November 22, 2009

2009 11 22

Who's The Boss?

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

Psalm 93
John 18:33-37

When I looked at the scriptures for this day a couple of months ago, and came up with the name for this message, I had no idea that our new District Superintendent, Judy Claycomb would be with us this morning. And it is kind of funny because today I would like to talk about leadership. 

Who here has ever gotten bad service when they have gone somewhere?  Maybe it was at a store or probably a restaurant?  Let me share something with you.  A few years back, a good friend of mine was dating a young woman who seemed to always have the misfortune of having her food order messed up.  It did not matter what restaurant or time of day.  Whether it was fast food at lunch or a nice dinner, there would always be something wrong with her order.  If we waited too long for a table, the hostess would hear about it.  If her food was too hot or too cold, the waitress would receive many dirty looks and some very unkind words.  Have you ever seen the movie, Dances With Wolves?  We used to joke around that her Native American name would have been Fights With Waitress.  Eventually, none of us wanted to go out to eat with her.  Something would be wrong.  And all of us would be embarrassed when the ticking time bomb went off.

As a result of these experiences, I figured out something.  After all, we have all been on the receiving end of some pretty bad service.  But I learned not to take it out on the poor person serving.  There are two reasons for this.  First off, just like you or I, this person might simply be having a bad day.  He or she might be the best store clerk or server, but you caught him or her right after they had recently lost a loved one or received some bad news.  This sort of thing would probably affect any of us and our work.  It was just a bad day. 

Secondly, the problem might be leadership.  I worked at McDonald's years ago.  There were managers who would send people home early to save the store money.  Then five minutes later, two busloads of kids might show up.  Times like that we would just hold on for dear life.  Maybe people might call of sick, and a manager doesn't call in extra workers.  Or a store is understaffed, and the manager doesn't lend a helping hand. 

To be honest, when I receive bad service somewhere, I don't just bark at the person serving me.  I always look to see what the managers is doing.  Why?  Because they are the persons in charge.  They are the ones who can truly make things better. 

Now don't get me wrong.  In any business, group, or organization, there can be some pretty rotten people working there.  Again, drawing from my experience working at a chemical plant, I have seen people.  The manager tells them, "this is what is expected of you...this is the minimum that you need to do."  These people will spend a good deal of their time figuring out how to get away with less, and how to place the burden on someone else's shoulders.

The sad thing is to one degree or another...that this is probably true of just about everyone.  In the Bible, I keep thinking of Samuel.  He was a true servant of God.  Samuel was a judge.  He was chosen very specifically by God to guide the people of Israel.  If there were disputes or problems between two parties, Samuel could judge, make a decision, and the people could get back to whatever they were doing.

But 1 Samuel 8, Samuel was growing old, and his sons were not very good candidates to replace him.  Actually, in 1 Samuel 8:3 it says that (his sons) "turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice."

So the people of Israel came to Samuel and asked for him to appoint a king over them.  They wanted new leadership.  They did not want a judge to settle disputes.  They wanted someone who could tell them how to act, how to work, what to do, and how to live.  The people wanted leadership, but they did not want to be part of choosing it. 

Now there was a problem...a big problem.  Israel already had a king: The LORD.  God himself had led the people through the toughest of times.  He had provided all they needed.  He was their both their God in heaven and their King on earth. 

⁷ And the LORD told (Samuel): "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.

It did not matter that Samuel was growing old or that his sons were rotten.  God, the Lord of their ancestors...the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, would continue to rule over them.  If new judges were to be appointed he would do so, when the time was right.  But the people were trying to force his hand.  They were calling for a human king, instead of divine leadership.  They wanted to serve a Hebrew king instead of the Lord of all.

They say...be careful what you wish for...you just might get it.  Israel got its king, Saul.  However, he was not a very good king.  After Saul came David, who was much better.  David was a man after God's own heart, but like all people, he was not perfect.  After David came a long line of kings ranging from inept to downright evil.  This seemingly endless chain of worthless kings was exactly what Israel asked for.

But God did not give up on his people.  When the time was right, he sent a king, unlike any of the others.  He sent Jesus.  Jesus came to break the mold.  Whatever people thought a king should be...whatever people thought leadership should look like, he changed everything.  Jesus did not come to rule over...to subjugate the people, but to save them. It is in John 18:37 as his life is drawing to a close, that he reveals this

Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.  I suspect this is where the problem is with humanity.  Not everybody is listening.  We want leadership.  We will bow to the wishes of a king, a president, or a government... as long as it serves my needs, fulfills my wishes, or aligns itself with my understanding of truth. You can be the king, as long as I'm the boss of my life. So, many people turn away from Jesus because they do not agree with his teachings.  They are not convenient with my lifestyle, or because people do see Jesus' teachings in the lives of those who claim to follow them.

I am going a little off topic now, but the problem with the Church is that it is full of people.  I believe that the Church is very much like a hospital.  It is here that we find out that we have a terminal disease...sin.  However, through faith in Jesus Christ, this disease is curable.  This healing is an ongoing process.  The call of God's holiness in our hearts is a lifelong project of growth in God's grace.   However, many of us are in the same place that the Israelites once were.  Thank you, Lord for all that you have done for me, but I think I'll take it from here.  You can be God, as long as I am the king of my life.  The people of the world see this in the Church.  They see people who call Jesus Lord, but try to wear his crown. 

Folks, there can only be one Lord.  The can be only one King...and we are not it.  It is not the people, not the pastor, not the District Superintendent, and not even the bishop.  We are just leaders within the Church.  None of us are the king.  There is Christ and Christ alone.  Jesus was there at the beginning of time.  He came to earth as a baby.  He died on a cross for our sins, and he was raised from the dead.  But he is still the King, and his kingdom has no end.  Listen to Daniel 7:13-14

"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Jesus was king before he was born and will be king forever.  All power and glory has been given to him by God the Father, and one day...he will come again. 

Leadership determines success...not because the leader is leading, but because the followers are following.  Jesus Christ is lord and king of all.  If we are Christians, it will be because the world will see us following him.

I am not the boss! I am not the king!

But I know the king of kings!

he lives in my heart

And I will live for him.

Go live as a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ king of heaven and earth!