Not for everyone, but go ahead and read if you want to
These past four months, this country served witness to the impeachment of ex-Chief Justice Renato Corona, of whom was voted to conviction by a number of senators yesterday. An event even the leadership of Youth Alive deemed fit to discuss. As we had a meeting mere hours after the spectacle that was Corona, the leaders talked about, well, leadership. And thus the exhorter had us read 1 Peter 5:1-3 (and I quote from the King James Version) “The elders among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” (ensamples is archaic for example) He went on and mentioned that as leaders we should take care of not just our own, but our position’s integrity, if not more. If not, something similar to that of Corona will happen. The public can no longer trust the title of Chief Justice (consequently the future leaders in said position) unless the integrity of it be restored by a Chief Justice. Kinda like the presidency of this country. And so the discussion began.
I don’t quite remember how it got to this but then another kuya commented that in the ministry, people look for leaders who are “qualified” to lead. He said that he himself isn’t fond of following someone who isn’t. So we’re now on the question of qualification for leadership. What makes a person fit for the job?
In the secular world, educational attainment often is the basis of an individual’s qualification. You cannot get into a managerial position unless you have a bachelor’s degree. You cannot become a professor unless you have a master’s degree, a doctor without finishing med school, a general unless you graduate from PMA… Likability is also a factor, that’s one of the main reasons why our country’s actors become lawmakers. To be eligible for presidency you only have to be a Filipino citizen by birth, at least 40 years old, registered voter, can read and write and have lived in the country 10 years immediately before the election. Only that to lead a country of 101,833,938 citizens (July 2011).
So what does it take to be qualified for Christian leadership? Do I have to have already finished college, be in Bible school or at least be good in school if in high school or in a ‘secular’ university/college? Do I have to be a people-pleaser, a crowd favorite, a suck-up? Do I have to be a citizen of Heaven by faith proclamation, at least 13 years old, finished One-2-One (even aced the exam!), dutifully reads the Bible and have been religiously attending church for at least a year immediately before promotion to spiritual leadership?
If I already am called a ‘leader’ and flunk hard, does my leadership get revoked?
Oftentimes we set very high standards for the people we choose to follow, even in the context of ministry. In answer to the other kuya’s comment, the exhorter said “Buti na lang saten walang impeachment…” Good thing, indeed. If there is impeachment of Christian leaders, none would be left.
The things is, there is no point in looking for qualified leaders to follow because none of us are really qualified for the position we are in. We all for short of the standard that is Christ. We are all badly in need of His grace… The task we are given in leadership is a huge daunting task that can never be attained by means of our own. I write the next lines with caution, and with love, as the Lord leads me to…
I know you know well how soiled we all are, every single one of us, in leadership. But as the Lord has reminded me time and time again (of which I wish to share with you today) it is never enough to try to “put up” with the people we minister with and to. We are commanded to love one another in the Gospel of John, and putting up with each other is not obedience but compromise. Yes, to soldier on because of the task that is of God is a noble cause, but never forget that the world will know we are of God only if we love one another. (John 13:34, 35)
When you profess you are a Christian, you profess you are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8) and thus we must live in grace. Continually asking God of it, and extending it to those who need it… Particularly to those who just get on your nerves. :)
From Corona to leadership to grace. It all boils down to our need of a merciful Savior.
