Follow me! It doesn't matter that I don't know where I am going...or does it?

Probing Proverbs 11:14 Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.

A pilot announced to his passengers:

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have good news and bad news.  The good news is that we have a tailwind, and we are making excellent time.  The bad news is that our compass is broken, and we have no idea where we are going."

Comical as it may seem, it is also a tragedy when those that are leading have no idea of where they're going. It seems we're in that predicament in this age.

I have always been a student of history, there is so much that we can learn from history and if we are wise we will not make the same mistakes. Lately I have been reading a lot of history, I finished "Abraham Lincoln, a man of faith and courage.” I am now working myself through a mammoth trilogy on Winston Churchill. It is called “The Last Lion” volume 1 is 973 pages, volume 2 is 756 pages and volume 3 is 1232 pages. I am almost done with volume 2, and I find it absolutely incredible and very enlightening.

As I study these 2 incredible leaders, though very different in many ways in their character, it is clear that both of them made no secret of where they stood and why. Both of these men held convictions that would divide, not arbitrarily, the division would be based on what people were willing to take a stand for. Both took stands that were not popular at the time, however history has shown that they both saw that the objective truth was undeniable even at that time.

As I read so many articles and thoughts for many today that discuss the demise of our society as we know it, I am once again more convicted than ever that our focus needs to be more finely adjusted. Though it is true that a society will be impacted greatly by the character and morality of its leadership, most importantly is that we identify what leadership impacts society the most.

I freely admit that I am biased, I believe that if we study history carefully, wherever the Church was, it's leadership was essential to the health of society. Be careful, I am not speaking of religiosity, for many terrible things and atrocities have been done while those in charge claim that it is done in the name of the church. When I say “Church” I am speaking of those that have experienced a conversion by grace through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This may or may not be an organized and recognized group, but in every scenario throughout history, individuals that held to the standards that God has laid out in His Scriptures, their impact on society brought order, charity and a clear sense of direction. So my concern for the vacuum of leadership is not so much found in the halls of political power, but is centered in those that claim to be teachers and shepherds of God's Word and His people.

This is where my greatest fear is found today, so many of God's leaders seem to be willing to compromise what God's Word states in light of public opinion and political correctness. This Proverb warns of what happens to nations when there is a vacuum in leadership.

Notice, the Proverb qualifies the kind of leadership; “wise” which is applied knowledge. God is the source of wisdom and loves to guide humans into taking their knowledge and making wise decisions with it. We must understand that this knowledge is based on the objective truth of the Scriptures and not the relative truth of experience and personal preference.

Consider the following Scriptures to encourage us to think about what we see happening today in the Body of Christ, and then ask ourselves what should we do about it.

God alone:

The Word of God makes it clear that it is God, and God alone that allows or lifts up people into leadership. Again, if you choose to believe that God is far removed from His creation then you do not accept this, that is your right, however, the Scriptures make it clear that God is intimately involved in all that goes on in our world. What is most frightening is that the Scripture also warns that when a society continues to reject Him, He will give them leaders that have the wisdom of children. Something I think we see manifested today.

Proverbs 8:16  “By me princes rule, and nobles, All who judge rightly.

Isaiah 3:4  And I will make mere lads their princes, And capricious children will rule over them,

God’s reason for leaders:

God's concept of leadership for the Body of Christ was not arbitrary, it was purposeful and intentional. He did not raise up leaders for leadership sake, in many places he gives a clear description of what they are for and why. Ephesians does a good job of explaining:

Ephesians 4:11–13 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Notice, the leader's job is to help people be prepared to follow and be used by God. Therefore a leader must be willing to share all of the truth, even when it is difficult truth. When a leader chooses to remain neutral over a non-neutral issue of Scripture they are abdicating from their responsibilities. This is what is happening in the Church worldwide today, I cannot say what the motive is, it could be popularity, book sales, love of money, fear of rejection, perhaps a warped view of trying to be a peacemaker.

Neville Chamberlain in World War II thought by appeasing an evil and demented leader that he could keep peace. We know the outcome of that approach, millions of people died as the world learned how foolish that approach was.

Leaders must understand reason for objective Truth:

Perhaps what disturbs me the most about the trend that I see in Church leadership today is an ignorance or at the very least a disconnect on the understanding of why God gave us a written revelation to proclaim. Because the Scriptures are written down we need not fear of missing the truth. It seems that many leaders don't get this, that when we equate other authors, speakers and claimed experiences equal to the authority of the written Scriptures we open the door that leads to truth being relative, negotiable based on preference, which in turn leaves those that are in sincerity seeking truth… Lost!

God the Father and Jesus Christ spoke their harshest to those who know the truth and yet pervert it by changing it or remaining silent. All of God's leaders need to understand that this has nothing to do with their opinion, and it is never personal. I have met many people that desire to live close to God, yet have an area in their life that is in clear disobedience to Scripture and may desire me to tell them it is okay. Personally, I like them and would prefer to do nothing more than tell them that is up to them. However, because I do love them and do not want them to experience displeasure from God, I see it as my responsibility to inform them what the Scriptures states on this issue, still leaving it up to them to obey or disobey. To do any less shows not only disrespect for the authority of Scripture, but also in reality a lack of sensitivity toward that person's relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. 

What these folks define as love astounds me. If their child wanted to eat rat poison, would they simply say, “ok if that is what you desire, go ahead!” That is not love, that is callous, naïve stupidity! Afterwards, when you finally realize you should have told the child that rat poison will kill them and they need to stay away from it, it will be too late. If we did not have the Truth, there would be an excuse, but since we do, saying “sorry” won’t cut it. What will we say as the Lord asks us why we did not clearly warn all about the dangers of sin?

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.

Romans 7:7  What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

God has not laid on us a burden of judging motives of individuals nor to be the one to condemn them for disobedience. He knows that we are all sinners and fail, that especially includes leaders in the Body of Christ. I never feel that I have a right to think less of someone that is in sin, for I know how dark the sins are in my own life. I also know though, the desire placed in me by the Holy Spirit to obey my Lord and please Him, thereby enjoying an unbroken fellowship with Him. The only way I can do that is to recognize my sin and repent from it. This is and should be the only goal for every leader in the Body of Christ, just share what the Scripture states on the topic, let the person know that you love them and hope they do what God desires, but that decision is between them and God. You will not judge, but you will not be manipulated or bullied into compromising what the Scripture states just to please them.

God states emphatically in Scripture that if we do not do this simple task of just sharing with someone what the Scripture states He will hold us accountable for that.

2 Timothy 4:1–4 I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

Acts 20:25–30  “And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. “Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

My Concern:

The sad reality for me is that many think that those like me, hold this view because we have to be right and all others wrong. I cannot speak for others, I cannot judge their motives, though I do find it interesting that the very ones that say we're judgmental and judging motives so easily and freely judge ours! I guess the kettle never stops calling the pot black!

My concern is that I know some of these men, and some of them I care for very much and I am concerned what they will experience when they face the Author of the Scriptures and they are required to be accountable for their actions or lack thereof. This is not something I think is funny or I look forward to. In a face-to-face discussion I will passionately tell them they are wrong and that they should be honest with the Scriptures. While at the same time inside I'm struggling with a great fear of the disappointment they will face when God, as shown in His scriptures, will confront leaders that did not hold true to just simply sharing what God's Word states. I would hope this on no one.

So my confession is, not only my concern for all of society as I see the Church is no longer holding the light of truth to guide those that are lost and seeking, but for me this is also personal. There are men that I love that have compromised their stand on the objective truth of Scripture.

James 3:1  Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Where are you? Who do you listen to? Where do your leaders stand of the authority of Scripture? Are you willing to lovingly and simply share with someone the black and white truth of Scripture?