Although the church in general currently has little influence in wider society, this does not eliminate the problem of ministers and pastors striving for power and influence within their own smaller circles. Sometimes there is seeking for pre-eminence among their brother ministers, sometimes it is a domineering attitude towards the people in the pews. Although this may go hand in hand with sound doctrine and other forms of usefulness, it is the opposite of the spirit of meekness and gentleness which the Lord Jesus Christ models for His servants. As Thomas Manton pointed out in one of his sermons, pastors should lead by light and love, not with force and fear. In the following extract from a sermon on 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4, Manton diagnoses the basic problem as lack of Christ-like humility and sounds the warning that pride in the church is the defining characteristic of what it means to be anti-Christ.

Humility makes ministers Christ-like

That which is most remarkable in Christ, and should be in all his followers, is humility. He expressed a wonderful contempt of the riches and greatness of the world, and all the honour which is of man, taking the form of a servant, and making Himself of no reputation, and living a mean, inferior life. He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many (Matt. 9:28). He kept no state, nor affected pomp of attendants. Though He was Lord of all, yet He became poor, to make us rich (2 Cor. 8:9).

But even if this was appropriate for Him, does He also expect it from His servants and officers in the church? Yes. This is the grace He has recommended to all his followers: Mat. 11:29, “Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly” (Matt. 11:29). But especially He recommends it to the ministers of the gospel. Because our Lord foresaw what spirit would work in them, therefore He forewarned them of pride and lordliness: Mat. 20:25, 26, “Ye know that the princes of the earth do exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them; but it shall not be so among you but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister” (Matt. 20:25–26). Among Christ’s servants, he that is chief must be chief in service, even as a servant to all: “He that is chief, as he that doth serve” (Luke 22:26).

Domination, greatness, principality and power, is allowed in the civil state, for there it is necessary, yet it is excluded in the church. This pretentious taking on of pre-eminence and chiefness is the bane of the church — it is taxed as a great sin in Diotrephes (3 John 9) — whether it is pre-eminence either over their fellow-labourers, or the people of the Lord.

You see how tender the apostles were in this point. Everywhere they disclaim this affectation of lordship: “Not that we are lords of your faith, but helpers of your joy” (2 Cor. 1:24). Peter says to his fellow-elders, “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:3). And if the apostles would not assume lordship, who may?

It is true, there is a government in the church, and the people are to obey their guides (Heb 13:17), and to “have them highly in honour, for their works’ sake” (1 Thess 5:13), but yet the pastors of the church should govern by light and love, not by pomp and force, and not be known by such pomp and authority as begets fear.

Signs of an un-Christ-like spirit in the church

Well, now, let us see the opposite state. If humility and meekness be in the very essence of Christianity, and woven throughout the whole frame of it, then it is anti-Christian to be lordly and proud, especially in those who claim to be successors of Christ and His apostles.

With some, all their business is to get power. What schemes they have for getting ahead! How studiously they pursue promotion! They blush not to say so openly before angels and men. This worldly ambition to rise higher and higher is their design and trade of life.

Within the church, they presume to exercise supreme authority. But it is the unique and incommunicable property of Christ to be Lord and lawgiver to the church. “The Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us” (Isa. 33:22). God alone has such interest in His people as to prescribe supreme or universal laws to them, and we are His subjects. “There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy” (James 4:12). Now anyone who makes laws that immediately bind the conscience, invades Christ’s sovereignty. This is spiritual tyranny, and the worst sort of tyranny, to arrogate a power over the subjects of Christ and their consciences as lord of their faith. Likewise, it is an exercising an authority no less than divine, to take upon oneself to absolve others from their duty to God, or the penalty which sin has made his due. To do this as of right, is to sit in the church of God as God.

How Christ’s church should operate

How then should things carry on in the true and reformed Christianity?

With meekness

With such meekness, modesty, and mortification, that our religion may be known to be established by a crucified Lord, whose doctrine and example do visibly and eminently hold forth the contempt of the world. The pride and ambition of the pastors of the church hath been the cause of all the evil in it; therefore nothing so unsuitable to the gospel as a domineering spirit. We, that are to preach heavenly-mindedness and self-denial, should not affect the greatness of the world, lest our lives contradict our doctrine.

With respect towards civil authorities

How eminent and exemplary we should be in our obedience to magistrates! For this is the opposite of anti-Christian pride. God is very tender of the honour of civil powers and authorities, and wants every soul to be subject to them: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, for there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God” (Rom. 13:1), and again, “Submit to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether it be to the king as supreme, or to governors, as them that are sent by him” (1 Pet. 2:13). Great respect and submission is due to them for God’s sake, and so that we may commend religion to the profane world, and live down the reproaches of the gospel. Those who were not afraid to speak evil of dignities, who despise government in their own hearts, or weaken the esteem of it in the hearts of others by their words, are branded as wicked (2 Pet. 2:10), ‘But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanliness, and despise government; presumptuous are they, self-willed; they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.’

With reverence towards the Lord

What a wickedness it is to usurp divine honours! We do so when we take to ourselves the praise and admiration which is only due to God. “And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus, &c.; and his name, through faith in his name, hath made this man strong, whom we see and know; yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all” (Acts 3:12).

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