responsibility for the evil they would do.

This warning brings to light the gravity of selecting and appointing the shepherds that will provide the care and leadership a congregation needs. Consider also that such leaders are likely the ones who will set the tone in a church family for years to come.

The apostle Paul warned the elders of the church at Ephesus:

I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.

Acts 20:29-31

It wasn’t outsiders that were here prophesied to plague the church. The brethren were not being warned of governmental persecution under egotistical Caesars who made themselves out to be gods. Rather, their troubles would come from those who were chosen from among themselves to lead. They were characterized as “savage wolves” attacking the flock without mercy teaching “perverse” things.

John the apostle wrote of one Diotrephes, evidently a leader in the church who resisted the apostles’ teachings, arrogantly accusing them of evil. This man also forbid the brethren to sup-port those who were preaching the gospel and even put those out of the church who did so, 3rd John 9-10. How could any one man wield such influence for evil unless he were allowed to do so by other members of the church?

In another place, Paul mentioned Alexander, a blasphemer and one who had made shipwreck of his own faith. Paul’s testimony is that this man did him much harm by exalting himself to a position worthy of vigorously opposing his teachings, 1st Timothy 1:19-20 & 2nd Timothy 4:14-15.

For these reasons we are under great obligation to approach the matter of selecting and appointing additional shepherds with much prayer, solemnity and exhaustive thoughtfulness.

This means you and me, brother, sister. Please do not mentally relegate this responsibility to someone else. If you and I approach the situation lightly, we may wind up with light-weight leaders. On the other hand, if we put everything we have into this, we can set the stage, so to speak, for every good type of growth there is in the kingdom of God. That’s what Godly shepherds provide!