If someone is not demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit of Christ, they are not qualified to lead, and they may not be saved at all.
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
If you are witnessing a lack of love, no joy, contrariness, impatience, lack of kindness, and the other fruit, then you are witnessing someone who is not born again. Self-control is a very important quality of the born-again believer. If there is self-control, you will not see outbursts of anger, rage over anything, or a haughty spirit that wants to be revered as special and superior. Those who want to be seen as special lack humility, walking in pride they violate all of the fruit of the Spirit of Christ.
1 Peter 5:3 "Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock."
Titus 1:7 "For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,"
2 Timothy 2:15 "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."
Leaders are to be men who delve deeply into the Word of God, pray for wisdom, and obey the Word. When a leader will not listen to those in the congregation, considering himself an authority, he is not qualified to lead.
Anyone who teaches that the congregation should obey Him instead of the Holy Spirit is a usurper of the Holy Spirit and should be removed.
When God said Hebrews 13:17, "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you."
In the reading of the book of Hebrews, we see that we ought to obey and submit to leaders as they obey and submit to Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1
"11 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ."
The gist of the discussion in 1 Corinthians is that Paul is telling us to submit to the leader as he submits to Christ. If the leader does not obey Christ and will not listen to counsel, then we are free to ignore him or remove him as a leader.
Qualifications of a leader are:
1 Timothy 3:1-7
Overseers and Deacons
3 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.
2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, skillful in teaching,
3 not overindulging in wine, not a bully, but gentle, not contentious, free from the love of money.
4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity
5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),
6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into condemnation incurred by the devil.
7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil."
It is good to submit "to one another" with brothers and sisters in the Lord. It is not good to place any brother or sister above the Authority of Christ.
If the leadership of a congregation will not obey the Word and the rest of the congregations supports the disobedient and rebellious leadership, this is the time to leave. As God stated in the book of Amos, "two cannot walk together who are not agreed."
Many leaders in churches today support things God condemns and refuse to speak about important matters from God's Word. Those matters are so culturally controversial that the leaders avoid them or shut down discussion when it arises. This is why we cannot place our trust in human leaders; we must trust Christ and walk in fellowship with those who obey Christ but avoid those who do not.
Sadly, because of the hierarchy mentality of congregations today they view the "pastors" or "elders" as the ultimate authority over them instead of Christ. They will run to their pastor for answers first instead of Christ and will do whatever the pastor suggests.
In my experience, I have received the perfect answers from the Holy Spirit when I ask Him. When I have asked pastors in the organized church system. The reason, in my estimation, is that the pastors have been trained by a seminary to think a certain way, more practical than biblical and often more cultural and psychological than Biblical.
In the organized church system, I see leaders adding to the word of God as long as it makes sense to them; they see no problem with adding to the word of God to make their point.
Many church gatherings with seminary-educated pastors rely on the congregation viewing them as the authority over their lives instead of the Holy Spirit.
One young pastor, many years ago, told me he was taught to "control his pulpit", to not allow anyone to usurp him or preach except him. This was a Baptist church claiming to be Bible believing.
When a church leader is obeying God, they will seek the Scriptures through the guidance of the Holy Spirit to speak with confidence as they teach those in the congregation. There would be several godly Spirit-filled men who would have this calling in one congregation. And, these men were subject to the rest of the congregation for accountability.
Everyone in the gathering would be sharing in the Lord's supper as led by the Holy Spirit. The teaching would be led by one man while the rest of the congregation participates in the discussion.
1 Corinthians 14:29-30
"29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop."
Notice the difference between one person to another as the Holy Spirit leads. I have seen this and it is beautiful and edifying.
When the Holy Spirit is the Leader, everyone is blessed and motivated to return to their own homes, energized to live more fully for the Lord.
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