May 4, 2007 10:26 AM
Tripp on Christian leadership
My dear hubby sent this as a comment:
Having been through these trials with you....seeing firsthand different styles of leadership, I have this humble observation:During Our Lord's last 24 hours at the Last Supper - which He knew were His last, so He spoke of and demonstrated what He wanted His disciples to remember - the disciples were arguing over who was the greatest amongst themselves (Luke 22:24-30):
"Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”Jesus is contrasting Man's view of leadership and God's way, with its rewards. In light of this, a leader patterning himself after the "Good Shepherd" wakes up in the morning and thinks, "How can I best serve my flock today and help them do Our Father's will and fullfill His vision and purpose for their lives?"
A leader who patterns himself after his own heart, (the world's way) thinks; "How can I get this flock to fullfill my vision and do what I want - or support [what I think is] God's will is for me?"
I think for men the temptation for the latter comes from one of the 3 "Gs."
1) Gold....personal material gain
2) Girls..lust of the flesh
3) Glory...the desire to have the personal glory...pride of man...the reason for the Fall. I have observed this in myself and in others. The only times in my life that I have felt truly fullfilled have been when I was leading God's way.
That's it, folks - this man should have his own blog and I'm going to make sure he has one right away!!
Posted in Church Issues | Permalink
Comments
I have had trouble reading the posts lately about this whole Doug Phillips/leadership thing, because I tend to feel like it is none of my business. But then I look at what point my husband and I are in life right now- searching for a new church- and I start to think that these posts are meant for me to read. They are yet another reminder for us to look for leaders that promote God, not their own agendas.
"Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults."
1 Corinthians 14:20
Posted by: Valerie | May 4, 2007 11:14 AM
You are a lucky wife!
Posted by: Kitchen Madonna | May 4, 2007 11:15 AM
Good thoughts Tripp! Barbara, you're right: he should have a blog.
Posted by: Imajackson | May 4, 2007 12:18 PM
Barbara,
What a wise husband you have. I have appreciated your godly way of handling this whole matter. Thank you for having the courage to blog what God puts on your heart.
Posted by: Kathy | May 4, 2007 3:37 PM
