THE LEADER'S PASSION IS THE CHURCH By Dr Wilson Lim

This month, we bring to you the thoughts and heart of our international Elder, Dr Wilson Lim, on a leader’s passion. It is a timely reminder for us on our love for the Body of Christ. A spiritual leader can be passionate about many things. However, it is essential that a leader be passionate about God's Church. Leaders who are not passionate about the Church may end up building something other than the Church. 

The Church is worthy of the leader’s passion 

The Church is the Body of Christ. Ephesians 5:23 says "… Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior." Hence the church is intimately connected to Christ. To love Christ means to love Christ’s Body. The Church is His Glorious Bride. Rev 21:2 says "I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband." Just as a bridegroom is passionate about his bride, so too is Christ passionate about His Church. When we can see the beauty and splendour of the Church one day, we too can be passionate about the Church. The Church is the key to God’s Kingdom. One day all things will be under God’s feet and this is for the Church. (Eph 1:22-23 NIV) "And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fillseverything in every way." We can only begin to wonder at the full implications of this verse. It is through the Church that the manifold wisdom of God is revealed. (Eph 3:10-11 NIV) "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord."

The Church is the crowning glory of God’s creation. The Church is definitely worthy of a leader’s passion.

The Church should capture the leader’s passion 

While the Church is certainly worthy of our passion, it must capture our passion. It can capture our passion when we understand the significance of the Church. We realise how the Church can be the answer to all of lives problems. This is in our vision and philosophy. God has no solution outside of the Church. It is through the Church that the answer to sin is provided. It is through the Church that the answer to problems in our personal situations, marriage and family issues and even issues in our community, city and nations is provided. This is because the Church proclaims God’s truth, demonstrates it with power and influences the communities around it. We realise we can have a part in making it into the Glorious Church that is its destiny.

Christ died on the cross not to just to give us salvation but to initiate His Church.

The leader should build the church with passion 

Unless the Church itself captures the leaders passion, the leaders will never be able to build the church with passion. My passion for the Church has grown over the years. I have seen the Church in many of its flaws and weaknesses yet it only makes me more convicted that I have to invest my life to build the Church passionately. I cannot give any less than that for God’s crowning glory. Passion will be needed because there will be many obstacles, some seemingly insurmountable. Passion will be needed because there will be opposition that seeks to stifle our passion. Passion is needed because there will be disappointments and discouragements.

When we build with passion, we impart a similar passion to the members and it will create a powerful momentum for the church to grow itself in a healthy way. So leaders must maintain their passion for the Church.

The leader should build a church that brings passion 

We don’t only build the Church passionately, but we should build a Church that brings passion in others. How can this happen? When the Church is functioning as it should, people who are involved in it will find great excitement and fulfillment. Bill Hybels tells the story of one of his earliest staff members who died of cancer. Tom’s wife thanked him and said that Tom was never more alive than when he was a team member at Willow Creek. Those were the finest years of his life. Then his brother thanked Bill for loving and challenging him and for giving him a place to belong. When I hear testimonies of our members of how their lives have been changed since coming to Hope, it really blesses my heart. When I see people blossom in their ministries, I am blessed.

The Church is where we share our lives together and grow together. I want a church that stirs a passion in people for God and for His church. Wherever you are, let’s keep that in our hearts!

Dr Wilson Lim
HIM Elder 
www.byhim.org