Doing the McCheyne reading: today from 2 Tim 2 the phrase “Let no one disregard you.” struck me. The NIV translates this as “despise” and I am sure that most readers would say of course I don’t despise my leaders. But I cant help but feel that the people I discussed yesterday do ignore their leaders. I was asked to define submission, and I would start with not ignoring your leader.
If you struggle with accepting your pastor’s teaching, and his discipleship of you, I would suggest that you may be in the wrong church, or you may have the wrong attitude. Our independance today encourages us to look down on any source of authority. If your local leader has honestly rooted his authority in the bible you need to recognise that authority unless you strongly disagree on the interepretation of the bible he is teaching. If you are in that case, even then I would not advocate remaining in a church and having a rebellious attitude. Instead, leaving graciously and righteously you should go and find a church where you feel you no longer have to ignore what your leaders are saying to you.
But, notice this, the verse here is addressed to a leader. He should act and speak in such a way that it is not possible for anyone to disregard him. Preachers have something to learn here. Every time we stand up we are tempted to hold back a little, not to challenge too much, to speak for consensus and approval just a little. The trouble is that insipid preaching gives rise to insipid listening. I want to preach for response, such that the one thing my hearers cant do is ignore me. They must either respond with rejection or choose to accept the message and live in the good of it.
Don’t let them be indifferent to you.
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