So this young guy wants to get involved with us, he has just had a really difficult 3 years, been in prison etc... he's out now and on probation.
He is only 20 and is opinionated, arrogant and thinks he is good at everything. He smokes and I think he has an anger problem. I'm also worried that he is not particularly disciplined, I think he he is a bit of a blagger and does a lot of things last minute.
He seems willing to learn and be discipled, but I am not sure he really understands what that means! I am convinced he loves Jesus and has had a real encounter with God, but he worries me he has a track record of constantly slipping up. Should I let him be involved in any form of leadership within our community?
I'm interested because this was me when I first got involved in church service. The question I am asking myself is "From where I stand today would I let myself be involved in leadership?"
Would I have let another guy I know who had an affair then tried to cover it up by having the womans husband murdered on my team? King David....
There's another guy who killed a couple of Egyptians then fled to another land and didn't come back till he was old, would I have him on my team? Moses is his name.
What about Paul, he held coats whilst guys stoned christians would he make the cut?
Has the bar for leadership been raised so high that guys have to be perfect before we give them a look in?
Have we the older guys forgot what we were like when we were young?
8 comments:
What brilliant questions.
Sometimes, I also think that the problem
is that we think that leaders not only need to have it all pulled together, but they need to sort things out alone, which then causes problems already... So yes, we need Pauls, Davids, Moses etc on our team, (and we are probably some of them ourselves) but then let's walk together, discipleship each other, learn to be accountable,...
Really perceptive post. We may also need to ask the question what is a leader? Should they be any more than someone who enables us to follow Jesus better?
The last line of the prayer from the priest who died in the Twin Towers always sticks in my mind: "and help me not to get in your (God's) way"
God recently led me to a Scripture that might help this young man - it is Psalm 4:7: You have put more joy in my heart then they have when their grain and wine abound. We are wired to search out joy and pleasure, but the things of the world pale to the joy we find in God's presence. Bless you and peace and grace to you in discipling this young man who has an awesome Kingdom destiny before him.
Great thoughts Brian, especially when deciding on future leaders.
However, at what point are we convinced somebody can lead? After they've matured, after they've attended the right amount of leadership courses, or when there's nobody else left to lead?
Maybe it's better to ask God. Numbers 27: 16-17
I'm interested to know if you've made a decision on the young guy.
sorry the guy was me!! I wasn't talking about someone else I was talking about when I first got involved in church service. Obviously my literary skills deserted me when trying to creatively convey sentiment. When I said "this guy was me when I first got involved" thats what I meant.
Wow! I really like this post Brian, we often are quick to disqualify people and yet Jesus never disqualified anyone. And these are the people God used. We are all sinners and yet we grade it like some stuff is worse. I wonder what this says about those we do qualify maybe they are just better at hiding their failings and less honest? I guess we cultivate a culture that means you're better off being dishonest and where honesty sabotages...
I'm learning at the moment that all that really matters is our heart.. David may have screwed up but he had a heart after the Lord, none of us will ever be perfect leaders, or even close, but if we are seeking after Gods heart I think we are already leading?..
I'm learning at the moment that all that really matters is our heart.. David may have screwed up but he had a heart after the Lord, none of us will ever be perfect leaders, or even close, but if we are seeking after Gods heart I think we are already leading?..
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