(i) HEADSHIP

A.J.E.Welch

Colossians 1: 18 (first clause)

Our hymn and the reference in prayer to what has its spring in heaven just brought to mind some impressions of this brief verse, to bring out the position of immense advantage in which as of the assembly we are placed. The scripture is a very well known one, but I have often reflected of recent time about Christ as Head, and the depth of our experience of the assembly having such a Head, so glorious. Our relations in headship with Christ, I believe, are a key to a great deal that in spiritual wealth and quality will enrich for God every occasion of our gathering and every exercise that flows in a current way among saints, whether they be gathered or not. The early chapters of the Acts and the early days of this dispensation strongly assert Christ as Lord and emphasise to us the force of direct commandment, which never loses its force in the sense of authority. I suppose in a day to come that side will be in an extended way in evidence, the place of Christ in authority and the force of direct commandment from Him.

But when we move on into the Pauline ministry and the Pauline epistles we come into the deeper and more sensitive side of the way we move under Christ and the way the assembly reflects what is in His mind. The love of which we have sung and spoken to the Lord about is such that there would be a burning desire in true hearts that the body reflects in every sense what is in the Head, though personally, of course, He who is the Head is glorious in the sense of who He is in His Person; yet in His place as Man and His place as Head the affinities of the body with Him are to be deep and strong. We are placed in particular advantage by the unfailing service of the blessed Spirit, linking us, as He does, with Christ, bringing the living character of connection with the Head which is to operate all the time. Headship involves that we stand in relation to One who is known by us and, as we move on in the path, is better known by us. It is wonderful to think of saints in their links with Christ, maintained in the freshness of full communion, all that would hinder that communion being repudiated, and saints maintained in the freshness and vigour of communion, proving what the depth of the link with Christ is, not just in the sense of command, although the kingdom position is there all the time, but the sensitiveness of holy affection which unites the body to the Head and brings in the sensitive control which the headship of Christ introduces.

I believe, dear brethren, this is a very vital matter for us, that we enter in greater depth into the relations of the body with the Head. The Spirit is peculiarly active, one senses, in this connection, to maintain our relations with Christ in this sense, that the body is in function; and the body is one, a united entity and organism indeed, which stands related to Christ as its Head. I verily believe that the Lord would look to us to have full regard for His place in this connection. How the service of God is enriched as the personal influence of Christ is found among us, as He sings in the midst of the assembly! What a sensitiveness of link there is with Him there! One feels that that enters into the fibre, so to say, of the service of praise, that we stand related to Christ in this glorious position, in view of the depth of things finding expression in the assembly. There is the side of our bond of union with Him, the enjoyment of His love in the marital sense; but as that is enjoyed it draws us over on to His side, to view things from His viewpoint, to think of things, we might say, as He thinks of them, to see what His mind is about matters that arise from time to time, and be sensitive and ready to take on His mind, not just by word of command, but by the sensitiveness of relationship that draws us into the flow of the mind of the Head.

Well, dear brethren, I trust I have made myself clear, but I feel concerned that this particular feature of control and regulation of so much in the assembly should be in full function as the end draws near.