There have been leadership crises in churches globally, not because there are no competent leaders, but because the leaders have relied absolutely on human wisdom without recourse to the responsibility of the Holy Spirit as a perfect administrator of the church. It is time for church leaders to return to the biblical model where the Holy Spirit is not just acknowledged, but actively allowed to lead. In China, where the body of Christ has grown remarkably despite challenges, there is an urgent need for spiritual leadership to take over from human leadership if the church is to get it right, like the biblical church.
Is the church in China governed by men or by the Holy Spirit? This question is both timely and profound. Christians must understand who is supposed to be in charge of the church. Is the church a human institution subject to political, cultural, and human control, or is the church a spiritual organism led, controlled, and governed by the Holy Spirit? In the Western world and Africa, so many churches have become business empires controlled by boards of directors who work so hard to ensure that the objectives of those who run the church are realized. This is an error that should not be replicated.
The church in China exists in a distinct environment characterized by governmental control, and that is all the more reason why the internal control mechanism should be surrendered absolutely to the Holy Spirit, who is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. History has shown that, irrespective of government laws and control over the church that there has been tremendous growth and revivals in the Chinese churches. The Holy Spirit has been powerfully at work both in the state-regulated churches and house churches. This is a testament that the more efforts men put to limit the church, the more the manifestation of the power of the Holy Spirit.
The reality is that every church should have human leadership, but the leadership should be controlled and governed by the Holy Spirit. When the church is dominated by human leadership, it becomes a lifeless institution and derails from God's objectives and purpose. Christ is the owner of the church, not human beings, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it". (Mathew 16:18) Jesus controls the church through the Holy Spirit, and human leaders are supposed to be sensitive to hear when the Holy Spirit instructs the church. In Acts 13:2, it was the Holy Spirit who directed the early church to appoint missionaries. In Acts 15:28, decisions were made through discernment by the Spirit. These weren't random spiritual experiences - they were structured, Spirit-led administration that shaped the church's growth and unity.
Unfortunately, many church leaders today are relying on human managerial skills, artificial intelligence, and the tradition of men more than they explore the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This is an aberration because it is God who owns the church and not men. Physically and legally speaking, humans may claim leadership of the church because they construct church buildings and register churches, as in the case of government-registered churches. The global Church must recognize that the church was born on the day of Pentecost by the Holy Spirit. All activities in the early church were controlled and administered by the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit who used the Apostles to do what they did. This understanding will be of immense help to the church.
It was the Holy Spirit that empowered the Apostles "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8) After Jesus was crucified, the Apostles went into obscurity for fear of the Jews but after the Holy Spirit came down on them as a mighty rushing wind they came out and boldly and preached the gospel to those who were persecuting them. Peter's message, through the conviction power of the Holy Spirit, brought 3000 converts to Christ. Why there is lack of boldness in churches today is because men have taken over leadership and authority from the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit was the one who told Philip to get close to Ethiopian Eunuch and ministered to him (Acts 8:29) The Holy Spirit directed Peter to go with men who were sent by Cornelius ( Acts 10:19-20) If the Holy Spirit is in charge, church leaders will be led and directed aright and mistakes and error will be far from church activities and administration."While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." (Acts 13:2) The Holy Spirit directed the church in Antioch to commission Barnabas and Saul for missionary work. The mandate of the Great Commission is suffering today because believers are no longer separated by the Holy Spirit, the human leadership is interested in building empires, and every member is fashioned to remain in the church and work for the population growth of their churches.
"Then Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, glared angrily at the sorcerer and said, "You son of the devil, full of every sort of trickery and villainy, enemy of all that is good, will you never end your opposition to the Lord? And now God has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be stricken awhile with blindness." ( Acts 13:9-11) In my country today, we have many "influential and powerful men of God" but the enemies of the gospel are messing the Christians and the gospel up in my country on daily basis and none of us have been able to confront them and proclaim punishment on them. Even when a pronouncement is made, it comes to nought because it comes from men who are not filled with the Holy Spirit.
In the Jerusalem church, Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit and died instantly (Acts 5:3-5). Why are there moral failures, indiscipline, perversions, greed, fraudulent activities, and so many other sins in churches today is because the Holy Spirit is no longer in charge. The church is not merely a human institution; it is the Body of Christ, governed and empowered by divine principles. One of the central agents of this divine governance is the Holy Spirit. If the Chinese church surrendered the administration of the churches to the Holy Spirit, the long-awaited revival in China would become a reality.
China is home to one of the fastest-growing Christian movements in the world. The leadership of the churches in China should realize that every generation, irrespective of the opinions of others, has a role to play in shaping what is placed in its hands for the betterment of future generations. The decision the church leaders in China make today will shape its witness for generations yet unborn. If leaders insist on managing the church by human structures alone, they risk stifling revival. But if they yield to the Spirit's administration, China could become a beacon of faith to the nations, fulfilling its role in God's end-time harvest.
