Selfish, Distracting Leadership

I Timothy 1:6-7: "Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm."

In this first chapter of 1 Timothy, Paul warns the people about false teachers who would make their way into the fellowship and attempt to distract the people by interjecting controversial matters to elevate themselves.

Paul alludes that these "want to be" teachers have wandered away from love, a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. They instead have started teaching false doctrines involving myths and endless genealogies resulting in controversies rather than God's work. In chapter 4, they forbid marriage and require abstention of certain foods. In turn, Paul refers to these teachers as "hypocritical liars who are deceiving spirits and teach things taught by demons."

The crux of the issue with these teachers is a desire to use their position of teacher as an opportunity to elevate their quest for power and influence. Their pride and the need to draw attention to themselves has resulted in their teaching strange myths that seem to captivate their audiences. They are fascinated with genealogies so that they can say that they are worthy by physical association with the line of Abraham that they are deserving of such positions of leadership. They then place hard restrictions upon the people; for with stringent guidelines, they are able to separate themselves from many who would not meet their expectations.

Later in the book, the Apostle Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit said it well: "If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to Godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain" (I Timothy 6:3-5).

If you are in a position of spiritual leadership within your church, remember that this position is a privilege from the Lord, of which God will hold you to account (James 3:1). We are not to focus upon controversial matters that distract from the central focus of the Gospel; rather, we are to strive in unity for the purpose of exalting the Lord Jesus Christ through praise and obedience.