Some Christians will struggle with the idea of making policies in the Church. One of the reasons for such an aversion to policy making is that we are free in Christ. And, I would have to agree that there is a problem with policy making if the policies lead to legalism.
If church leaders are using policies to dictate “righteous” living, they are using policies more to control than to protect and guide. Though outward conformity might be gained through such policy making and enforcement, the heart very well might be left unchanged. But, God is most concerned with the heart.
Church policies that are developed and used to protect and guide with biblical objectives leading to the right kind of parameters, always with the big picture in mind, can be quite healthy for the church. Policies of this nature do align with the kind of freedom we have in Christ.
We Have Freedom in Christ
God’s heart for the Church certainly is that we live in freedom. Jesus came that we might be set free (Gal. 5:1) and that we might have life and have it more abundantly … to the full (Jn. 10:10).
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” (Gal. 5:1)
Before concluding such freedom should exempt the church from making policies, consider what freedom in Christ means.
What We Have Been Set Free From
Scripture often speaks about freedom in conjunction with sin, death, and bondage. In Christ Jesus we have been set free from the penalty of sin as well as its power over us (Rom. 6:18, 22; 8:2). Galatians 5 speaks of the freedom we have in Christ. In that context, we are reminded that we have been given the Holy Spirit to make living out that freedom a reality. — “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Gal. 5:16)
The Steering the Church Toward Christ-like Character Leadership Guide further considers our freedom in Christ and how it affects policy-making.
All Posts about Policy Making:
- Policy Making Objectives
- Policy Making Parameters
- Policy Making & the Big Picture
- Policy Making & Freedom in Christ
- Policies with No Hidden Agendas
- Policies Reflecting Both Grace & Truth
- Church Policies & the Next Generation
- Don’t Let Policies Take on a Life of Their Own
- Spiritual Gifts in Determining Policies
- Spiritual Gifts for Writing Policies
- Spiritual Gifts Suited for Implementing Policies
- Turning to God or to Church Policies?
- God’s Your Defender, Not Your Church Policies
- Policies Shaped by the Gospel
- Policies Reflecting the Gospel
- Policies Shaped by Grace
- Policy-Making Safeguarded by Grace
- Why Policies When We Have God’s Word?
- Power to Maintain the Proper Focus in Policymaking
- Policies Reflecting the Resurrection
- Church Policies Done in the Name of the Lord Jesus