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Tolerant... |
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Until He's Not |
| by Craige McMillan |
| A financial analyst recently remarked on a prominent CEO's firing by the company's board of directors. "Most boards of directors," he said, "are pretty tolerant. Until they're not."
This really has wider application than simply corporate boards and CEOs. The New Testament paints a picture of a meek and mild-mannered Jesus Christ, who before he was crucified washed his disciples' feet. After doing so, he gives his disciples this glimpse into who he really is:
In the Christian world this is referred to as servant leadership. My dad, a down-to-earth small businessman, put it this way: "Never ask an employee to do something you wouldn't do." This leadership approach works well with volunteer organizations. It certainly worked well with the volunteer disciples whom Jesus accumulated during his three years of ministry. They did a remarkable job of spreading Christianity into a hostile world. Even though it ultimately cost them their lives. But they had been prepared, even for that, by the best. Servant leadership. The danger for our present world comes because we have lost sight of Jesus' insights into who and what he really is. Again, verse thirteen, this time from the old King James:
The world confuses the Jesus who washed his disciples' feet with the Jesus soon to return as "lord and master". A mild and meek-mannered Jesus works well for the politicians in Washington DC, corporate big-wigs, and much of the rest of the world who have confused their identities with that of God. It won't work so well when the real one returns, as events indicate he soon will. Think of the board of directors that we opened with. The CEO was put in place to manage things for the Board of Directors. They gave him or her a lot of authority and a lot of leeway in how to accomplish the business' goals. They were pretty tolerant. Until the CEO confused his role with their role. Then they were no longer tolerant. A lot of people in the world today have confused their role with Jesus' role upon his return. God has been pretty tolerant about that. And he will be. Until he's not. Photo: Ancient, White Dwarf stars in the Milky Way Hubble |
