The style of leadership can make all the difference between a happy growing congregation and a troubled church.
The authority of Scripture is central to Baptist thinking. This authority does not lie in traditions or creeds, not even Baptist ones. Nor does it lie in any servant of God, living or dead, however respected. The Bible is God's Word to mankind today (Matthew 24.35).
The Holy Spirit opens our minds to the message of the Bible, and helps us to apply it to today's needs. Linked with this is the right of all Christians to understand the Word of God for themselves. This has an important effect which is sometimes overlooked. Some pastors seek to impose their personal authority on their church. This contradicts 1 Peter 5.3 and leads to trouble. The pastor's authority is not in his office, but in the Word of God. He should not seek an authority beyond the Scriptures. The church in turn recognises its pastor's Spirit-given abilities to lead it by the Word.
