The BRONZE Leader- The Legislator – Moral Police

When I use the term “Bronze,” I am comparing it to Gold, like medals in the Olympics. Anyone that goes to the Olympics always “go for the gold,” not the bronze. They may end up with the bronze but that is not their goal. And so it is with many pastors that I know and have met, they started out with great visions for reaching many souls and ended up with a struggling flock of disheartened people.

In this post I am writing about those pastors who struggle with the freedom that Christ provides us as His follows in favor of legalism…rules and pastor imposed restrictions that accuse and condemn. Whether it is out of fear of losing their flock, which almost always happens, or just not knowing better, it makes it hard to for those who attend their churches to thrive spiritually. Christian’s long to love their church and see their children grow up and serve God but it doesn’t happen here. Too many of these churches have a negative impact on families and lose them to the world. There are way too many of these churches with this kind of leader and hopefully some will read this and ask God to help them find grace to change. I’ve been there and maybe you have too, so change is good for us and the church.

The bronze leader can be characterized as self-defined by his upbringing and personal views on Scripture and local church life. He lives by his own set of rules that reflect his personal weaknesses and temptations. He ignores the “Great Commission” in favor of an exclusive, “we are the real followers of Jesus.” He fails to grow the church so he begins to possess it. He gathers a small flock that supports him financially for what he does, and what he does could hardly be described as ministry. It is more the corralling of a few vulnerable souls into his fold that he dominates and controls with legalistic preaching. He can be very confrontational and critical of anyone who doesn’t agree with his ideas. He is fairly insecure and finds it difficult to tolerate those that challenge him. His church is most of the time very small but can grow to a couple of hundred if he is a good preacher. He is a good person with a negative outlook on life and the world around him, and therefore very critical.

The bronze leader focuses on the externals of life and demands outward perfection from his followers. His message is condemnation to the sinner, separation from the “world” to the congregation and adherence rules that he thinks are important to embrace. Most of his sermons deal with what he is against and are very shallow. He legislates your behavior and lifestyle. However, he knows certain doctrines that he is an expert in and comes across as a teacher of deep truth to a not-so-informed congregation

This type of leader does not have to worry about anyone getting the credit for accomplishments because there are none. It is just  the preacher with a building that teaches some Bible to a congregation that feels inferior to others and tries to hold on to an awkward kind of faith. This all serves the basic need that people have to feel forgiven and “right” so they can tolerate the world and “hold on until He comes to take them up.”

Attributes of a Bronze Leader

1. He leads from his position – not influence

2. He “pressures” everyone to give and to obey.

3. May know the scriptures but preaches mainly from traditional preferences

4. Insecure and very territorial – wants others to keep away from his flock

5. Very legalistic and has biblical “proof” for every rule he wants to enforce

6. Thinks that he has the inside scoop on all truth and that other churches and pastors are not spiritual

7. Almost never releases anyone into ministry but keeps them in his discipleship circle not for the sake of developing them but holding on to them.

8. Is likely to have many flaws that he covers up with a controlling, manipulative leadership style.

9. Always has an angle in his message and actions.

10. He doesn’t trust many people.

I have been in many of these churches and know that deep down inside this leader is a person who could reach many more un-churched people for Christ if he could find the liberty that Christ offers. If he could learn to embrace the lost with the love of Christ and learn to accept people they would flock to his church. If he would be willing to give up control to Christ and see value in people, saved or unsaved, and lead them with the love of Jesus he would reach more souls.

Why is this important to address? Because there are thousands of these Bronze Churches in America that could be so much more effective in God’s Kingdom if they would realize that Christ came to set people free. And when the church can lead un-churched people into freedom from sin and bondage it will flourish.

Disclaimer – Churches in small communities with limited numbers of people to draw from that don’t experience huge growth are not necessarily Bronze Churches. They can be full of life and will reach a proportionately larger number of people per capita than other churches in similar situations. The Bronze Church has totally different characteristics than the life-giving churches that we mentioned in this blog. Any church can be life-giving!