Sometimes roles have to do with authority or leadership. Sports teams often have “captains” for making decisions on the field. Businesses have “managers” that direct the other workers. Armies have “officers” that command the soldiers. Schools have “teachers” that guide the students. Some sort of leadership is usually essential for any combined effort to succeed. This is just as true in the family and the church. Therefore, any discussion of roles should include the subject of authority.
Jesus taught that leadership for His people would be quite different from the world’s leadership. Many leaders in the world use their authority to “lord it over” their subjects. Such authority is often harsh and overbearing in the way it makes demands. It forces its will onto others. It abuses and takes advantage of those under it. Jesus did not use this method, and those who truly belong to Him do not use this method.
Jesus called them to Him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28).
What if our study of the Bible reveals that some roles have to do with authority over others? This would not be permission to rule as the world rules. It would be responsible to lead others like Jesus does by serving them selflessly and lovingly. Today’s problems with roles often come from ignorance of God’s perspective. Many have not studied the roles given by God. And many misunderstand the kind of authority God gives to certain roles.
As we enter this study, try to put aside the world’s way of looking at the subject. God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). That is true for any spiritual subject. The roles in the church are not ours to choose as we may wish. “God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose” (1 Corinthians 12:18). In all things we follow the will of God, as He has given it through Christ. True disciples recognize that “all authority” belongs to Jesus (Matthew 28:18). We learn Jesus’ commands from His apostles and prophets (John 16:13; 2 Peter 3:2; Ephesians 2:20).