Articles
Taking The Reins Of Responsibility
One of the marks of maturity is the willingness to take on responsibility. The immature are forever content to sit back and let others take the lead. To be a follower is attractive; it takes little effort, requires no skill and avoids intrusive obligation. And if you are a follower, you can always luxuriate in the satisfaction of thinking that you could do a better job than those who are actually shouldering the burden of responsibility.
Natural leaders rise to the top because they are people of initiative. They are unafraid to see things that need to be done, and they take steps to address these issues either personally or by activating others.
Among God’s people, such initiative is not spurred by a desire for prominence or control but a deeper understanding of what is at stake. A genuine leader in the kingdom of God is at once compelled and reluctant. While he or she recognizes the challenge of accepting responsibility, doing nothing is not an acceptable option.
“She” is not a word we are accustomed to seeing in a discussion of responsibility and leadership. But a Christian sister can “lead” without ever violating the subordinate role that prohibits her from holding the reins of authority over a man.
The godly, sober-minded Christian woman inspires everyone, including men, through her spiritual insight, sound judgment, diligent service, compassionate spirit and studious demeanor. Many a man, if he is honest, will admit to taking his cue from the industry and aspirations of a holy sister. It would be hard to overstate the degree of responsibility born by the women of this congregation who teach classes, prepare communion, attend to the suffering, encourage the weak and show hospitality.
But it is to men who God assigns the leadership roles of elders, deacons and preachers. This decision of God says nothing of the inherent excellence of the male in the matter of taking initiative, exercising good judgment or demonstrating spiritual superiority. Rather, Paul argues that such derives from the order of creation (I Tim. 2:13; I Cor. 11:8-9) and Eve’s role in the introduction of sin to the world (I Tim. 2:14).
There comes a time in the life of every Christian man when he must seriously reflect upon the need to accept responsibility. More accurately, there will be a series of occasions when he is forced to think deeply about his role in the kingdom of God. But if he forms the habit of saying “no” when the stakes are small, he will fail to develop into a servant respected and acknowledged by all (a deacon) or a shepherd to whom the flock entrusts their spiritual welfare (an elder). And from where will the next generation of preachers come?
To the male members at Centreville, may I ask: Are you in the habit of observing the functions and activities of this church and asking yourself what you can do to contribute to its welfare? If you serve when asked, you are to be commended. However, that’s not a trait of leadership; that is mere followership.
Again may I ask: Do you have any godly ambition to serve the Lord as a deacon or perhaps eventually as an elder? Is your answer an automatic “no” given the rigors of the job? God doesn’t ask every man to be an Abraham, a Moses or a Paul, and good leaders need good followers or their leadership will be ineffective. But if everyone remains content to follow, then who is going to lead?
Perhaps it is merely overdue, and hopefully not too late, for some to prepare themselves to accept responsibility for the Lord’s sake.
(Reprint from Hueytown Bulletin, Oct. 28, 2001, with editing)
