By Kevin Cauley
“And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18).
What does it mean to us that Jesus is the head of the church? It is easy to apply this in some distanced way: to say that Jesus is the head, and not the Pope, or the Queen of England, or any person (not in our immediate vicinity) who would claim headship of any religious organization. This is a message some need to hear, no doubt. However, let’s be clear and say further that the head of the church is not the eldership, nor any elder; it is not the deacons, nor any deacon. It is not the preacher or any preacher. The head of the church is not any member or group of members. Do we understand?
Jesus is the head of each congregation; Jesus is the head of the elders, the deacons, the preacher, the members, and me! In 1 Corinthians 11:3, Paul writes,
“But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ.”
The word “head” means authority, leader, director, chief, ruler. As the church, we confess, “I am not the head of me; Jesus is.” We can say “Jesus is the head of the church” all day long, but it will be meaningless for our lives if we are not following Him. Unfortunately, we compete with Jesus for the title “Head of the Church” every day when we seek control and insist on our own way.
“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit” (Phil.2:3).
Let’s insist on Jesus, not self.
God bless you, and I love you.
Published with permission from www.ChurchOfChristArticles.com
