One of the great indicators of our culture and society in America is a need for checks and balances. Its the basis of our democracy. The legislative, judical and presidential branches are all founded on the principle of balance of power and authority.
The kingdom of God is not a democracy but a theocracy based upon the will, not of the people, but of God in our lives. It is a principle that is much misunderstood in the church today.
There are many who seek after authority without responsiblity. They relish the idea of being a leader in the body of Christ, but are not interested in picking up the obligations of continual work to see their ideas flourish and implemented. They sit in board meetings, committee meetings, throwing around ideas, making sure they are informed, guarding their own power and authority, like little queen bees in the hive of church life.
Then there are those who are responsible and obedient, but who flinch at any hint of leadership or taking authority in their lives.
But both are needed. The extremes if they are not there together? Authoritiarian behavior one one side and doormat behavior on the other. A person with great authority who has nobody to be odedient to is in great spiritual dangers. Yet, a very obedient person who has no authroity over anyone is equally in danger.
Jesus is the great example of balance between authroity and responsiblity. The one who was given all authroity in heaven and on earth said, "Let it be as you, not I, would have it." Matthew 26:39.
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4 comments:
I truly believe that to be a good leader, you must be a servant at heart. That is, by taking a serving attitude, you place more emphasis on people than on product, more emphasis on doing it right than just getting it done, more emphasis on spreading the wealth than on increasing the corporate bottom line. Jesus gave us this example, not in parable but by his actions, and it is one that we should emulate. Forget emulate, we should live for Christ and he died for us...with all our heart and soul and body and mind!
There are a number of leadership types: authoritarian, consensus, democratic, and free reign. In the course of my life, I've seen them all in practice and had to use three of the four (I never could get the hang of that free reign thing) to lead soldiers, cops, firefighters, family, and friends...the thing that sticks with me most is that while leading, I learned the most by consensus or democratic means. But that has not stopped me from being placed under, nor using, the autoritarian leadership style! We must all submit to the authority of Almighty God...the question is, when will it happen? During our lifetime, or as we are judged at the Great Seat?
Having re-read that...boy, I ramble!
Hey, does anyone realize that the time on this page is all messed up? I left my post at 12:47 PM and it reads that I left it at 5:47 AM...technology, you have to love it!
BTW, in the last sentence of my first paragraph, change the word "and" between Christ and he to an "as" so that it will read, "...we should live for Christ as He died for us..." Thanks.
Thanks Bill...I think it got fixed. Raising kids is, at times, the most frustrating, worrying, exasperating, and anger-invoking task known to man; at other times, there is no greater reward on earth than to have your kids crawl up in your lap just to cuddle! Balance and faith, that is our prayer and hope for our children!
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)
what did you say???? hummmm...that sounds really good...we are in TX reading your blog...of course,...with your lovely Dad ..:=)P
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