As a result of good sermons and a lot of thinking, I've come to the conclusion that we are looking for the wrong leaders. Is a true leader person who came great because they sacrificed those around them to rise to the level of great accomplishment, or is a true leader the one who sacrificed so that others around them could rise to a level of great accomplishment?
In some ways, we see both of these play out in the life of Jesus. His disciples often quarreled about who was the greatest, and who would be second-in-command when Jesus came to his throne, but Jesus instead showed true leadership by making those around him great.
I don't want to get into politics, but why are we looking at people like Donald Trump as leaders? He has gotten ahead in life by manipulating and using those around him. Which of his employees have risen to the top? even someone like Bill Gates created scores of millionaires as Microsoft grew.
A recent sermon talked about the "subversive" story of the church. The world has its faith in wealth, power and fame, but the church is different. Our faith is in God's riches, God's power and God's name for us. It sounds trite, but it is perhaps the biggest struggle in the church.
Think of the Roman Catholic church. As it grew in its own riches, power and name, it attracted men who also were attracted to those riches power and name. It became as corrupt, if not more so, than other human institutions. The idol of its name and reputation actually became the beginning of its downfall. In the Reformation, the church was so consumed by gaining wealth that it would rather try to kill Martin Luther than give up on indulgences. Even more recently, the church covered up gross sexual abuse by its leaders to keep its name.
So, as we think about leadership, should we look for people in the church who manipulate others around them to get a great name, or should we be looking for people who build others around them up and look to God for their great name? Should we look for wealthy people, or generous people?
I think it is the same for our governmental leaders. We call them public servants, but haven't we turned that on its head? The public servants are the one who expect to be served. There is so much hypocrisy today. Those who speak out against gun control do so behind metal detectors and armed guards. Those who speak out against the 1% ARE the 1%. Those wanting to shrink government want to expand the military. What should we expect? Haven't we voted for unfaithful men and expected them to govern faithfully?
In some ways, we see both of these play out in the life of Jesus. His disciples often quarreled about who was the greatest, and who would be second-in-command when Jesus came to his throne, but Jesus instead showed true leadership by making those around him great.
I don't want to get into politics, but why are we looking at people like Donald Trump as leaders? He has gotten ahead in life by manipulating and using those around him. Which of his employees have risen to the top? even someone like Bill Gates created scores of millionaires as Microsoft grew.
A recent sermon talked about the "subversive" story of the church. The world has its faith in wealth, power and fame, but the church is different. Our faith is in God's riches, God's power and God's name for us. It sounds trite, but it is perhaps the biggest struggle in the church.
Think of the Roman Catholic church. As it grew in its own riches, power and name, it attracted men who also were attracted to those riches power and name. It became as corrupt, if not more so, than other human institutions. The idol of its name and reputation actually became the beginning of its downfall. In the Reformation, the church was so consumed by gaining wealth that it would rather try to kill Martin Luther than give up on indulgences. Even more recently, the church covered up gross sexual abuse by its leaders to keep its name.
So, as we think about leadership, should we look for people in the church who manipulate others around them to get a great name, or should we be looking for people who build others around them up and look to God for their great name? Should we look for wealthy people, or generous people?
I think it is the same for our governmental leaders. We call them public servants, but haven't we turned that on its head? The public servants are the one who expect to be served. There is so much hypocrisy today. Those who speak out against gun control do so behind metal detectors and armed guards. Those who speak out against the 1% ARE the 1%. Those wanting to shrink government want to expand the military. What should we expect? Haven't we voted for unfaithful men and expected them to govern faithfully?
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