Sunday 15 September 2013

Background

Whenever I have been asked to speak about leadership, theensuing discussions have invariably produced strong emotion. Mostof us have 'views' on what leadership should, or should not,involve; often depending on the modelling that we haveexperienced.  Many people tell me that what the Church needsin the 21st century is strong leadership, but disagree aboutwhether such human leadership is embodied in a group of peopleconferring and coming to a mind, or the wisdom expected from anindividual. I suspect that most people are happy with differentkinds of leadership as long as the views expressed match theirown!

The passages this week look at different aspects of leadershipas demonstrated by Jesus , who was deliberately chosen for the taskof reconciling the world to its creator. As Colossians 1:19 says, "… and through him Godwas pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth orin heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross". Today'spassage is from Luke's Gospel, and a chapter that teaches aboutGod's love for those considered lost. In the big story of bringingthe world back to God, individuals like you and me actually matter;yes, here's the mind-boggling truth, we matter to God who createdthe entire universe. How do we begin to understand the enormity oflove that reaches out personally to us as individuals, even as wecomprehend more and more about the vastness of the worlds aroundus?

Luke 15:1-10 sets the context for the mission of Jesus asreconciler. The self-righteous Pharisees and Scribes sneer andgrumble at this popular new rabbi: what kind of leadership is this,to welcome and eat with "sinners" (v. 2)? How utterlyunrespectable! Can't take this new leader seriously, except thatlots of ordinary people seem to be attracted to his teaching. Sowhat's the punchline, what is Jesus actually trying to say? It'sabout rejoicing over a lost sheep, or a precious coin; two storiesabout that which seemed lost and gone, has in fact been safelyfound. It's about sinners needing to repent.

What Jesus goes on to say in both verses 7 and 10 is just howmuch rejoicing there will be in heaven. "There will be more joy inheaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteouspersons who need no repentance". And again in verse 10: "There isjoy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner whorepents". The task assigned to Jesus is a divine task, a God-giventask of reconciliation, a huge task of bringing the world back toGod - and it begins with the response of individuals who are drawnback into the orbit of God's love.

In Jesus we have a leader who models love for all people.

To Ponder

• What characteristics do you look for in a leader?

• Most people are in leadership roles at different points intheir lives, eg family, work, recreational pursuits, church. How doyou model love in these different situations?