In reference to the title of this blog: One of these things is not like the other...
1 Timothy 5:21
I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.James 2:1
My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.James 2:9
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.I've been silent for a while now and it it time to break my silence. No I didn't take a vow of silence, I've just been rather busy, and truth be told didn't have anything to write about.
Well now I do...
In college I was part of a group that was supposed to be the elite of the elite. (Obviously since I was a part of it they weren't that picky.) What I found out during those 4 years is that it wasn't really anything but a big political machine. No we weren't the young republicans or young democrats but everything was politically motivated.
What I mean is that everything had a motive. To be the star you had to kiss some major gluteus maximus, be "in" with the right people, and pretend to be a certain way. If you did not do any of those things you weren't really anyone, oh sure you were a part of the group but you didn't get any breaks.
This isn't all that hard to swallow in the world as they know no other way to operate other than trying to impress someone and "WIN" their prestige. They scramble to know the 3 W's:
Know What to kiss, Know Who's to kiss, and know When to kiss it and the attention it brings is the reward. What is sad (great understatement)is when this happens in churches.
Now what really bugs me about this is that Leaders usually get their posterior kissed so that someone can gain favor, a position, status, stage time etc. The wise leader knows this and is on the look out for it. All too often though leaders don't see what is going on and acquiesce to the
Tulips being planted. Without even realizing it some leaders become incapacitate by this whole movement. The end result is that only the
Tulip planters are asked to do anything and become major forces in the church. The ministry suffers, and the church becomes in raveled in "Church Politics."
At the heart of this is ego and favoritism. Lets face it, we all like to have our egos stroked now and then. It feels good! So where do we go wrong? When we start to have the attitude that it feels so good to have my ego stroked that I no longer see anyone but the
Tulip planters. Then if you don't stroke my ego, well you don't deserve to have a spot in this that or the other. When we show favoritism to those who play the games to get what they want, that is when it gets bad, very bad!
Clearly the Bible teaches against showing favoritism to someone because of their status, wealth, or position. But what about showing favoritism to those who use political means to get what they want from us? That sort of political maneuvering, ego stroking, and favoritism can't be acceptable, can it?
Leading takes some serious effort. The very nature of leadership is difficult, you have to be out front, the one cutting the trail, pushing thru the snow, showing the others which way to go. To be a leader is sometimes equal to being a 24 point buck in the middle of a field of hunters on opening day of hunting season, you ARE the target. Sometimes its easier to just step back and follow, other times its easy to let the position go to your head, and then again sometimes we don't even realize we aren't leading anymore.
Cause or effect? Does showing favoritism cause a leadership vacuum or is favoritism the effect of a leadership vacuum? Regardless of which you think it is, the Bible is clear that we are not supposed to do it, no favoritism allowed, even of yourself. Try this one on for size...
Romans 12
Living Sacrifices
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his[b]faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Love
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.
17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[d]says the Lord. 20On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."[e] 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.Don't know bout you, but that doesn't fit too well. Its kind of like a suit that is too small and dipped in starch. It doesn't fit and is uncomfortable.
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