Ridgell's Originals

 Americans like to vote.  We think that the majority should rule.  And even tho every church I know denies it, we tend to let our churches reflect our culture.  But faith communities are not democracies.  Never have been.  

Look how most churches select elders.  We nominate and then we vote.  I am not saying that is all bad, but it is reflective of our culture.  My point is not going to be about selecting elders.  It is about letting the people decide what is best.  And I get that individuals have to decide what they believe God wants them to do.  But churches cannot decide important matters based on what they think the majority want.

"If we change thus and so, then I think many of our people would leave.  Better leave it alone."

"If we do not change thus and so, then I think many of our people will leave.  Better change it."

People do not always know what is best for them.  That is why churches are not democracies.  Maybe we are a monarchy.  God is King.  

Elders have to know Scripture.  Life experience helps them know how to apply truth into lives.  But it will not always be popular.  It may not be what most of the people want.  But the job of leaders is not to please people.  It is to lead people to follow Jesus.  It is to lead people to heaven.

Aaron gets it.

His brother Moses was off getting the ten commandments.  God's people wanted gods to go before them.  They were unhappy with Moses.  Impatient.  Wanting a better way.  Badgering Aaron.  Pressure.  Rebellion.  

And Aaron caved.  Gave the people what they wanted.  Popular leader.  

But he was wrong.  I don't know what would have happened if Aaron had stood against the will of the people.  I do know what happened when he listened to them.  

Death.  

Scripture is full of stories and examples of what goes wrong when the people are in charge.

But that was then and this is now.

I am sure we today are smarter.  And surely God wants the church to be run just like our country.  We know best.

Except we don't.  Never have and never will.

So we need leaders who will follow God and not us.  

Whether we like it or not.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM