After a few weeks of minor diversion, in which over 6000
people lost there lives, the travel industry in America has forever changed, and living with the continued
threat of other terrorist attacks that could be more devastating, it is about
time, as our leaders have said, to get back to things as usual. Now what was
that we were discussing, Ah, yes, leadership.
But before we get back into this with gusto, I thought
perhaps we should take another look at Gilpin's disease from ŇBeyond the soulŐs desertÓ on August
8th. Perhaps, it is a good thing that over 200 million Americans got their
first inoculation from this disease, little over a month after the article. The
remaining population is probably too out of touch with reality to have these
tragic events make any lasting effect in their lives.
As stated in that piece, ŇGilpinŐs Disease is the disease
of delusional reality. It has its roots in manifest destiny and the American
Dream, but it symptoms are really only noticeable beyond the controlling
interests of prosperity and comfort. In contrast with faith, faith speaks of an
unseen reality as if it is. GilpinŐs Disease speaks of a natural reality as
though it isnŐt, denying natural reality as though there were no limits, not to
faith, but unto itself.Ó
ŇGilpinŐs Disease can have severe consequences as one
tries to journey into the desert of the soul, stating ÔI can do anything!Ő It
is a form of elevation of the human condition to that of God. It is really sin.
It is broadly accepted today as part and parcel of western culture.Ó On
September 11th many GilpinŐs disease recipients received an overwhelming dose
of real reality. In that regard we should be thankful that the dosage was not
more toxic. I even got a bigger shot than I expected. I had this Leadership
series pretty much all outlined and ready to go. Now, it seems more important
than ever, but I admit that all that wonderful focus I sometimes find hard to
develop has again somewhat succumbed to the laws of entropy. Now where are my
notes?
In previous weeks we have talked about the ŇBill of
GiftsÓ that God gives to His children. We also spoke about the need for
discipline in order to be a disciple. Tying these together with the inoculation
from GilpinŐs Disease, we saw the
need to simplify our individual life into the essentials. The three Biblical
passages that I use as an individual to help understand the results I cannot
control were Ecclesiastes 12:12, Isaiah 55:8,9, Matthew 6:31-34. All of these
show me that even though my first focus is always myself. ItŐs really not about
me at all. Leadership is about what I do for others.
Some years back I read a book on church leadership that
states something like ŇI do my job like my boss would do it if he had the
time.Ó That sorry statement signifies a deep misunderstanding of Biblical and
natural leadership. If you cannot do your God given role better than your boss
in that particular time - space - matter universe, you are not needed. If you
are a clone of your boss, then there is good reason to understand why the
church and the world are in such a sorry state. If you are really not a leader,
or a follower, then you are just unnecessary in GodŐs plan.
Perhaps a doctrinal statement might add some clarity. ŇWe
only believe what John Calvin believed.Ó Well, John Calvin, Martin Luther, and
a whole host of other Christian leaders were GodŐ appointed men for specific
times and places. To journey in Christ no farther than John or Martin, makes
God dead in the lives of others, just as are John and Martin. God desires you
to build on that foundation in Christ, not build sepulchres no matter how holy
to our vision of mortal flesh. We are so afraid to move beyond our natural
teachers, we miss GodŐs unique gifts for our lives. Now if the God who created
the universe cannot control the Body of His son, then as Paul said, we are to
be pitied more than other men.
So let us look at some broad deductive Biblical
principles of the nature of that Body. For this article I have listed three.
You have the freedom to just keep these three, for they are very wise and
excellent. But look at it this way, I wrote them down over a month ago, and I
am pressed for time (and/or) to lazy to spend more time on them.
1. The
election of Israel. The covenant of grace. God chose for Himself a people, a
nation, a community, to be called by His name. In Old Testament times this was
centered in, but not exclusively the domain of the nation of Israel, in the
middle east. After the ascension to heaven by Jesus Christ, that role more and
more became synonymous with the church. Reasons reported for this occurrence
many times are antiSemitic and self righteous. But in doing so we elevate our
election into the realm of man, and move outside the covenant of grace,
reverting instead into further bondage under the Old Testament laws of works
righteousness.
2. The
mission of St. Paul. Saul of Tarsus (Paul), the great Jewish apostle to the
Gentiles (colloquially dogs) went into all the western world as he was able.
Through teaching of the word of God and the proclamation of the restoration of
GodŐs fellowship with man, through Jesus Christ the Messiah, the church was
established and continues to expand. In Christ by faith the Bible says both
Jews and Gentiles became one covenant body of GodŐs grace.
3. Intimate Communion - Spiritual fellowship. Through the
election of Israel and the proclamation of the gospel and the teaching of GodŐs
word, the communion of saints begins to be brought together beyond the
constraints of time and space. Eventually, generations will become one people
from every tribe, nation, and tongue. Those who have gone before will be
reunited with loved ones and new family relationships will be established. And
most importantly, that family will be the adopted family of God, freed
eternally from the bondage of sin and death. Free to develop uniquely as
eternal personalities within GodŐs sovereign eternal plan for creation.
Now we all carry a lot of other baggage, not only material,
but spiritual. Just as with our new rules for airline travel, the more baggage
you try to carry on the plane, on your trip, the longer it is going to take you
and others to begin. At some point many will learn, or be required, to leave
that stuff at home, for the journey to take it along is not worth the hassle,
to ourselves and to others. This too is a minor booster shot for GilpinŐs. It
is really not about me and my desires at all. It is about GodŐs eternal plan
and my role in it. In GodŐs airship, there is no carry on baggage. For on that
transition to the eternal reality, all the stuff that so easily entangles our
present journey, including our mortal and much pampered flesh will be burned
up.
Leadership requires us to give up some stuff, if ask, or
to hold it lightly as gifts from God, not our own possession. One of the first
understandings of a child is the concept of Ňmine.Ó Christianity and especially
the call of Christian leadership, is a call to move beyond that childish
concept. We are born into this world believing it is all about me. Only through
service to others, as Christ gave his mortal life for the church and elect
Israel, do we find the true satisfaction
of GodŐs eternal purpose.
These last few weeks should be an inoculation to the
church to understand that those Old Testament Jews are really the sinners we
too are. But except for the grace of God alone, we are no different than those
Islamic terrorist, or the militant homosexuals, or other sinful groups that
many point to as this judgement on America. True repentance within the church,
to leave all that old decaying garbage behind, is required to develop the Godly
leadership the world and church so definitely need. Which reminds me of another
well known proverb: Blessed are the flexible, for they may be used by God.
Personally, it was a long, painful, and difficult journey
these last few weeks, but God is faithful and a new vision and focus have come,
perhaps uniting things I did not understand before. Therefore please continue
to intercede for this ministry and GodŐs provision. As I remarked to a friend
last weekend, ŇI can not remember ever being so tightly controlled by GodŐs
provision as at this time.Ó I suppose that means that any baggage that I
maintain through this time or comes out of this time is the baggage that the
Lord wants me to carry. It will not be mine, but the LordŐs and my stewardship
of His provision that matters. True leadership in this world and in the church
is the following of Jesus Christ and not the baggage of man. Please continue to
intercede for this nation to do GodŐs will and not to carry the baggage that
our wise pundits say we should or must do.