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Viewpoint - December, 2012
By Randy Cole
This month, we conclude our series of discussions about Biblical Leadership. Over the past 11 months we looked at Paul (Multiplication), Joshua (Influence), Moses (Sacrifice), Daniel (The Voice), Jethro (Intuition), Barnabas (Empowerment), Nehemiah (Navigation), Esther (Timing), Elijah (Attraction), the Apostles (Priorities), and Joseph (Process) as examples of leaders. If you have missed any of these articles, please visit our website at www.apii.org for archived copies of previous newsletters. Now, let's examine Respect as a leadership trait, using Deborah as our example.
Deborah - Respect
People naturally follow leaders that they respect.
It's really hard to follow someone that you don't respect.
The leadership trait in the Scriptures:
"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." (I Thessalonians 4:11-12)
Let's examine chapters 4 and 5 of Judges with this leadership trait in mind. Why was Deborah respected by the nation of Israel?
- She was respected because she was the Lord's anointed leader. (Judges 4:4)
- She was respected because she was a prophetess. (Judges 4:4)
- She was respected because the Lord had blessed her with wisdom for settling disputes. (Judges 4:5)
- She was respected because the Lord spoke through her. (Judges 4:6,9)
- She was respected because her prophesy was validated by God, and in an unexpected way. (Judges 4:9,21-22)
- She was respected because she had a God-sized vision. How could Israel, with a limited army, and limited weapons, defeat an army equipped with 900 iron chariots on an open battlefield? Only God could make this happen. (Judges 4:6-7)
- She was respected because she believed God. (Judges 4:14)
- She was respected because Israel witnessed God's mighty hand at work through Deborah's leadership and vision. The combatants: 1) the Canaanite army of 900 chariots with many foot soldiers in reserve; versus 2) the army of Israel composed of just foot soldiers. Under "normal circumstances" this should have been an easy victory for the king of Canaan. But God lured Sisera and the army of Canaan to the Kishon river. (Judges 4:7). Then a huge rainstorm caused the river to overflow its banks, miring the chariots in the mud. (Judges 5:21) Without the significant military advantage of these chariots, Israel routed the Canaanite army. (Judges 4:15-16) This is another ex ample of the truth in this verse: "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Mark 10:27
- She had so much respect that the commander of the army of Israel - Barak - demanded her presence on the battlefield. (Judges 4:8)
- She was respected as a victorious leader of the nation of Israel. (Judges 4:23-24)
Respect is a timely topic in today's world, especially in a Christian context. In America, this has become an even "hotter" topic, as the American Church seems to lose respect day by day. What are we doing wrong? How can we reverse this trend? Let's examine Paul's teaching to the church at Thessalonica on this topic in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12. What does this passage teach us about Respect?
First, the targets of "respect" in this passage are those outside the church. This teaching is focused on this question - How can we gain the respect of unbelievers? What follows are three commands that we need to understand and obey so that we may win the respect of unbelievers.
- Lead a quiet life.
This contradicts the world view of attraction and even addiction to entertainment and excitement. It could be said that excitement and entertainment are like a religion for many people today. This religion has a god: Self. This religion has priests: Celebrities. This religion has scriptures: Tabloids and entertainment news programs. This religion has places of worship: Amusement parks, theaters, concert halls, sports arenas; and televisions are little chapels. The religion of excitement and entertainment seduces people into living their lives for one thing - the thrill of the moment. It begs the question - do unbelievers see any difference in the lives of Christians? Or are we exactly the same?
2. Mind your own business.
This does not mean Christians should disassociate from the world. It means that we should obey the commands that Jesus gave in the Sermon on the Mount:
- Don't be judgmental. Matthew 7:1
- Don't be hypocritical. Deal with your own "business" first before pointing out faults in others. Matthew 7:5
- Don't be condemning. Luke 6:37
3. Work with your hands....so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
In my opinion, one of the major sources of disrespect for the church in this day and time is contained in this principle. Our churches have lost the original vision and model of "church" as modeled in the book of Acts.
- The apostles were "unschooled, ordinary men" (Acts 4:13).
- Paul was a missionary who supported his work by making tents. 2 Thessalonians 3:8 tells us that Paul "did not eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you".
- Churches in the first century were led by leaders who were bi-vocational. Churches met in homes and shared everything together. Churches in the book of Acts were Kingdom-focused.
Let's compare the principles of 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 in the following chart.
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Churches have a better chance for Respect when they have these characteristics.
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Churches are probably Disrespected when they have these characteristics.
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Where is the Focus? Are resources (time, money, and individual) targeted at meeting the needs of people who are outside the church walls?
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Where is the Focus? Are resources (time, money, and individual) targeted for buildings, infrastructure, and programs for current church members?
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How did Christ treat the "untouchable" people of His day? Can churches model this behavior by loving and accepting people for who they are, knowing that only the Spirit has the power to change a heart?
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How did the Pharisees treat the "untouchable" people of their day? Have churches become judgmental, hypocritical, and condemning, just like the Pharisees? (Luke 11:39-52)
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Ministry is championed by ordinary people obeying and serving in extraordinary ways.
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Ministries are controlled and conducted only by those that are properly educated, trained and approved.
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Worship focuses on substance, not style. God is the only one who is worthy of praise and worship. Repentance is the outcome.
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Worship focuses on style, especially music style. Churches have "stars" on their stages. Excitement, attraction, and entertainment are the outcomes.
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Have we lost the respect of an unbelieving world? How can we change this to gain their respect?
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