Dr. Kent Brandenburg, pastor of the Bethel Baptist Church in El Sobrante, California, preached a wonderful message at our commencement service in May. He is a good friend of ours. The tremendous thing about graduation to me is seeing so many whom we have struggled with and given ourselves to march across the platform, not only finishing the course, but with a bright future of living for God and serving Him. The music and testimonies were stirring, and now we are anxious to see how God is going to use these young people across America and around the world.

The evidence of God's presence and power was manifested in our annual Preaching Conference as never before. The week was a great answer to prayer. If you love the fellowship of strong, fundamental pastors and people, they are here, coming from coast to coast. If you love powerful preaching, we have heard it in a very special way especially in the past three or four years. Plan to join us next year April 26-29, 2004. I guarantee you'll be glad you did.

Pastoral Leadership

There is a rebellion against leadership everywhere we look. I don't think I've ever read of such an attack on the Presidency of our country. I know women have never fought against their husband's authority as much as we see today, and there is no doubt there is rebellion in independent Baptist churches against pastoral leadership.

The Bible teaches that God calls men, gives them what they need to get the job done, and puts them over His work. When God wanted to deliver a nation, He called Moses. When He wanted to conquer a land, He used Joshua. When He wanted to establish a kingdom, He used David. To build a temple, He used Solomon. To build a wall, He called Nehemiah. To proclaim the coming of the King of Kings, He used John the Baptist. When God wanted to write the Bible, He used men. God has always called a man to get His work done, and that's what He still does in 2003 through the local church. The only Biblical way for an Independent Baptist church to succeed is by strong pastoral leadership.

God's undershepherd is not a professional who decides to go into the ministry as an occupation. The only way to get into the ministry is by divine appointment. God put me in the pastorate, and I can't do anything else and be right with Him. Fairhaven Baptist Church did not hire me, God called me and the church confirmed that call. The pastor is not called to be a pacifier either, to coddle and burp the congregation. He should always be there to help with true problems but shouldn't go around mollifying disgruntled members.

Neither should he be the deacons' or influential members' puppet. A deacon is a servant of the church under the direction of God's man. We don't see the office of the deacon as administrative in any way in the Bible. To be a deacon is a noble position, and I thank God for every one we have. The word gives the idea of being "covered with dust" from trying to make "the journey go as smoothly as possible." We remember Acts 6:1-4 reads, "And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word." The apostles needed help, so men were chosen and appointed by them over the business at hand.

Now, the pastor is not the head of the church, Jesus is. He is the head, and the pastor is the undershepherd. A good pastor then must take the authority of the oversight of the church God calls him to. Only a hireling would allow anyone to disrupt that authority. I am scared to death about the responsibility on me, and I'd die before anyone would influence me and the leadership of our church. What kind of man would I be if I knew God wanted me to go in a certain direction but allowed my family or some old-time member to stir up enough trouble to sway God's direction?

Acts 20:28-31 reads, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." Who makes the pastor overseer over the flock? Members? Deacons? No. The Holy Ghost does, and there shouldn't be enough devils in hell to move him.

Just as Caesar ruled the world and had regents or puppet kings to control smaller areas, God sets pastors in place to lead churches. These puppet kings had no power of their own, all they did were the wishes of Rome. So I am a puppet of God, and He has put me over the province of Fairhaven Baptist Church. I have no power of my own, and my greatest desire is to carry out His commands. This is pastoral authority, and God will not bless any other system. It will dry up.

In the midst of the pastor's qualifications found in I Timothy 3:1-7, verse 5 reads, "For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?" This teaches not only that a pastor must have a right home to be qualified, but also that he is in charge of the house of God. This does not mean he is a dictator. If I were, every one of our members would be a soulwinner, tither, etc. What we think of as a pastor is also called a bishop, elder, or overseer in the New Testament. Paul writes to Titus in chapter 1 verse 5, "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee." God calls and appoints leaders for His churches. Just as there is an overseer on a construction job site or in a shop, God put an overseer on every congregation. (Acts 20) Hebrews 13:7 clarifies this, "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." Yes, if his "conversation" shows immorality or false doctrine, I tell my people to "tar and feather me and run me out on a rail." But until that time, God's called man is the boss. Hebrews 13:17 says, "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you." If you don't like this verse, rip it out of your Bible; but if you believe it is the preserved Word of God, you better follow what it says. Pastors get their orders from the Great Caesar and must give an account for their people. I am the undershepherd under the Great Shepherd. He gave His life for His sheep, and I like to think there is nothing my people need that I wouldn't give. I have lost most of my friends in the ministry and much of my family because I won't bend and, in turn, lead my people wrong. We have also lost hundreds of members and much money through the years because for God's sake and my people's, we won't bend. People, and even preachers, don't like authoritative preaching on adultery, indecent exposure, incest, queers, etc. They don't want someone shouting SIN! II Corinthians 11:13-15 reads, "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." So a good pastor must yell and beat the drum. His people just need to stand with Him. Romans 16:17-18 says, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." It is the pastor's job to "mark them." As a church member, you must be sure not to enter in when God's enemies try to blacken His name.

We read in I Thessalonians 5:12-13 the following, "And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves." A good pastor loves his people and spends hours praying and planning for their good, and they are admonished to love him for the work's sake. He is called of God to lead, not make friends and influence people. They are not told to follow him because they like him, but because God called him to lead them and their church, as II Thessalonians 3:6-7 tells us, "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you."

A good description of a right local church is what was said about King Saul, "there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched." Fairhaven Baptist Church would not exist without such a band of men. The pastor should love God and his people enough to lead, and they should love God and him enough to follow.