Pastor's Column continued.......
Some of the best Christians my wife and I have ever known are associated with the Northside Baptist Church of Valdosta, Georgia! This is one of the reasons I am so honored to serve here as the under shepherd of Jesus Christ, and we continue to pray for our congregation to flourish for the Lord to her maximum potential in the days ahead. But this will only be possible if Jesus Christ is allowed to have His absolute rule in the lives of her members, and especially in the lives of her leaders.
Let us never forget, therefore, that the local church is not primarily a monarchy (dictated by the senior pastor), or an oligarchy (directed by a small group), or a democracy (guided simply by the popular vote of its members). Rather, the local church is to function primarily as a theocracy, guided by Jesus Christ as Lord.
Furthermore, each local expression of the body of Christ needs to walk in holiness in order to be the recipient of the blessings of God, or else the church will be left largely to human devices and strategies, devoid of the power of Almighty God. With this in mind, I pray that we will fill our community just as the early church members in Acts filled Jerusalem with their doctrine, and may we do it in the power of the Holy Spirit!
Devotedly yours in Christ,
Bill Blanchard, Pastor