Aimless wandering is not leadership.
If we aim at nothing, we will undoubtedly achieve it. Shepherds ought to have immediate goals for the assembly and a long term plan. They should be men of vision. This writer thinks they should have a meeting every six months in which the only thing on the agenda is, “Are we progressing towards our God-given goal(s)?”
An abused term
Admittedly the term “vision” is like a red flag to some saints. It has been taken to be the Christian equivalent of that which is considered desirable in a C.E.O. But if we consider the term as in the first half of Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision the people perish,” we see it as something essential to eldership. This does not mean that elders may generate their own ideas. Instead, the vision must originate with God and be found in His Word. The second half of the verse confirms this, “but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Under-shepherds of the Lord must ever keep His vision in mind. Their thinking will then be as broad or as narrow as that of the Chief Shepherd.
Furthermore, elders must all share that same vision. It is not to be expected that all will immediately agree regarding every question. Each overseer has a different background and that is often what immediately influences his reaction to a challenge. But this immediate reaction has to be overcome, and the vision of the Chief Shepherd must prevail.
Democratic disorder
In order to have fair representation, an assembly will sometimes appoint as overseers those who will promote the differences of thought existing in the assembly itself; they want to keep everyone happy. This is democracy. Those subscribing to this arrangement will have to play politics. It will call for compromise and result in insincerity. Participants will often have grieved hearts but hide their feelings behind smiling faces. A show of unity will thus be maintained, but how terribly sad and how very far from what pleases the Lord! This is a recipe for disaster.
The Spirit’s voice
Overseers must share the vision originating with God and found in His Word. Godly unity is achieved by this means. They must be committed to giving expression to the will of the Lord, hearing “what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev. 2-3), not what some members of the assembly desire or their own dreams for growth. That is why elders must be men of the Word, “apt to teach” (1 Tim. 3:2).
What long-range goal do you have for your assembly? What steps are you presently taking in that direction? All of us surely agree that individuals should be sold out to the Lord, committed to promoting His agenda, and subject to His Word. Why are we reluctant to take a similar position when it comes to corporate responsibility? And if as shepherds we are not exhibiting what it means to be subject to the Lord and diligently searching the Scriptures, how can we expect anything better of the flock?