|
After you've read David's thoughts, share yours! Send a reply email to David!!
(and don't forget Fall Bible Study has resumed!
Thursdays, 10am or 7:30pm in the Church House Library!
We've had a great group with great conversations so far!!)
DAVID'S EMAIL BIBLE STUDY:
A. INTRO... leading up to electing "the leader of the free world" we are looking at what the Bible teaches about LEADERSHIP. Let's face it; leadership is like many things we try to define. We end up saying, "I know what it is when I see it." Still, there are some characteristics we can look for.
C. SUMMARY ... I picked three people who a) were chosen by God; b) were reluctant and humble; c) accepted never the less. Jeremiah and Isaiah were both Old Testament prophets at a time when God needed to get a message to Israel. The prophets were God's spokespersons. Invariably prophets spoke messages that were not popular. God was often unhappy with the political leaders, the religion, the business people, and the citizens. In general, God's complaints were about injustice, mistreatment of the poor, greed, and turning away from God. Jeremiah told God he was too young and not a good speaker. God told him that nobody is too young to do God's will. So God touched Jeremiah's lips, putting His words into Jeremiah's mouth. Isaiah felt too "unclean", unworthy, to serve a perfect God. God touched his lips, taking away his sense of unworthiness. Mary's situation is even more perplexing. She's being asked to do the physically impossible (virgin birth) and to provide the world with its savior despite her being on the bottom. She is quizzical, but willing. God fills her with such confidence that she declares that she will "MAGNIFY the Lord" (make clearer, larger!).
D.
KEY POINTS:
1. Hubris. Pride. Arrogance. Vanity. Like it or not it takes such qualities for a person to step forward to seek or take leadership. You have to believe an awful lot in yourself to lay claim to a nation, an army, a company, or a team. We don't want leaders with a "deer in the headlights" look. But by themselves these characteristics can be dangerous. Hitler, Mussolini, Putin, Saddam Hussein all got to the top by being elected. And yet, God can use even our "iffy" qualities to advantage. Young David (the other David!) was an arrogant teenager as he killed Goliath and saved Israel. St. Paul and Peter were brash, bold; full of themselves, but God used that. The women who got the most from Jesus were pushy, certain of the rightness of their cause, and demanding. But.... 2. Confidence. Delight. Willingness. Once called and convinced, the Bible's great leaders go forward with confidence. In concert with humility, they move with a God-given purpose, as if directed by a force greater than themselves. Look at Mary. A young, uneducated poor girl from a defeated, oppressed country, given a truly unbelievable job. Once convinced, she fulfills her duty with strength, grace, and courage. Why? She was truly selfless; there was nothing in it for her. Some with Jeremiah and Isaiah. There was no personal gain at all. If you read the stories of real war heroes or civilian heroes (like the Carnegie Award winners), they are all for others, everything on the line for someone else. That's leadership, too.
3. Our ELECTION. In a few weeks barely half of registered voters will vote, and barely half of them will choose our next leader. As someone said, "ours is the worst form of government, but better than anything else!" But at least we have some say. In the Bible, leaders just pop up. God taps someone on the shoulder, speaks in their ear, sends an angel, clears a path, and empowers. Nowadays, we are suspicious of someone who claims that God chose them, told the. Yet at our best we believe that everyone is called, chosen, empowered for some purpose. It seems to me (warning: OPINION!) that we need leaders bold enough to lead and humble enough to check their ego. The "humble enough" part is to know one's weaknesses, be surrounded by the best help, and be open to God's guidance. That's a whole 'nother topic!
|
