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| Submitted: Monday, August 17, 2009; 7:38 p.m. print this page ● feedback ● main ALSBOM site |
One of the most disturbing questions being posed today is,
"Where have all the leaders gone?" In the past two decades, the
business world has focused more on the subject of leadership
than at any other time. Regrettably, as we have viewed the
business and economic meltdown, we asked, "Where have all the
leaders gone?"
In the political arena, we think the quality of leadership
cannot be diminished much more, only to be shocked by the
shenanigans of some who held so much promise earlier. One leader
of enormous potential has confessed to an extramarital affair,
which has imperiled his previously thought to be exemplary
marriage. The South Carolina and Argentina connection offered
tabloid headlines for their readers but left us saying again,
"Where have all the leaders gone?"
Athletes are held in astronomically high esteem and the fans
will line up by the thousands to get an autograph from them or a
picture with them. But when they act in the most absurd and
inhumane ways to people and even to animals, we are forced to
again pose the question, "Where have all the leaders gone?"
This is true in the world of Christian leadership as well. We
can cite one example after another of pastors and their leaders
who fall into the traps of temptation. This bewildering reality
leaves Christians distraught and asking the question themselves,
"Where have all the leaders gone?"
In the day of Jeremiah, the prophet of God, this question could
have easily have been posed. His troubled life spanned one of
the most difficult periods in Hebrew history. This was the time
prior to the fall of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. and following the
infamous Babylonian exile. The trite expression applied:
"Everything that could go wrong went wrong." Jeremiah had to
serve God in the midst of all this turmoil and suffering. As he
did so, Jeremiah had bouts with doubt and seizures of
despondency.
In chapter 12 of the prophecy that bears his name, Jeremiah was
in one of the lowest of the low moments in his ministry. There
is a dialogue between the Lord and the prophet. God was asking
Jeremiah, "Are you go to run away at the first skirmish of
opposition? Are you going to default on your call to
leadership?" These questions haunted Jeremiah, and they should
do the same for us in our day.
Eugene Peterson in The Message renders verse five in a poignant
and pointed way, "So, Jeremiah, if you are worn out in this
footrace with men, what makes you think you can race with the
horses? And if you can't keep your wits during times of calm,
what's going to happen when troubles break loose like the Jordan
flood?" Jeremiah must have been stunned by the inquiries. We
should personalize these questions for our day.
Jeremiah was a leader, but like all leaders he was struggling to
avoid becoming a statistic and thereby running away from his
calling. His experience helps us answer the question, "Where
have all the leaders gone?" Consider four ways of responding to
this important inquiry and also be open to how the Lord might
speak to you as you walk, or better yet, run in Jeremiah's
footsteps.
I. Some leaders have died. This fact is a sobering reality for
us all. As we pass through various stages of life, we can count
the number of strong leaders who have left this life and gone to
the next, leaving a vacuum of influence which cannot be easily
filled. This is one of the basic realities of life.
As a pastor, I felt that sense of loss on a deeply personal
level. I stood by the grave sites of real leaders who had made a
difference in my life and in the lives of countless others. In
my grief, I would ask myself, "Who will take the place of this
leader?" There were many times I could not answer that question.
I have served in church life and in denominational life long
enough to wonder about that void so many times. Where have the
statesmanlike leaders gone? Every generation needs them. Every
church and denomination must have them. Without leaders, we
become like the children of Israel in the wilderness.
II. Some leaders have become distracted. As we all know the
multiple usages of the cell phone, including talking and
texting, have complicated the driving experience to the point of
making it very dangerous. Subway and train drivers have been
distracted by texting, and major accidents have occurred. The
recent plane and helicopter crash over the Hudson is reportedly
related to a distracted air traffic controller. That is a very
tragic illustration of the perils of distraction.
Distractions can come to leaders as well. When leaders become
distracted, the people who follow them suffer the consequences.
This can happen to a president, a pastor, a parent or anyone in
leadership. Good things can become the enemy of the best things
in the life of a leader. A leader lives in a world where
everyone wants to set his agenda. That cannot be the case.
III. Some leaders have defected. A classic Biblical example of defection
in the ministry of the apostle Paul was a man named Demas. Demas
is mentioned only three times in the New Testament. The last
reference is the saddest of notes, "Demas has forsaken me,
having loved this present world." What was the problem of Demas?
The world was too much with him.
Billy Graham had a close friend early in his life who was
considered to be more gifted and therefore to have had more
potential than the now-famous evangelist himself. This young
colleague in ministry defected from the faith and became an
agnostic. This defection stunned Billy Graham, and it created a
crisis of faith for him. Thankfully Billy Graham overcame this
challenge, and the rest is history. Some leaders have defected
the ranks and we no longer have them.
IV. Some leaders have yet to be developed. Developing leaders is
difficult work. It has to be done in the context of trusting
relationships. It must be an intentional personal and corporate
strategy. For Christians, developing future leaders is not
optional, it is mandatory. This is why I believe in the mission
of the State Board of Missions. We have as one of our major
priorities developing Christian leadership. Our Leadership
Development Team is devoted to this very important ministry.
Baptist Campus Ministry is endeavoring to touch the lives of
some 300,000 students on the campuses of colleges and
universities. Is there a bigger mission field in Alabama? Our
three institutions of higher learning, Judson, the University of
Mobile and Samford are all a part of the effort of developing
Christian leaders.
Jeremiah was challenged by our Lord to face the challenge of
developing leaders. He was being called upon "to run with the
horses." Running with men and women is a big task, running with
horses seems impossible.
I believe the Lord was asking Jeremiah, "My friend, do you want
to shuffle along in the crowd of the meandering masses, or do
you want to gallop with the strongest and fastest of horses?"
Leadership is breaking from the pack of people and running with
the herd of horses.
Like Jeremiah, we have been called to a life of purpose. We have
been called to give of our best to him, even in the worst of
times. Opposition will come. Problems will arise. Difficulties
will demand our attention. People will get in the way of
progress. Running with horses means we have the infused power of
Christ in our lives. With Paul, we declare, "I can do all things
through Christ, who strengthens me." That is running with the
horses. Join the gallop for God today!!!
