Should The Church Champion Meritocracy?

1 Thessalonians 5:12
Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.

1 Thessalonians 5:13
Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.

1 Thessalonians 5:14
And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

Meritocracy refers to a system where people are assigned responsibilities and privileges based on merit. Merit is the quality of being good and worthy compared to others. Merit is being better than others that you have a lot in common. Meritocracy comes from merit. Should the church champion meritocracy?

Meritocracy in studies of governance refers to a system that bestows responsibility to those who merit as opposed to systems where inheritance or popularity is the norm for choosing leaders. Meritocracy opposes partisan systems that are biased in a subjective manner. Meritocracy runs on the belief that governance is best when those who merit are in charge. Should the church champion meritocracy?

Meritocracy is generally understood as the use of merit in granting responsibilities and privileges. Use of merit while rewarding people. If there is a job, meritocracy demands that it is given to the highest qualified. Other systems will give the job to less qualified people who are high on loyalty or are of the same race, nationality, tribe, gender, and even family members and friends, even when they don’t merit. Should the church champion meritocracy?

Kishore Mahbubani is a Singaporean diplomat who has served in various high-profile jobs and is a Senior Research fellow at a Research Institute. He is the author of many books. Kishore Mahbubani in an interview shared widely on social media, explains why Singapore shot up to success from abject poverty. He says if any country or organization used this simple formula, it can change itself for the better. He says that Singapore used an MPH approach to turn itself around. M – for Meritocracy. P – for Pragmatism. H – for Honesty. Should the church champion meritocracy?

In our text today, Apostle Paul writes to the Thessalonians church. He gives the church members and leaders some counsel on how to run a successful church. In our text today he tells them to acknowledge those who work hard. Those who do their best. Those who strain to achieve goals. Those who do everything to get good results. These are the ones to be acknowledged. Not everyone should be acknowledged, but only those who work hard. Those who merit the acknowledgment. Should the church champion meritocracy?

While the passage is asking members to show respect to leaders because of the spiritual work they do among the people, the passage qualifies what the leaders to be acknowledged do. These are leaders who work hard or work diligently. Leaders whose efforts have been seen. Leaders who merit. Should the church champion meritocracy?

Later on in the same passage, the idle and lazy are warned. The lazy and idle are juxtaposed with hardworking leaders. The focus is that the lazy deserve warnings and nothing more, while the hardworking leaders deserve acknowledgment. Only those who merit deserve the attention of the church. Should the church champion meritocracy?

Acts 6:3
Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them

1 Timothy 3:2
Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

1 Timothy 3:8
In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.

Titus 1:6
An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.

The passages shared show that church leaders must be chosen best on merit. Church leaders are those who have proved to be better than others by having the qualifications listed. Not everyone can be and should be a church leader but only those who merit. Should the church champion meritocracy?

What would be the opposite of meritocracy for the church? Can someone be the best option but they do not merit? Can merit fail? Merit suggests an objective way as opposed to a subjective way that cannot be explained by how a choice was made. Would a choice of merit harm the church? Should the church champion meritocracy?

What would happen if the church used merit only? What would happen if church members used merit only at their workplaces? What would happen if the reputation believers had everywhere is that they champion meritocracy? Should the church champion meritocracy?

Opposed to meritocracy is mediocrity in many names and versions and explanations. Mediocrity is the preference of the inferior for personal benefits as opposed to the best. Mediocrity is having a poor perception and making poor choices. Mediocrity is a choice that leads to poor results but the mediocre-minded are satisfied anyway. Should the church champion meritocracy?

The Bible today shows that God inspired Apostle Paul to recommend meritocracy for God’s people. May meritocracy be our way of life as we strive towards excellence for God’s glory, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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