ONE CHURCH LEICESTER: DAVID HIND "LEADER OF LEADERS"

"David and Susan Hind are the Senior Leaders of One Church.. David is a dynamic leader of leaders and leads with an apostolic gifting. A man of faith and passion for people, he is committed to seeing Leicestershire and beyond transformed by the gospel of Jesus."1 

Can you imagine any of the real apostles talking like this? (Jeremiah 45:5; 3 John 1:9). This kind of worldly rhetoric would have appalled the real apostles and the early church. The only "Senior Pastor" in the church is Jesus Christ! The express instruction of Jesus was that no one within the body of Christ should seek honorific titles.

But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:8-12).

Berean Study Bible: "The term 'Rabbi' originates from the Hebrew word 'רַבִּי' (rabbi), meaning 'my master' or 'my teacher.' In the historical context of first-century Judaism, being called 'Rabbi' was a title of honor and authority, signifying a person who was a learned teacher of the Law. Jesus, in this passage, is addressing His disciples and the crowds, cautioning them against seeking titles that elevate them above others. This admonition is a call to humility, reminding believers that their worth and identity are not found in titles or human accolades but in their relationship with God. The emphasis here is on the equality and unity of believers, who are all learners under the ultimate Teacher."2  

When people give themselves self-exalting honorific titles of distinction such as Senior Leader, Apostle, Prophet, Senior Prophet, Bishop, Pastor etc. they honour themselves, they do not honour our Lord Jesus Christ. Leaders who are truly Christlike shun anything that glorifies self and detracts from the glory due to God alone. The pattern of leadership practiced throughout the Book of Acts is simply that Paul and Barnabas “appointed elders for them in every church.” (Acts 14:23). The local church in the New Testament consisted of a plurality of male elders. (Acts 14:23,20:28; Philippians 1:1; Hebrews 13:17). The New Testament knows nothing about senior pastors, women pastors, or multi-site churches where one man has the presumption to claim overall leadership. 

The brothers, both the apostles and the elders (Acts 15:23).

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. (1 Corinthians 4:1).

I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. (2 Corinthians 12:11).

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.. (Ephesians 3:8).

We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith.. (1 Thessalonians 3:2).

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. (1 Timothy 15-16).

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.. (James 1:1).

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder.. (1 Peter 5:1).

And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, (2 Peter 3:15).

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James.. (Jude 1:1).

JP Moreland: "The emergence of the role of senior pastor in the local church is one of the factors that has most significantly undermined the development of healthy churches."3 

Frank A Viola: "In keeping with our Lord's command, biblical elders did not permit themselves to be addressed by honorific titles such as "Pastor Bill," "Elder Tom," "Bishop Jake," or "Reverend Sam" (Matthew 23:7-12). Such titles naturally elevate church leaders to a plane above the other brethren in the assembly. Thus, congregations and clergy alike are responsible for creating the current 'Christian guruism' that is rampant in the church today wherein religious leaders are recast into spiritual celebrities and lauded with fan club status. By contrast, New Testament leaders were viewed as ordinary brethren and were just as approachable and accessible to the saints as any other believer in the church."3

If those who like to give themselves titles were to see God's glory, they would shrivel up in shame. (Job 42:5-6; Isaiah 6:5;  Matthew 17:6; Luke 5:8; Revelation 1:17; Ezekiel 1:28; Daniel 10:8-9). 

The Gospel Coalition: "I mourn for the church because we seem to display so many of the characteristics that Jesus said, 'Not so among you' (Mark 10:43). Shameful arrogance and haughtiness have reached epidemic proportions among church leaders.. A direct implication of Jesus' servant stance was His obliteration of titles.. We have refused to take Jesus' words at face value. Jesus' obvious intent was to remove any basis for 'lording it over' others by dispensing with titles that give people an elevated place in the 'pecking order.' We all occupy the same level ground at the foot of the one Teacher, Jesus Christ. We are not 'great ones' or 'lords'.. Finally, do not accept the designation 'master' or 'leader.' No human can usurp the position of the head of the body, Christ. Our tendency seems always toward idolatry, to make someone larger than life. Never forget: Jesus alone is Lord.."3

The Gospel Coalition: "Unbiblical leadership structures can wreak havoc on the people of God and bring reproach on the name of Jesus Christ. A failure to honor the clear teaching of Scripture on how a church should be governed is a recipe for disaster. .. (problems) can be traced back to a singular, authoritarian pastor who largely avoided meaningful accountability.. In most instances, however, the deacons (or elders) exist only to rubber-stamp his decisions..4

The ultimate rejection of false apostles and prophets 

And on that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more. And also I will remove from the land the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness. And if anyone again prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, for you speak lies in the name of the Lord.’ And his father and mother who bore him shall pierce him through when he prophesies.“On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies. He will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive, but he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a worker of the soil, for a man sold me in my youth.’And if one asks him, ‘What are these wounds on your back?’ he will say, ‘The wounds I received in the house of my friends.’ (Zechariah 13:2-6 cf. Isaiah 27:12).

"that day" (בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא) This phrase identifies the eschatological "Day of the Lord" when God will act to completely obliterate (הִכְרַתִּ֤י) the idols from the land. Note that false prophets are identified with "a spirit of uncleanness". No unclean thing will enter the millennium and nothing will defile during that period. Those who glibly claim "God told me" in the present age will face the wrath of God and blackest darkness is reserved for them. (Jude 1:12-13). This passage should instill the fear of God in the Hinds and others who falsely claim to receive "prophetic words" that do not come to pass. (Proverbs 9:10). When someone claims "God told me" they should be very sure that God has actually spoken to them! 

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1 cf. Acts 20:29-30; 1 John 4:1; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; Romans 16:17-18).

And the LORD said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds. (Jeremiah 14:14).

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Because you have uttered falsehood and seen lying visions, therefore behold, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 13:8).

1. About | One Church Leicester

2. Matthew 23:8 But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.

3. Church Leaders and the Use of Honorific Titles

4. Why We Need the ‘Plurality Principle’

Further Links

Podcast: The Bible's Vision for Leadership vs. Daystar TV's
Toxic Church Cultures | GRACE Live Conversation | Scot McKnight & Boz Tchividjian
Answering the Key Questions About Elders
Lessons on Leadership, Pt. 4: Plurality Vs. Singularity - The Good Book Blog - Biola University
Topical Bible: The Boaster