“God has called me to…” These are serious and powerful words used with ever greater frequency in the public square. Albeit they often take on other forms: this is God’s way to…, God’s word calls us to…, God approves of…. In some way a person or group claims a divine authority, or mandate, for their actions, and this makes their actions correct by definition. Perhaps this divine sanction of their actions is indeed valid. Yet unfortunately, this claim often serves as a license to place oneself above the scrutiny of any other instance of authority. If God approves of this, so the reasoning, then how can any part of this be wrong, or how can any aspect of this need the approval or permission of any other person or party? And so the claim to divine sanction can lead to a complete refusal to continue to admit that the human condition continues to reign in the hearts and minds of those claiming divine sanction for their actions. In other words, if God authorizes them, then they cannot make mistakes, especially concerning these actions to which God has called them, and they need no person or instance of authority to critique or check and balance their actions. Yet the human condition means that we do indeed make mistakes, fall short of what we were meant to be, even if God has called us to take some action. Read any of the stories in the Bible of great heroes of faith called by God; all of them continued to make mistakes and sometimes failed miserably. There is one and only one notable exception: Jesus. The very essence of a call from God to action must have the ongoing and growing realization of the fallibility of the person called as an immanent component of this calling. This realization and its manifestation in one’s conduct are often called humility.
Some world leaders may claim divine mandate and act unilaterally, thinking they need no checks and balances. Some church leaders may claim the same and extinguish reciprocity in their relationships with their flock; information flows to them and power from them. Some family leaders may cite divine sanction as blinders making them oblivious to brokenness they unknowingly support as they dismiss criticism as a refusal to accept the divine mandate for their power.
Yet power is perfected in weakness, and truly great leadership means being a slave to others, i.e. finding out what they really need by listening to them speak and then providing them their needs.
I think it is quite elegant that the resurrected Jesus was usually not recognized by his followers. The servant aspect of his leadership was so perfected that even those who knew him best saw nothing spectacular in him – until he prayed or broke bread with them. Then he quickly vanished in front of them.
These kinds of leaders who realize their divine mandate to the truest extent are still present, but we will never see them in the limelight, for they are much too busy helping and listening to have time to beat the drum about their divine mandate.
4 Kommentare:
We have the prayer of confession every Sunday in my church's service; some people have complained about it and I find it quite amazing. Every Sunday I begin to pray thinking I have one or two small things then realize I have many things; I usually am still praying even as the pastor is continuing on. And it's not like I'm out doing awful things every day . . . I feel I am living a good life but yet little faults constantly sneak up. I do think some people use the "God told me to do xxxxx" as an excuse sometimes and it is depressing. Though I do believe there are definite instances and reasons for everything, I just don't know what they all are. . .
I think there is always the danger to think a position of authority or a calling gives us power, be it in religious or seculare realms. There is another saying to counter this: from those to whom much is given, much is expected.
Aggie: no, personally I've had no instances lately, but I have dealt with devastating instances of this in the past in some churches and religious groups, so these thoughts have long been growing in my psyche. I also think some world leaders could meditate on some of these thoughts.
Wise and true words Mark. What are some ways to guard oneself against such destructive thought processes Mark?
Chris, I claim no authority at all in avoiding these pitfalls. But it would seem to me that it would certainly help to be familiar with case histories of these from the past, i.e. from the Bible and from many other sources. It can certainly help to listen to experience and opinions of others. And, finally, it is difficult for all of us to admit that we are dispensible. If we vanish, someone else will come along to do all the things we were doing. So what makes us unique then?
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