Don’t Pretend; Go & Lead

Word-Of-The-Day: ‘Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.’ (James 1:26); ‘(22) <Jesus told His disciples on the Mount of Olives>, “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (23) So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.”’ (Mark 13:22-23)

In the world of politics, there have always been the staged photos to make a political figure or VIP look like he or she is doing something noteworthy that the public will identify with.   Sometimes it’s clearly staged to be ceremonial, like the people in formal business attire wearing hardhats and holding gold-painted shovels pointed into the ground to signify a building of some sort, like a hospital, is about to be built.  Other times, the person has their tie off or wearing blue jeans with sleeves rolled up to do some modicum of manual labor until the cameras turn off, then moving aside to let the professionals take over.  It’s expected to have executives to do this; they typically administratively lead but can boost morale by making appearances and pushing agendas to make things happen.

People should expect that leaders do, or should at least show a true propensity to do, what they ask of others.  When I supervised and managed people as a lead for a government contractor for US Central Command after 9/11 in the 2000’s, we needed to have folks deploy to the Middle East to maintain the IT equipment at the forward headquarters in the region and in Iraq and Afghanistan.  My stance was if my folks had to go, I also had to go. 

If they went to a location, with only one exception (due to flight restrictions into Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa) I went where they went.  If they need help pulling cable, or transporting parts from point A to B, or replacing faulty equipment, I helped to the fullest extent that I could.  This wasn’t for my sake at all; there was the danger of attack or ambush no matter where we were at (more so on the roads or at Forward Operating Bases or FOBs), and I did not like being away from the family, but I went because my colleagues went.

In much the same way, Jesus led His disciples.  He did what He expected them to do; when they walked, He walked; when they pick grain and berries to eat, He did as well.  Jesus fished and cooked, and when He showed them how to heal and evangelize, He sent them out to do the same.  Jesus also recognized that there would be people who claimed to be Christian leaders who would be more of the ‘do as I say, not as I do’ persuasion. 

There are also those would state their ‘faith’ but do so not to lead but to deceive for personal gain.  They wear the suits, they wax poetically about Jesus, but their message is completely inappropriate and contrary to the Gospel of Christ. These are the people James states that their religion is worthless, as it is not about a relationship in following the leadership of Christ but the use of a religion to benefit themselves.

Jesus, in a warning of the coming End Times, said something similar to James.  People would pretend to be something they weren’t – Christian leaders who were ‘faithful’ and use the name of Jesus for self-gain or interest.  They use the name of Jesus to preach a false message to promote their own message, one antithetical to the Lord’s Gospel.  We see this in the ‘name it & claim it’, ‘don’t worry be happy’ preaching done in some (unfortunately) popular churches, who preach a secular-pleasing message to placate the masses instead of preaching the Truth of the Saving Grace of Christ.  It is important for even the most Faithful to remain diligent is studying the Scriptures, praying continually for discernment, wisdom, and direction, and fellowshipping with fellow believers to stay grounded and listen only to the Lord and His Word.

In a political snapshot we can expect a modicum of ‘lip-service’ and ‘feel-good’ messaging, but demand and expect from your Christian leaders, preachers, and teachers the Truth.  Sometimes the Truth can be painful and initially unhappy, but it always leads to the Joy of our Savior.