Sunday: The Influence of Leaders
All through the Bible, we can find examples of leadership, both good and bad, and sometimes even a mixture of both. Bad leaders, at times, have done some good things, while good leaders, at times, have done some bad things. After all, all leaders are human beings and, as such, are capable of both good and evil, of doing right and wrong. Who hasn’t experienced this reality in their own lives?
Image © Lifeway Colletion at Goodsalt.com
The problem, however, is that when you are a leader, you exert great influence, either for good or bad. It’s bad enough to be a negative influence in your own home or workplace, or wherever your presence is felt. But when you are in a leadership position, be it spiritual, political, or both, the influence is greatly multiplied. How crucial then that, in whatever your role, but especially as a leader, you reflect the principles and teachings of Scripture.
Look up the following texts. What kind of examples of leadership do we find there? If good, explain why it was good. If bad, explain why it was bad.
- Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:1-16)
- Peter (Acts 15:7-11)
- Josiah (2 Kings 23:1-10)
- Deborah (Judg. 4:1-16)
- Ahab (1 Kings 21:1-16)
| Though just a smattering, what lessons can we take away from these stories about what makes good and bad leadership, and how can we apply what we learn to ourselves in whatever roles we are in? |
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In today's society, the most influential people are media personalities. They can and often do make and break governments. When Winfrid Oprah was at her height as a talk show host it was said that she was the most influential woman in the world. Media personalities have a much greater penetration into our homes, and consequently our minds than even presidents and prime ministers.
In our own church media personalities such as Doug Batchelor, Walter Veith, and historically George Vanderman, for example, have been listened to and followed by millions of Seventh-day Adventists. They are more influential in our Christian thinking than our conference presidents and leading scholars. I only have to look back through Sabbath School Net comments to see who is influencing us. What a responsibility.
Two questions arise:
1. Are they leading us in the right direction?
2. How dependent are we on our media personalities?
And I cannot write this without thinking about my own role. I may not be a great media personality but I am vocal enough to usually write the first comment each day on the lesson for Sabbath School Net. My readership may only be less than 100 people but I take the role of influencer seriously. My prayer is that I do not prove catchy opinions that tickle your fancy, but rather provide food for thought and encouragement for growing spiritually.
Thank you for your Spirit filled thoughts on SSNet. I look forward to read the different points of view you present and use them frequently in my discussions especially in conversations with our youth,unchurched and my FB page. May The Holy Spirit continue to fill you mind with His Word.
LOL, Brother Maurice, I agree that the Media and/or celebrities have a lot of influence. However, in the end, what is going to matter is our choice of who WE decided to follow; Jesus is my choice, not matter what other influences I have around me.
Be blessed!
PS. That was Oprah Winfrey! And we as Leaders need to lift her, and all of these other media influences, up in prayer that the Holy Spirit will influence them to do what is right!
And Yes, you are definitely using your calling as one of the Leaders in this blog commentary to inspire others to grow spiritually. Thank you for your leadership.
Hehe! Just goes to show how little I watched her! 🙂
You are right Maurice. This begs the question "who are you listening to?"
I believe if we fill our thoughts and minds with the things of God we will be influenced by the word of God much like the examples you gave above.
We all have some influence to those who look on to us you. Let our influence be good ones like some of the example we read JOSIAH is a good one for me.
"He’s been called the “father of India” and a “great soul in beggar’s garb." His nonviolent approach to political change helped India gain independence after nearly a century of British colonial rule. A frail man with a will of iron, he provided a blueprint for future social movements around the world. He was Mahatma Gandhi, and he remains one of the most revered figures in modern history."
"In 1894, Natal stripped all Indians of their ability to vote. Gandhi organized Indian resistance, fought anti-Indian legislation in the courts and led large protests against the colonial government. Along the way, he developed a public persona and a philosophy of truth-focused, non-violent non-cooperation he called Satyagraha."
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/people/reference/mahatma-gandhi-changed-political-protest/
How Mahatma Gandhi changed the face of political protest
By then, Gandhi had become a national icon, and was widely referred to as Mahatma, Sanskrit for great soul or saint. Imprisoned for a year because of the Salt March, he became more influential ...
www.nationalgeographic.com
"
Muslims have faced increasing discrimination and violence over the past few years under Modi’s BJP. But the one-two punch of the NRC followed by the CAB takes this to a new level. The country is beginning to look less like a secular democracy and more like a Hindu nationalist state.
If the Indian government proceeds with its plan, in a worst-case scenario we could be looking at the biggest refugee crisis on the planet. The United Nations, Human Rights Watch, and the US Commission on International Religious Freedom have all warned that this could soon turn into a humanitarian disaster of horrifying proportion."
https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2019/12/12/21010975/india-muslim-citizenship-bill-national-register
Influence of one man delivered a nation from colonial rule.
Less than 100 years later history repeats by the Indian leaders are positioning to persecute the minority.
Gandhi delayed the freedom of India because he did not want a separate Muslim nation (Pakistan).
Now India proves it cannot be trusted when it comes to give equal rights to its citizens.
Discrimination against Muslims is only a start of discrimination against other minority groups in India.
The definition of a leader is someone who has followers.
Even though you don't have followers, so technically are not a leader, you can still influence people with whom you interact to a certain degree. Have you affected their lives, even if just by a smile or a frown?
The history of Rehoboam is sad, he didn't listen to his people and as a result most of them refused to follow him. After the long history of the 12 tribes of Israel, because of a leader they split into 10 and 2 tribes and at times fought each other even though they were family.
Could this happen to our community of faith - a split because of a leader that not all are prepared to follow?
We know the result of that split - the 10 tribes were conquered and no longer exist and only the minority, the remnant, were left.
Hi Sister Shirley,
I wrote the following in preparation to teach the Sabbath School lesson this week:
"Rehoboam’s problem is that he failed to bring these two groups of advisors, (the old men that served under his father Solomon, and the young men that he grew up with), together. Bringing the two groups together would have served a lot of problems for King Rehoboam's leadership. However, Rehoboam, like a lot of Politicians of today, have a problem: they feel, for the good of future progress, that they should listen to their friends, and do something different, instead of listening to the experienced leaders. Bringing these two groups together would have given them the opportunity for both groups of leaders could have contributed to a way to achieve a plan that is best for everyone in the kingdom.
Sometimes our friends or advisors mean well, but when our friends and advisors lack Leadership experience, or their thinking and influences are too Progressive, then the results will not be good. We need experienced Leaders, as well as young leaders, in our pursuit of building Good Leaders and Leadership for God’s people. "
These are my opinions only.
Be Blessed!
Thank you Toni, yes it is good to listen to both sides of an issue and most important to seek guidance from the LORD's Word.
What I find interesting is that Rehoboam was wrong in his decision and because of it he split the community, yet the LORD preserved the smaller group because of David and so that the prophecy that Jesus would be born from the house of David would come true.
We influence (and are influenced by) people whenever we are. There is no escape from that, thus, we do not have to be exactly leaders. But, of course, leaders may have more responsability once they are more looked up to. One question is "what is my influence going to be?"
At the house, at work, school or church.
Another question may be "what kind of example am I reflecting? Jesus?"