Article Library

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By Pastor Chuck Swindoll

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Godly Authority vs Authoritarianism

“It’s one thing to be authoritative based on the truth of Scripture, passionately delivered. There’s everything right about that. People long for that. But authoritarians repress others’ freedom. They become dictatorial, inflexible, ultra-dogmatic, legalistic, oppressive, even tyrannical and you and I know of leaders like that. Leave them alone, they are blind guides. They’ll do you no good. You’ll learn their ways. Be especially wary of anyone who has all the right answers. Who will not admit when she or he is wrong. Beware of that. We who handle the authoritative word of God sit under its authority and as it reproves others it must continue to reprove us. When it stops, we have come dangerously near the blind spot of authoritarianism.”

Pursue Moral Purity

“Moral purity is a must in ministry. Stay away from those who are not morally pure and clean. Stay away from those who encourage or quote, ‘doctrine of privacy.’ That’s a crock. There is no such thing. Your life is a public life. You want privacy? Get out of the ministry. Some of it is private, but it’s not secretive. There’s a difference. Guard against being too personal with the opposite sex. Stay away from smutty jokes. Stay away from profane talk. Which is so easy now.”

We Need Wise, Godly Leaders

“Please remember Jesus is not teaching that no one is to guide us. Please understand you never come to the place where you do not need instruction or leaders or the wisdom of men and women like this, your elders, your mentors. He’s coming down on blind guides, not all guides. Good leaders have reasons to be respected. Find out who they are as you grow older and pay even closer attention as the years begin to stack up.”

Guard Against Greed

“Avarice wears many faces. I’m thinking here especially of a greed for money. Avarice is always a hidden sin. Very few people just say up front, ‘I’m greedy.’ They just evidence it. Preoccupation with getting more, building more. Motivated to do what we do for the money. Learn early in your ministry that it doesn’t really matter what the honorarium is. Get rid of that thought. Think seriously before you accept a dime for doing a funeral. Think about it before you do a wedding for the money.”

Exclusivity is a Blind Spot

“There’s something marvelous about a ministry that encourages an open-arm great heartedness that has room for those who think differently and come at something from a different perspective. You’ll minister in churches where you’ll see the need for that and pastors that require this uniform kind of thinking become dangerous. Exclusivism is a blind spot.’”

Additional Resources

First, sign up for our Chuck’s Insights on Ministry email where we bring you his best thoughts on preaching, leadership, and ministry each week. By signing up, you’ll instantly receive a one-page checklist with 20 preaching insights from Chuck. See this page’s sidebar.

Second, check out our new Preach The Word articles and video series on YouTube where we’re teaching Chuck’s best insights on this important calling.

Third, listen to Chuck’s messages to those in ministry through our Seminary Chapels page. For decades, he offered students at Dallas Theological Seminary his best thoughts on church leadership and ministry. Now, we have put them at your fingertips. Also, you can find them through this YouTube playlist we created for you.

Fourth, if you don’t own a copy of Chuck’s book on preaching, Saying It Well, we highly recommend you add it to your library. It’s his preaching memoir that is also like a practical preaching manual. You won’t be able to put it down.

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