Shape up or ship out!

Ever been told that? My Mom said it to me when I was growing up. It means - “It's time to make a change.” During World War II, if a soldier was slacking on a Stateside assignment, he was told to "shape up or ship out." In short, he was ordered to do a better job. If he refused, he faced being shipped overseas to a combat zone. A person can be fired from his job for poor performance. An athlete can be kicked off a team if he lets his skills decline. But, if a church tries to exercise spiritual discipline, watch out! Almost always there will be a negative response.

The concept of church discipline is nearly unknown because here in America we put a premium value on autonomy and privacy. A pastor who takes his responsibility to challenge sin seriously, runs a real risk of ending up being the one shown the door! “It’s my life and I’ll live it the way I choose,” is the guiding principle. In recent years, several Roman Catholic bishops have attempted church discipline by denying Communion to politicians who openly challenge the Church’s guidance about the sanctity of human life. It’s a basic Christian value to hold that all life is precious to God. Yet, are these bishops applauded for requiring integrity in the professing Catholics, asking them to choose either political expedience or fidelity to the Church’s teaching? No way! The media and much of the public sees those leaders as meddling where they don’t belong!

That rejects the clear Word. Take a look. "Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith." (Hebrews 13:7, NLT) Your pastor shows the way by his own walk of faith and holiness. If you see that kind of integrity in him, then the Word goes on to say: "Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit." (Hebrews 13:17, NLT)

Disciple, are you responsive to the spiritual leadership that your church, your elders, your pastor provides? Do you hear the Word and bend your will to God’s purpose; or have you privatized your faith, made your personal preference a higher priority than obedience?

A loving leader, a true shepherd, preaches hard truth not because he is on an authority kick or likes conflict. He does so because he knows he is ‘accountable to God’ for you.  Pray often for those who offer soul care for you. Pray that they will hear and live the word from the Word.

"For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them." (Acts 20:27-30, NIV)