Tozer The Warfare of the Spirit

712. Leaders: spiritual need; Church: leadership

Conformity to the Word of God is always right, but obedience to religious leaders is good only if those leaders prove themselves worthy to lead. Leadership in the church of Christ is a spiritual thing and should be so understood by everyone. It takes more than a ballot to make a leader....
If the church is to prosper spiritually she must have spiritual leadership, not leadership by majority vote. It is highly significant that when the apostle Paul found it necessary to ask for obedience among the young churches he never appealed to them on the grounds that he had been duly elected to office. He asserted his authority as an apostle appointed by the Head of the church. He held his position by right of sheer spiritual ascendancy, the only earthly right that should be honored among the children of the new creation.

Acts 9:15-16; 2 Corinthians 11:12-15; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 1 John 4:1
The Warfare of the Spirit, 162, 163, 164.

Tozer Topical Reader - The Tozer Topical Reader – Volume One.