Some leaders want to tell us how to live our faith spelling out in detail how we should live.  These demands become like spiritual enclosures allowing no variation. They are dominated by people who want to control our faith not allowing any deviation.

In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he had to address a man who was living in sexual sin. He warned the Corinthians of the damage such an unchallenged life can bring to the Church. Paul told the Corinthians the reason why he did not visit quickly to address the issue personally. He wanted the Corinthians to have the time to work out the issue themselves.

“The reason I didn’t return to Corinth was to spare you from a severe rebuke. But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm” (II Corinthians 1: 23-24).

Paul wanted the Corinthians to stand on their faith, not on his demands or requirements. It was in their faith that they would stand firm and be accountable to God. In other words, they had to own their decisions, not just follow a leader’s requirements. That is how we grow spiritually.

Mature leaders will always lead us in a partnership, working with us and offering opportunities to allow our faith to grow without controlling our response. There is joy in this kind of relationship because we will be able to see our faith mature in ways a controlling leader would never allow.