The power of leadership is a privilege intended by God for good, however, it has led many family, spiritual, and political leaders into corruption, infamy, and disgrace. A perspective of stewardship, rather than ownership helps one better navigate the inherent dangers of power.
The home, church, and state are not man’s inventions. They are,instead, divine institutions with divine missions to pursue and achieve. The home is for procreation and the instilling of such virtues as faith, fairness, and an appreciation for the principle of reward through effort. In the following quote, God expresses confidence in Abraham’s commitment to his leadership objective as a father.“For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just…” (Gen. 18:19 NIV). The church too,exists with a mandate to proclaim God’s truth. It must show no fear or favoritism in its denunciation of unrighteousness wherever it may reside. In the second letter to the Evangelist Timothy, a leader in the church at Ephesus, Paul spoke eloquently of his divine mission and mindsetin the following words:“Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Tim. 4:2 NIV).Also, Paul hinted at God’s purpose for civil government when he urged the church in Ephesus to pray for those in authority. Notice the aim of those prayers for political leaders in the following citation. “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone, for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Tim. 2:1, 2 NIV). Political leaders are to so promote equity and justice, that peace and godliness are byproducts of their rule.
The preceding passages, though not exhaustive,nonetheless highlight God’s purposes for leadership in the home, church, and government.They paint a picture of leadership as stewardship – not ownership. The false prism of ownership distorts one’s vision of his role; it leads to arrogance and a lack of transparency, the perfect conditions for corruption and misconduct. A good steward knows that the power he holds is a deposit from God, the only real owner of power. He also knows that this deposit is temporary and granted to him to pursue the real owner’s interest. As such, he is not interested in holding on to power beyond the divine tenure. If one’s leadership is authentic, he feels no need to resort to dishonesty, victimization, or bullying to keep himself in authority, when God’s time for him in that role has expired. Hence, a good steward strives to make faithfulness the major principle of his leadership, knowing that eventually he must give an account of his stewardship (Luke 16:2). Leaders who ignore these principles deceive themselves into thinking they will escape judgement, and are poor students of history and the Holy Scriptures.
Scripture is replete with descriptive and prescriptive material from which those who have received the privilege of leadership should learn. For example, Eli was prominent as a priest, but he failed in his stewardship as a father, being complicit in the delinquency of his sons. The prophet charged him with the serious error of honoring his sons above God (I Sam. 2:27 – 29). Samuel also, though a prophet, priest, and judge,he repeated the error of Eli, his mentor. A sad epitaph is written of his sons in the following quotation. “But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice” (1 Sam. 8:3 NIV). In the following passage, God’s condemnation of corrupt religious leaders in Jeremiah’s day is hard to miss. “Both prophet and priest are godless; even in my temple I find their wickedness, declares the Lord”(Jer. 23:11 NIV). Near the end of Moses’ ministry as leader of Israel, he offered timeless counsel to future leaders in the following words: “Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous” (Deut. 16:19). In the New Testament also, the principle of transparency in governance is well articulated in Paul’s words to the church at Corinth. “We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men” (2 Cor. 8:20-21 NIV).
No human being is perfect, but it behooves those in leadership to be constantly striving for perfection. Such leaders do not demonize those who hold them to high standards of transparency and accountability, but are grateful for their role in making them better leaders.Thankfully, God is not only a God of justice but also one of mercy. He maintains a posture that welcomes prodigals and receives the penitent. His words to Nebuchadnezzar in ancient times in the following passage, are also words to leaders in the modern era. “Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue”(Dan. 4:27 NIV).
Albeit that RELIGION is man made, we must not confuse or mis-interpret RELIGION with the word of God.
The issue of stewardship is at the center of all that we as human beings, created in the image and likeness of God himself, has to uphold. We have a mandate, since every one has to give an account. just that especially those in office and hold certain positions of TRUST. The word of God is the word of God, no matter what.
That grin does not help his message at all!
My suggestion, lose the grin, a more somber photo would take away the frivolity imposed into the message by the aspect of the photo as is.
Funny how none of those so called Christians and preachers daily are disobedient to the most high’s Laws, Statues and Commandments. So called Christians think all they have to do is just believe in Jesus do a bit of charity and Heavens gate will be open, wrong.
This is completely wrong. That’s not all required to be a Christian. If the Christians around you live like how you describe then they are not truly Christians in fact you are right in the sense that they are ‘so called Christians’ pretentious and hypocrites using the name sometimes as a caveat to commit crimes. Those are not true Christians.
A real Christian is much more than what you describe. It calls for a life of sacrifice, love, peace, humility, benevolence, edification, justice, contrite heart, and much much much more.
Do some studies and you’ll know the difference.
So what about the pastors who go around having sexual relations with the young women of the churches? I think the author of this article would know what I am referring to. It`s amazing how these so called pastors mascarade as wolves in sheeps` clothing but noone says anything about that.
No Man is greater than God the Almighty who mad Heaven & Earth. He is the one who created man who is you talk or plet the 1st stone!! James.
put this on facebook, one paragraph at a time.
nonsense. Institutions are all man made. Religion is man man made.
Religion is man made?
Much is. We only have to read
Isaiah 8:20
Matthew 24:11
1 Timothy 4:1-3
2 Peter 2:1-3
But the true church is a spiritual structure created by Christ Himself and will endure to the end of time. Read Matthew 16:16-18. The church is comprised all genuine believers throughout the world who have trusted the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior. God by the Holy Spirit hasbaptized (placed) each one in the invisible Body of Christ the moment they believed according to 1 Corinthians 12:12-13.
Mandated by Christ in Mark 16:15 the church preaches the gospel of 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. We are warned that there is a curse upon any who preach a different gospel. Read Galatians 1:8.
Human government is given to us by God according to Romans 13:1-7 and are to be honored and obeyed unless they impose upon us laws that are contrary to the word of God. Then we must obey God not man as it says in Acts 5:29.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.
Is it really nonsense?
Ok. Let’s say you remove the ‘God words’ and the ‘God institutions of heterosexual marriage, family and church’ from the article.
Wouln’t it still be fitting for Leaders/ Stewards to not discriminate, molest, steal, bribe, corrupt, control etc with no regard to your humanity?
Think about it. We have laws, whether uploaded or enforced, must we all do whatever we choose with blatant disregard to our fellow human beings?
It’s all nonsense I suppose for those in leadership to do you S7 and your family whatever they feel like.
Make yourself a good day
The word religion appears 5 times in the king James text of the Bible. The context will show that It does not necessarily communicate man-made institutions, though some religions are in fact man-made. If a word has developed negative connotations over time, this does not mean those sentiments are part of its original definition. Three times (Acts 26:5; Gal. 1:13, 14), the word describes the system given directly by God to Moses for Israel at Sinai. That system consisted not of Moses’ ideas but God’s ideas for the regulation of Israel’s ceremonial, social, and moral activities. The other two places are in James 1:26, 27, where James speaks of vain religion and pure religion. James says religion that confines itself to intellectual ideas and verbal professions only, and takes on no practical aspects is vain. He then describes pure religion as moving beyond mere talk to include practical activities like relieving widows and orphans and keeping one’s self unspotted from the world.
Of course, all institutions are man-made and that includes religion. If only people’s eyes would be opened to see the deception of man-made religion. There is no heaven in the sky, the hell is right here on earth and Jesus is sure not coming back because that’s also an illusion.
UNAPOLOGETIC
@ out if south city
Which one is better for you? Living a life which ever way you choose then find out in the end Heaven and eternity is real with you facing all the consequences of hell or living a life of peace , humility and love and reverence to God then find out it’s not real in the end?
Which one do you choose?
Well said brother Bruno. Good leaders are hard to find and those who lead must seek to become better leaders accountable to God first and then men.
Informative piece of work!
Perhaps CCTV, more officers on the beat and bettet lighting in the streets of Roseau.This is 2017 move firward.
Ah, but what if you and the heretics believe that you are greater than God Almighty?
This is how cults get started.
People who know their Bibles recognize such fools and turn away from them.
Read your Bible and attend a Christ centered gospel preaching church where the word of God is faithfully taught in a balanced way. It should be a congregation that is part of a fellowship of like minded congregations where the pastor holds himself accountable to a superintendent or bishop who oversees
his ministry. This follows the example given to us by the churches of the New Testament.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.
Makes plenty sense…