Endtime Indications - 1/24/08
Climate change worse than feared, says Al Gore*
From correspondents in Davos, Switzerland
January 24, 2008 07:05pm
Article from: Agence France-Presse
CLIMATE change is occurring far more rapidly than even the worst
predictions of the UN's Nobel Prize-winning scientific panel on
climate
change, climate campaigner and former US vice-president Al Gore said.
Recent evidence shows "the climate crisis is significantly worse and
unfolding more rapidly than those on the pessimistic side of the IPCC
projections had warned us," Mr Gore said.
There are now forecasts that the North Pole ice caps may disappear
entirely during summer months within five years, he told a gathering
at
the World Economic Forum in Davos.
In 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued
a
massive report the size of three phone books on the reality and risks
of
climate change, its 4th assessment in 18 years.
Global warming is a key theme at this year's meeting of the world's
business and political elite in Davos.
1-1-12-The Bible
(Mt. 7:20)
"Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."
We should evaluate teachers' words by examining their lives. Just as
trees are consistent in the kind of fruit they produce, good teachers
consistent in the kind of fruit they produce, good teachers
consistently exhibit good behavior, and high moral character as they
attempt to live out the truth of Scripture. This does not mean we
should have witch-hunts, throwing out church school teachers, pastors,
and others who are less than perfect. Every one of us is subject to
sin, and we must show the same mercy to others that we need for
ourselves. When Jesus talks about bad trees, he means teachers who
deliberately teach false doctrine. We must examine the teachers
motives, the direction they are taking and the result they are
seeking.
Jesus called his hearers to put his teaching into practice. Jesus
advised: do to others what you want them to do to you. If you hear
and obey Jesus' words, you are like a wise man who builds his house on
a rock.
God saves men by His sovereign grace through the Atonement of Jesus;;
He works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure; but we have to
work out that salvation in practical living. If once we start on the
basis of His Redemption to do what He commands, we find that we can do
it. If we fail, it is because we have not practised. The crisis will
reveal whether we have been practising or not. If we obey the Spirit
of God and practise in our physical life what God has put in us by His
Spirit, then when the crisis comes, we shall find that our own nature
as well as the grace of God will stand by us.
Thank God He does give us difficult things to do! His salvation is a
glad thing, but it is also a heroic, holy thing. It tests us for all
we are worth. Jesus is bringing many "sons" unto glory, and God will
not shield us from the requirements of a son. God's grace turns out
men and women with a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ, not
milksops. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to live the
noble life of a disciple of Jesus in actual things. It is always
necessary to make an effort to be noble.
(From My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers)
Are you a champion of the Golden Rule, or are you a rookie? Try to
apply the rule while on the phone with a client, after work with
friends, at the Little-League baseball game, or wherever else you
encounter people today. Try to enrich each relationship with it.
(Mt. 24:23-24)
"At that time if anyone says to you; 'Look here is the Christ!!' or
'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false
prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive
even the elect-if that were possible."
Jesus' warnings about false teachers still hold true. Upon close
examination it becomes clear that many nice-sounding messages don't
agree with God's message in the Bible. Only a solid foundations in
God's Word can equip us to perceive the errors and distortions in
false teaching.
Christians need to be watchful and prepare for Jesus' return, because
we don't know when it will be.
If you lose your faith, you will probably do so gradually. In tiny
increments you will get spiritually sloppy. You will let a few days
slip by without consulting your compass. Your ails will go
untrimmed. Your rigging will go unprepared. And worst of all, you
will forget to anchor your boat. And, before you know it, you'll be
bouncing from wave to wave in stormy seas....
Stability in the storm comes not from seeking a new message, but from
understanding an old one. The most reliable anchor points are not
recent discoveries, but are time-tested truths that have held their
ground against the winds of change....
Attach your soul to these boulders and no wave is big enough to wash
you under.
(From Six Hours One Friday by Max Lucado)
How faithfully do you pray, read the Bible, attend church? Are prayer
and Bible study regular parts of your life, or do you just resort to
them in emergency situations? Ask God to help you be more faithful in
anchoring your life in Jesus, even when there are no storms on the
horizon.
Goals:
Participants may:
1. Discover with the group the Bible's potential as a caring
resource.
2. Practice using the Bible as a tool for caring.
3. Gain increasing familiarity with the content of the
Scriptures.
4. Learn to prize the Bible the Bible as God's Word to us.
5. Discover other ways in which God communicates with us.
6. Experience Christian community with the group.
Opening Prayer
Blessed Lord, you have caused all of the Bible to be written for our
instruction and growth. Help us diligently to read it, hear you speak
through it, and take its message to heart, so that by its comfort we
can comfort and care for others. Amen.
The Bible
Many of the guidelines for prayer covered in the previous chapter also
apply to the use of the Bible in a training relationship. For
example, as with prayer, your use of the Bible needs to fit in as a
natural part of your total conversation. Just as you need to choose
prayers to meet the specific needs of a person, so should you gear the
sharing of biblical principles and passages to people's specific
needs. There are two additional points to make namely why and how you
can use the Bible effectively in your training relationships.
Why Use the Bible
The Bible is an excellent resource for training people because it
records how God has trained His children through the ages.
The Bible summarized the work of Jesus, saying, "For God so loved the
world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should
not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). The people you train
are people experiencing the bad news of the world. They live in the
midst of suffering, oppression, conflict, grief, sickness, tragedy,
and finally death itself. They could use some good news: they could
use the gospel.
Therefore, you use the written Word of God because it contains the
message people need to hear. You use the written Word of God because
it is practical: it deals with the same kinds of concerns people still
have. But there's a third reason to use the Word of God: it's alive!
To paraphrase St. Augustine: "What the Scriptures say, God says." The
Word of God works in the hearts of believers for good.
This is not to suggest that you should administer the Bible in large
doses at every opportunity. A physician with a good drug does not
prescribe it for every illness. You listen, you diagnose, and you use
the Bible as a resource when it is appropriate.
How to Use the Bible Effectively
Choosing a Translation
The Bible translation you decide to use in your training will depend
on your personal preference. Sometimes people you train will feel
more comfortable with a certain translation, and in such instances you
might want to honor their preference. But there are also times when a
good modern translation breathes fresh meaning into Scripture for
someone. If you know which version an individual prefers, bring it
with you, or ask permission to use the person's Bible; this is
preferable. It will help the trainee become familiar with it.
Carrying a Bible
If you carry a Bible with you, it is a good idea to mark appropriate
passages ahead aof time with slip of paper so you won't have to thumb
around frantically trying to find a passage. A smaller sized Bible
might be the best to use, one you can slip into your pocket or purse.
A large Bible can create the impression that you came to bludgeon the
other person into insensibility with a flurry of verses. If you do
carry a larger Bible, keep it at your side rather than setting it down
between you and the other person. In this way it will not interfere
with the conversation, yet will be handy when you're ready to use it.
Knowing Passages Ahead of Time
In order to use the Bible effectively, it is important to know
passages relevant to some typical situations. You can begin by
keeping a list of appropriate passages as you do your own reading and
collect verses from others. You might ask the people you care for if
any verses are especially significant for them. That will not only
equip you to be a better trainer to them, but also will allow them to
give you something.
Knowing some passages beforehand enables you to choose appropriate
ones quickly and easily, matching them to the needs of the person.
You might want to mark some of these passages in your Bible, or commit
them to memory.
Introducing Scripture
When you think it would be helpful to refer to Scripture, you might
say:
=B7 When you talk about your feelings of sorrow, I remember the
words Jesus spoke about people who mourned when he said, "Blessed are
those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matt. 5:4).
=B7 Something that really spoke to me when I was in a situation
similar to yours is the story of the death of Lazarus where it says,
"Jesus wept." If it was all right for Jesus to cry with grief, it is
certainly all right for us to do the same.
=B7 You mentioned in the past that you enjoy reading the
Psalms. Would you like to read Psalm 121 with me? I find that this
psalm encourages me in personal difficulties, and maybe it will you
too. What it says is that God is always with you and is your
protector.
What should you say after sharing a selection from the Bible with
someone? Sometimes no further comment is necessary, since a passage
might have spoken clearly and directly to the person's need. Other
times you might wish to share a few of your thoughts about the passage
and how it relates to an individual. Or you can simply ask the
person, "Does this spark any thoughts or feelings in you that you'd
like to share?" Be open to discussion.
Sometimes you and the other person will want to spend time discussing
a passage. It is not a waste of time to spend much of a visit talking
about one of more biblical selections if these center around the needs
of the individual. In this kind of discussion, avoid extensive
monologs. As you talk about a passage, be sure you do a lot of
listening. This will help ensure that your discussion meets the needs
of the other person. Your comments about the passage should guide the
person toward understanding it relative to his or her own life
situation.
The Bible is not to be used to lambaste, manipulate, or bombard people
with your own judgments. Instead, share the Bible with them to bring
reassurance, to confront when necessary, to deepen understanding, and
to strengthen their relationship with God in the midst of their
current situation. Your use of the Bible is another way in which your
kind of training - Christian training will help them live their life.
Training by the Book
(Coffee Cup Counseling - Harold Sala)
"An experiment was conducted recently by psychologist at Vanderbilt
University who wanted to know if the advice of untrained,
nonprofessionals who were warm and cordial was as effective as that of
trained psychotherapist. The group of professionals, some of the best
in their area, had an average of twenty-three years experience behind
them. The second group were college professors who had no formal
experience or training in counseling.
"Both groups worked with troubled people for no more than twenty-five
hours, and at the end of that time comparisons were made. The
results: 'Patients undergoing psychotherapy with college professors
showed...quantitatively as much improvement as patients treated by
experienced professional psychotherapists.
"In an unrelated article the Washington Post's magazine, Insight,
decries the impotence of psychoanalysis saying, 'Where surgeons to
have the same cure rate as psychoanalysts, there would be no surgery:
they would all be in prison on malpractice charges.'"
Psychiatrist Garth Wood, in his book The Myth of Neurosis: Overcoming
the Illness Excuse, breaks with the traditions of his profession,
arguing that non-trained professionals are some of the best sources of
help for people. He's convinced that you who have in intimate
knowledge of another person can be a powerful force and catalyst for
good in the life of a trainee. After all, you know the strengths and
weaknesses of your trainee; you know the habit patterns,
idiosyncrasies of personality, and what motivates that person. You
start with an edge that the professional can gain only by hours of
conversation and prodding.
For you who know Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, there is an
additional source of wisdom and insight: the indwelling presence of
the Holy Spirit. During Passion Week Jesus spoke of the coming Holy
Spirit four times. He used a term which had not previously been used
for the Holy Spirit, paraklatos, a word which is translated as
"counselor" in the Bible. Jesus told the disciples that He would ask
the Father to send them another Counselor, who would guide them into
truth and show them things to come. This is the same One who indwells
the child of God today and can give him insights that he would never
have otherwise.
Perhaps you are asking, "Do you really believe that?" I am convinced,
on the basis of my own experience, that the Holy Spirit will help you
focus on things that people say which lead to vital issues. "It just
happens!" you say. I don't think so. God knows the future; He also
knows the past in ways that you do not, and as you train. He will
prompt you to ask questions and give you new insights that you would
otherwise not have. The Holy Spirit serves as the Trainer who guides
you and helps the person you train move into the will of God.
The Holy Spirit and Training
The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, is holy because
holiness is part of the nature of God. Behind the word "holy" are two
concepts: purity and separation. he is not an abstract or a
philosophical idea, but a person with the will and mind of God. He
brings conviction. He guides us into truth. He is the agent of
conversion; and when it comes to training. He is the source of
lasting personality change as our old nature gives way to
Christlikeness.
For centuries people have debated the issue of nature versus nurture -
heredity versus environment, yet it matters little when the Holy
Spirit begins to work in a life, a process which is described as
"sanctification" in the New Testament. Three times we are told this
work of "knocking off the rough edges" of our old nature is the work
of God's Holy Spirit.
This grand work of sanctification by Good's Holy Spirit in the lives
of people is something that cannot be understood or duplicated in the
secular world. It is the victory of the Spirit over both heredity and
environment.
The Holy Spirit works through men and women who are in touch with Him
- which means God uses you as you help people work through their
problems. In his book Competent to Counsel, Jay Adams says, "The use
of human agency in counseling... does not in itself by pass the work
of the Spirit; to the contrary, it is the principal and ordinary means
by which He works."
In other words, God, through the agency of His Spirit, works in and
through us to bring people into conformity with His will. You have an
important part to play in restoring the order in the kingdom of God
that was lost as the result of sin's dark entrance into the world.
This is why you need to work in harmony with the Holy Spirit, and not
against Him, in guiding people toward the will of God.
The contrast between the mentality of the secular person and the
individual in whom the Spirit of God dwells is nothing new. Paul
experienced this struggle in Corinth as he tried to communicate the
difference that a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ really makes.
Almost as though he was giving up trying to relate to the secular
mind, he says, "The natural man does not receive the things of the
Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; not can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Cor. 2:14)
What difference does this Christian attitude make as we strive to help
people?
Training in Cooperation with the Spirit of God
Biblical Training is God-centered
Most secular counseling is man-centered and deals with "felt needs."
The temptation for the Christian who has been trained in a secular
environment is to keep man at the center and bring God into his life
in such a way that God becomes a spiritual "band-aid" to get man off
the hook when he is in trouble.
The whole focus is wrong! We must understand there will never be
enough pieces to fit the puzzle of life's problems together apart from
a relationship with God. This is why Jesus Christ came. God's plan
is to bring us into harmony with His divine will and thus to change
our natures through the new birth.
As long as thinking is fuzzy in this regard, we will never use the
larger picture, and our image of God will only be a reflection of our
own natures. Our God will be too small!
Biblical Training Recognizes the Sinfulness of Human Nature
This is not to imply that anyone who struggles with a problem is
suffering from sin, but it does recognize that most of the problems
that require training are the result of man's sinful nature. Notice
the cataloging of the characteristics of the flesh or man's sinful
nature recorded in Galatians 5:19-21), the very factors creating
unhappiness today. Among the list are "adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, licetiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions
(arguments), jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions,
dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the
like.
When the Bible says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God," and "There is none righteous, no, not one," (Rom. 3:23, 10),
it becomes obvious that even the best of people bear the incipient
dregs of rottenness which are found in the worst of people. And,
inversely, in the worst of people there will still be certain
qualities which reflect the fact that man was made in the image of the
divine.
Have you ever had the experience of going to your garden to till the
soil and finding a boulder or an old rotten board that had to be
moved? As You picked it up, dozens, possibly hundreds of creeping,
crawling bugs and slugs began to squirm. Such is what is dredged up
from the recesses of the heart because of our old natures. Speaking
of the heart as the seat of our affections and choices, Jeremiah
wrote, "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately
wicked; Who can know it?" (Jer. 17:9).
How else can you explain the humiliation and devastating consequences
which have followed the poor choices some Christians make, choices
which resulted in actions totally out of character with the lives
these individuals had lived over the years? To their dying days they
will regret the decisions which embodied the sordid thoughts within.
Realizing that none of us is immune from the same, Paul warns,
"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1
Cor. 10:12).
Biblical training recognizes that a person, no matter who he is, sins
because of the pull of his earth child nature, as well as because of
his personal choices, so that none may say, "I'm not responsible; I
couldn't help it!" We sin by nature and by choice; the end result is
problems which create situations that we just can't handle without
outside Help.
Though sin is a spiritual problem, the emotional natures of our lives,
our relationships with each other, and how we feel about ourselves are
affected. All of this is part of our mental image and health.
Discouragement and despair are the marks of the mentally ill, who have
struggled with their problems month after month, in some cases year
after year. To tell people that their behavior is perfectly normal,
and that they must simply learn to accept it, is to sentence them to a
life of perpetual despair.
To tell someone, "Look, your problem is sin! But there is an answer
to this problem!" is neither cruel nor devastating. It defines the
malady and offers a solution.
Your job as a trainer-leader is not that of a surgeon (removing the
problem), but rather that of one who holds the flashlight so the
person himself can see the problem. Then let God's Spirit do the
surgery.
In dealing with problems which have taken people outside the will of
God, you don't have to berate or condemn them, but help them identify
the problem and correct it by following the next guideline.
Biblical Training Follows the Principles of God's Word, the Bible
Many of the situations which cause people to reach out to others for
guidance are situations which merely necessitate decisions of one kind
or another. We live in a world of stress, and at times we need
someone to say, "Look, you are on the right track; keep moving,"
reinforcing what the person feels is the will of God for his or her
new life.
Few people who fill the pews of churches today understand what it
really means to be forgiven, to be a child of God, and brought into
the family of God. Having never been confronted with the sovereignty
of God, they are overly concerned with the multitude of worries which
drive them into the asphalt. Not understanding the will of God, they
struggle, often against Him, in trying to put things together which
are not really in their best interests.
Vast resources in the Bible can be brought to bear on our personal
needs. The greater our knowledge of God's plan for our lives, the
less will be the need for individual training.
Biblical Training Results in Liberation, Not in Further Bondage
"For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is
life and peace" (Rom. 8:6). God's Principles really work.
Life Traumas
It doesn't take long for trainers to recognize that each training
situation, each session, and each trainee is in some way unique. Even
though there are general principles of training the specific
techniques and approaches which might be very effective with one
trainee may be less effective with someone else. This uniqueness
contributes both to frustration and to the challenge of training.
Since each problem is unique and since the number of potential human
problems is legion, it is not possible to discuss every training
situation, especially in the lessons of this course. In the first
four lessons we described some general training guidelines which can
apply regardless of the specific trainee program. The remainder of
the lessons we have considered what probably are the most frequently
encountered training issues. Each of these was viewed from a biblical
perspective. The causes and effects of each were discussed and
suggestions were given for training and prevention. In this lesson we
want to give a briefer overview of several less common but
nevertheless prevalent problems. We will conclude by looking at a
question which Christian trainers hear frequently: "Why?"
Training and Childlessness
One of the most poignant pictures in the Bible is that of Hannah
"greatly distressed," weeping bitterly and crying out to God because
she could not get pregnant. In Bible times childlessness was
considered an indication of divine disapproval, and women such as
Hannah, Sara, Elizabeth and others were embarrassed and distressed
when their marriages were childless.
Although we no longer see childlessness as an indication of God's
disapproval, the inability to bear children still is a great stress
for many couples - especially wives. Infertility strikes 10 to 15
percent of married couples, and the rate has been increasing within
recent years partly because many couples choose to postpone child-
bearing until after 30 when fertility tends to be declining. Whenever
a couple begins to realize that pregnancy is not forthcoming. even
after repeated attempts to get pregnant, or when there is a medical
confirmation that the husband (in 40 percent of the cases) or wife is
sterile, there first comes a period of surprise . This tends to be
followed by grief (similar to that discussed in a future lesson),
anger ('Why me?"), and isolation from friends who might ask
questions. Later there is denial and a reluctance to admit the
problem, followed finally by acceptance and a willingness to find
alternative sources of satisfaction (such as a greater devotion to
one's vocation, a decision to adopt or become foster parents, or
involvement with other people's children).
When their infertility is discovered, women especially feel guilty and
inadequate. Many feel family and social pressures to bear children
and often there is a sense of failure or a feeling of sexual
incompetence when pregnancy does not occur. Sometimes there is a
constant concern and worry about the problem. According to one
counselor, the whole world looks pregnant to the woman who can't
conceive, "Everywhere she goes she sees babies and bellies." This
creates tension which can disrupt marital stability, throw off the
body's cycles and delay conception even further.
Counselors at fertility clinics have noted than many couples are
reluctant, even ashamed, to admit their infertility. perhaps they
feel that infertility is an indication of their inadequacy as males or
females. Some may feel uncomfortable discussing sex, even with a
medical counselor. Others may resist genital examination by
physicians, and some may fear that they will be told, "It's all
psychological. Go home, relax, and keep trying to get pregnant."
The trainer should be aware of this reluctance to talk about
infertility. If a married couple remains childless after several
years of marriage you may wish to gently raise the issue, but try not
to fall into the pressuring attitude of well-meaning relatives or
friends. If the couple does not wish to talk about their
childlessness, assure them of your availability to talk about their
childlessness, assure them of your availability to talk at any future
time and do not press the issue further.
When you are involved in training a childless couple, the following
guidelines should be remembered.
=B7 Childlessness may have several causes including
physiological sterility, psychological tension, or a deliberate
decision to remain childless. Do not assume that you know why the
couple has no children.
=B7 If a couple has chosen not to have children try to find the
reasons for this. You may wish to talk with the husband and wife
together and then separately.
=B7 Recognize that the decision to remain childless may be
logical and carefully considered. Both husband and wife may feel
called to serve God in special careers, for example. In other cases,
the decision not to have children may reflect insecurity, fear of
intimacy, a desire to avoid responsibility or some other inner or
interpersonal conflict.
=B7 When there is a desire for children but an inability for the
wife to get pregnant, referral to a physician is imperative. Begin
with referral to the family doctor then, if the problem persists, try
(with the help of the local physician) to find a doctor who has
special expertise in fertility problems. Both husband and wife should
seek the medical consultation.
=B7 Do not condemn, probe into areas of sexual intimacy that may
not concern you, assume that all couples should have children, use
trite platitudes, or even hint that you find the problem amusing.
=B7 Recognize that many couples need consistent support,
especially during times when a new medical or other procedure has been
tried and found to fail. Couples may also need opportunity to discuss
their guilt, anger (even at God), feelings of inadequacy, fear of the
future (including old age with no children), loneliness and
frustration. Some of these feelings may create tension which
contributes to the psychological causes of sterility.
=B7 Focus on the theological issues involved. These include the
common idea that God is punishing the couple by preventing pregnancy,
or that he doesn't care. There is no scriptural basis for either view
and couples should be helped to discuss these issues, including the
question of "Why?" or ethical issues such as artificial insemination.
At some time mention that sterility is no reason to abstain from
sexual intercourse in marriage, and correct misconceptions about God's
will or the purpose of marriage.
=B7 Help the couple find alternatives to bearing children.
Realistically discuss adoption, becoming foster parents, becoming
involved in vocational activities (e.g. working as house parents, in
day-care, etc.), and similar issues. If childlessness has become a
preoccupation, raise this with the husband and wife. Then discuss
other meaningful activities (e.g., child sponsors, mission work, etc.)
that can give purpose to a life apart from children.
It is estimated that about half of those who are involuntarily
childless can have children following medical diagnosis and
treatment. Others adopt children, become foster parents, or plunge
into a meaningful life and vocation without children. Perhaps 15
percent "remain to mourn," to accept their permanent childless state,
and then to accept "indirect" parenthood which comes from contact with
the children of others.
Training and Illegitimate Pregnancies
A different problem is that of the unwed mother. The number of
illegitimate pregnancies, especially among teenagers, has been an
important part of our society. Although sexual intercourse apart from
marriage is becoming more and more accepted in our society, this does
not help the individuals involved, cope with it. The Bible strongly
condemns intercourse apart from marriage, and illegitimate pregnancies
still are spiritually disapproved. Of course the male, whose sperm
impregnates the woman, is as much a part of the problem as the unwed
mother, but the father's identity is sometimes unknown even to the
woman. Males can hide their involvement since they do not show
evidence of pregnancy, and sometimes the father "takes off" leaving
the unwed mother to face the pregnancy alone.
Unwed mothers often try to keep the pregnancy hidden for as long as
possible. Anxiety, fear of parental reaction, concern about social
judgment, guilt, self-condemnation and sometimes anger all serve to
keep the unwed mother preoccupied and away from sources of help and
prenatal care.
When the pregnancy is discovered there are often outbursts of anger,
condemnation, fear, panic and general confusion, especially if the
pregnancy involves teenagers. All of these emotions may be brought to
the Christian lifestyle trainer. Clearly this is not the time for
moral exhortations, theological discussions, or intellectual debates
about the reasons why the girl became pregnant. Instead, training
should involve several overlapping goals.
First, allay the initial fears. Do not discourage initial expressions
of anger, hurt, guilt and fear, but continue to show acceptance,
understanding, and a quiet confidence. Remember that a loving, wise,
forgiving God will guide you, as you train the individuals to cope
with the challenges.
Sometimes there will be considerable resistance to the training. The
unmarried girl, for example, may resist because she has been brought
or sent for training against her will; she may never have learned to
trust people; or she may see the trainer as a condemning, unforgiving
authority figure. Unwed fathers may have similar insecurities and
resistances.
During the first session attempt to give calm reassurance that you
will help (but avoid pious cliches). Try to determine what help is
needed and what the trainee(s) and the family members see as immediate
courses of action. Although you should enncourage a physical
examination for the mother, try to discourage quick decisions (such as
abortion or immediate marriage) at least for a day or two and until
initial emotional expression has been vented. Prayer can be
especially calming, helpful and reassuring.
Second, help trainees consider practical steps to be taken. The major
question to be considered is "What do we do with the baby?" For some
the answer may be abortion. This will be discussed in the next
section.
Others may see marriage and parenthood as a possibility, especially if
the couple has had a good prepregnancy relationship and shows
prospects for a good marriage. If these conditions do not exist, the
marriage will have a low probability of success.
Some mothers decide to remain single and bear the child to maturity.
Many find maternity homes, move to boarding homes, go to live with
distant relatives or foster parents, or stay at home and openly bear
the child. Each of these alternatives should be discussed along with
the issue of the baby's future.
Keeping the baby or making it available for adoption are alternatives
which both should be considered. In deciding on these issues,
trainers MUST draw on the advice and expertise of others in the
community, including local physicians, social agencies, adoption
agencies and lawyers. Remember that unwed fathers are not always
willing to leave the child's future in the hands of the mother or her
family. Increasingly, it seems, unwed fathers want to be as involved
as the mother in making decisions about the child's and the parents'
immediate future.
Third, there can be continuing training. After the prenatal decisions
have been made, either or both of the unwed parents may experience
continuing guilt, insecurity, a lowered self-image, and similar
emotional struggles. The trainer can help with these problems,
especially if he or she has been accepting, noncondemning, and helpful
from the beginning. Early in training it should be stated clearly
that the trainer would like to see the trainees again - if not before
the baby's birth, then shortly thereafter. The unwed mother usually
needs someone with whom she can share the details of childbearing and
the grieef that often comes if a baby is given up for adoption.
Ideally the parents of the unwed older parents may have their own
problems about the out-of-wedlock pregnancy and may be unwilling or
unable to listen or discuss anything concerning their new grandchild.
The trainer, therefore, can be available to the entire family to
discuss feelings, moral implications, and flanning for the future. If
the baby is stillborn or deformed, this can create additional guilt,
grief and confusion - all of which should be talked through.
An unwanted pregnancy out of wedlock is usually a traumatic
experience, even for people in an age of sexual laxity and moral
cecline. The Christian lifestyle trainer can use this experience to
demonstrate and point people to the forgiveness and love to be found
in Jesus Christ. The unwed mother and father can be helped to reach
some new conclusions about responsibility and moral choice. In the
church, the believers can be encouraged to show forgiveness and
acceptance, instead of condemnation, gossip and rejection. In these
ways, the pain of an out-of-wedlock pregnancy can be turned into a
growing, learning experience which can help individuals and couples
live more Christ-honoring lives in the future. It can also alert
parents to a sexual promiscuity which is increasingly common even in
Christian circles, and hopefully prevent further out-of-wedlock
pregnancies in the future.
Training and Abortion
In January of 1973, the United States Supreme Court granted women an
absolute right to abortion on demand during the first six months of
pregnancy, and an almost unqualified right to abortion (i.e., for
"health" reasons - with "health" including psychological, physical,
social and economic well-being) during the final three months.
Suddenly abortion ceased to be a crime and became a right. It ceased
to be the privilege of the affluent and soon became available to all,
sometimes subsidized by taxpayer dollars. The resulting shouts of
approval and cries of disapproval have continued to the present and
have been heard both in North America and beyond. In the meantime,
the number of legal abortions has increased drastically.
Much of the debate about abortion centers on the question of when
human life begins. The Supreme Court concluded that it did not need
"to resolve the difficult question of when life begins." Since "those
trained in the respective disciplines of medicine, philosophy and
theology are unable to arrive at any consensus, the judiciary, at this
point in the development of man's knowledge, is not in a position to
speculate as to the answer." But the answer is crucially important.
If life begins at birth, then abortion is not terminating a human
being's existence. But if human life begins earlier, perhaps at the
time of conception, then abortion is murder. The same legal code
which makexs it a crime to destroy a baby born prematurely makes it
all right to destroy another child of identical age who has not yet
been born. The same law which stresses civil rights, denies these
rights to the unborn.
The Christian lifestyle trainer must grapple with these issues
preferably before he or she trains people concerning abortion.
Christians differ in their conclusions about these issues, perhaps
becaause the Bible is silent on the topic of abortion. The Bible does
make it clear, however, that the developing fetus already is human
life in God's eyes. Life, therefore, does not begin at birth. It
must start either at conception or at some time during the gestation
(prenatal development) period. In the absence of any concincing
biblical, physiological, medical or other evidence to support the view
that life really begins at some specific time during the nine months
before birth, many people conclude that life must start when the male
sperm and female egg unite at conception. if this is true, abortion
is wrong. It is not simply a medical procedure, legal issue or
training problem. It is a violation of the commandment, "You shall
not murder."
Not all trainers will agree with this conclusion, and the issue is
complicated by other ethical concerns such as the rightness or
wrongness of abortion when the mother's life and health are clearly in
danger if the pregnancy continues, when the fetus is clearlyy
deformed, or when the pregnancy results from rape.
An unplanned pregnancy often stimulates anxiety, anger, fear and
discouragement. Abortion, which now is relatively safe, common, even
to obtain, and widely accepted is one way to solve the pregnancy
problem efficiently, quietly and quickly. Although many women
experience some guilt or sadness and wonder about the moral
implications of abortion, there is evidence that these feelings pass
quickly and that few women develop postabortion psychiatric problems.
For the Christian, however, there is still the question, "Is it
right?" This and related ethical questions are best discussed before
an abortion. The woman should feel free to discuss her feelings and
alternatives openly with a supportive, understanding trainer. If the
father is available, he should be involved in the training process as
well. It may be helpful to discuss how abortions are performed, and
questiions should be referred to a competent physician - preferably a
gynecologist. Alternatives to abortion (such as adoption or keeping
the child) should be considered. Trainers may have difficulty hiding
their own views on abortion and probably shouldn't try. Ultimately
the woman must decide what to do before God, and the trainer is there
to help.
If the woman decides to get an abortion, the trainer can either help
her find competent medical care or graciously withdraw from training
and refer her to a trainer who is not opposed to abortion. Either
decision is difficult for the trainer who believes that abortion is
sin, but we cannot and should not force a person to act in accordance
with our wishes. The best alternative is to express our beliefs,
demonstrate our care and concern, and help the trainee find another
trainer.
After an abortion, many trainees can profit from individual or group
counseling which focuses on issues such as feelings about the surgery,
guilt, forgiveness, attitudes toward sex, contraception, the meaning
of femininity, and biblical teachings about life, death and sex. The
goal here is not to condemn or instill guilt. The goals are to help
the trainee to experience God's cleansing and forgiveness; to express
feelings and "work through" the grief process that often follows
abortion; to reevaluate the meaning of sexuaality; to consider
biblical teachings about sex, birth, and life before birth; and to
help trainees move beyond the abortion and into a future where they
can begin or continue serving God and others as true disciples of
Jesus Christ.
Training and Rape
Rape might be definned as a forced, violent sexual penetration against
the victim's will and without the victim's consent. While there can
be homosexual and child rape, most rapes involve the actions of males
against nonconsenting females. Although rape often involves vaginal
intercourse, most experts see it more as an act of violence than as a
means of sexual gratification.
There are many myths about rape, including the views that women
subconsciously ask to be raped, that they enjoy it, and that they
could stop it if they really wished. These myths lead many women to
keep a rape secret, lest police, physicians, friends or others assume
that they really were "asking for it." Thus the rape victim finds
herself revictimized by the people who should be giving help. These
people, including some trainers, may also be inclined to believe that
rapists are always sic and perverted men, that they cannot control
their sex drives, or that they especially prefer victims of another
race. None of these myths is supported by evidence. Each is false.
Rape victims may be classified in three ways, depending on hos they
respond to the rape. The majority show the rape trauma syndrome.
This begins with acute stress immediately following the rape. There
may be fear, anger, anxiety, shock, self-blame and disbelief, often
expressed by crying, sobbing, tenseness, nausea or restlessness, but
sometimes hidd en behind a calm, composed exterior. At this point the
victim may be flooded with feelings of terror, concern for her safety,
and guilt because she did not struggle more. Some women feeel they
have been spoiled or "made impure" and often the woman wonders if the
myth really is true which says women secretly attract rapists.
At this point the trainee is sensitive to someone who will list,
accept and beleve her, especially if she has faced subtle disbelief
and rejection from friends, family, police, or medical personnel. The
trainer can encourage the expression of feelings, can help the woman
find competent medical and legal aid, can give support when she does
encounter criticism, can help her and her friends recognize the myths
about rape, can encourage the victim to discuss her fears for future
safety (and to take action that will increase safety), and can give
assurance of continued support especially as the woman faces crisis
situations in coming weeks.
Two or three weeks after the rape, many women begin to experience
nightmares, irrational fears and restless activity. Often there is a
decision to move, change a phone number, or spend more time with close
friends. Some women develop a variety of phobias including fear of
being alone, in crowds, in places where people are behind them, being
indoors, or being outdoors. Some experience a fear of sex and/or a
disruption of normal sexual activities and responsiveness.. In all of
this the victim is in the process of reorganizing her life following
an experience which probably has been terrifying. Such women need
support, freedom to express feelings, acceptance, an opportunity to
talk with someone who considers them "normal," and guidance as they
make decisions. Many will want to discuss the issue of "Why me?" and
will need to be reassured of God's continued care, love and concern.
Sometimes it helps for a trainer to take the initiative in helping
these women, instead of waiting for the victim to seek more
traditional counseling. It also is helpful to counsel with families
and mates, if possible. These people can be very supportive to the
victim, but relatives often have feelings of their own which need to
be expressed, attitudes which need to be changed, and misconceptions
which need to be corrected.
A second general response to rape has been termed the compound
reaction. Victims with previous physical, psychiatric or social
difficulties sometimes develop more intense symptoms such as
depression, psychotic or suicidal behavior, psychosomatic disorders,
drug use, excessive drinking or sexual "acting out" behavior. Such
women often need referral for help that is more in-depth than crisis
training.
A third response to rape is the silent rape reaction. These women,
including some who were molested as children or adolescents, have not
told anyone about the rape, have never talked about their feelings or
reactions, and have carried a tremendous psychological burden. Later
in life such women may develop anxiety, fear of men, avoidance of
sexual behavior, unexplained fears of being alone or going outside,
nightmares, and a lost of self-esteem. if these women are raped
again, they often spend more training time talking about the pent-up
emotions concerning the first rape than they do about the current
situation.
Studies of rape victims report that most women are able to reorganize
their lives and protect themselves from further assault. perhaps more
than any other influence, the feminist movement has attacked the myths
concerning rape and has helped victims get the medical treatment,
psychological help and practical guidannce they need after rape.
Regretfully, some writers in this same movement are in danger of
perpetuating the idea that the real cause of rape is the deliberate
effort of men to subjugate women. The victimization of women by rape
or any other means is a gross deviation from God's intended plan, but
there is no evidence to support the myth that rapists are really
"front-line masculine shock troops, terrorist guerrillas in the
longest sustained battle the world has ever known," the battle between
men and women.
Rapists are rarely militants in the battle against women. Some are
men who find themselves in a situation where rape would be convenient,
so their action is a spur-of-the-moment decision. more often, rapists
are young, married, employed people whose family life is disturbed,
who can't relate successfully to womenn, and who deny that they are a
menace to society. In each case, rapists need more than supportive
training. They need to know God's forgiveness, to experience the
power of Godd to transform a life, and to participate in training
designed to deal with those underlying issues that caused them to
initiate the act of rape.
Training and Physical Abuse
Within recent years the media, governmental agencies, medical
personnel and professional trainers have given increasing attention to
the problem of child abuse. It is difficult to determine if actual
child abuse is increasing or if we primarily are increasing our
awareness of a lonstanding problem. It is clear, however, that
incredible numbers of children are being neglected, beaten physically,
molested sexually and abused psychologically. While many cases of
child abuse go unreported, others lead to hospitalization and so many
deaths that child abuse has been called m"the major killer of children
in the United States ... one of the primary destroyers of their
emotional and physical well-being."
There is no typical child abuser - the problem is too large and
diverse for that - but studies have shown a cluster of characteristics
often seen in the abusive parents, in the abusing circumstances and in
the abused child. Abusive parents frequently were themselves abused
or neglected in childhood. Often there are unrealistic expectations
for children, a dislike of or disappointment in the child who is
abused, a strong parental belief in corporal punishment, and a
frustration with the child, often accompanied by a feeling that one
can't cope. Also seen at times are unhappy marriages, excessive use
of drugs or alcohol, and isolation from family members or others who
can help parents with the children. There is no evidence that child
abuse is limited to specific socioeconomic or racial groups.
Child abuse almost always comes as the result of events or
frustrations which we might term abusing circumstances, Excessive
demands from children, perpetual crying, continuing sickness, or even
the routine of dirty diapers and messy eating habits can put a strain
on any parent. If the family is also characterized by financial
pressure, cramped living quarters, job insecurity, isolation from
relatives, marital tension, or similar stresses, the pressure of a
demanding child can be overwhelming. in an attempt to 'shut up the
kid" or get a little privacy paarents can increase the child's tension
and this, in turn, accentuates the crying or other stressful
behavior. Eventually it is easy to lose control. Probably all os us
have overreacted to children, at times, and it may be true that given
enough stress, any one of us could abuse a child.
As parents and circumstances vary, so do their abused children. Some
have argued that abused children usually are unwaanted, physically
deformed, unattractive, or handicapped. While some are hyperactive
and aggressive, a larger number are compliant, tense and withdrawn,
almost all are distrusful, looking for love, and delayed in soccial,
intellectual and sometimes physical development.
Trainers might look through their list of trainees or congregation
members to spot families which could be under special stress. A
thoughtful (not patronizing or accusing) offer to give practical
assistance especially in handling the children can often relieve some
of the stress and help prevent child abuse. Lay assistance and
listening are especially helpful, but it should be realized that
prevention is rarely that simple. Parents may need long-term
training, encouragement, education concerning childrearing, and
support from a community of Christian believers. It should never be
assumed that child abuse is limited to nonbelievers or a taboo subject
for Christians.
When child abuse is detedted, medical treatment for the child is of
prime importance, sometimes followed by foster care. The trainer must
recognize that legal implications sometimes determminee who will help
the child psychologically and where. Traditional forms of child
treatment includding play therapy may be used. Almost always the
children will need love, firm guidance, and a sense of security.
Parents can be helped in two ways: by giving them immediate help and
byproviding them with long-range training. Immediate help may
incclude caring for the child temporarily and helping the parent cope
with immediate crises. This can relieve the immediate pressure. Long-
range help may be resisted (especially when it is ordered by the
courts), but the goal is to help parents overcome the effects of their
own depressing or abusice past histories, develop self control, learn
about normal child behavior and acquire coping techniques so that they
can love and care for the children, accept themselves as God accepts
tehm, and learn how to deal with stresses in themselves and in their
children. like the children, these parents often have a great need
for love, acceptance and approval. They need concrete, attainable
goals and a trainer's guidance in dealing with specifics in their past
and present lives.
Space does not permit more than brief mention of another abuse problem
which may be increasing: the abuse of mates. It is well known that
many murders occur in the home, and wives especially are victims of
beatings, rejection, sexual abuse and emotional trauma.
For several reasons, wives often do not report, resist, or flee from
such aggressive encounters in the home. Some have negative self-
concepts and uncounsciously may feel that they somehow deserve the
abuse. Others are convinced that their husbands (or aggressive
children) will reform, that they could not survive economically if
they left, that divorce is wrong, or that they could not get along in
a hostile world. Some sincere Christian women have been led to
believe that beatings are to be endured as the duty of submissive
wives.
many trainers can offer practical help help, guidance and acceptance
for such victims. Within recent yeaars, some communities and churches
have been working to provide safe and quiet placs (including private
homes) where "battered wives" and their children can go in times of
crisis for safety, rest and counsel concerning their options. ideally
the mate-abuser, like the childabuser, should also be trained. Such
training may be resisted, although pastors and other Christian
leaders, unlike professional trainers, sometimes are able to enter
homes and engage in helping conversations which can lead to more in-
depth training.
Checklist of Conditions Leading to Child Abuse
1. As a child was the parent repeatedly beaten or deprived?
2. Does the parent have a record of mental illness or criminal
activities?
3. Is the parent suspected of physical abuse in the past?
4. Is the parent suffering lost self-esteem, social isolation, or
depression?
5. Has the parent experienced multiple stresses, such as marital
discord, divorce, debt, frequent moves, significant losses?
6. Does the parent have violent outbursts of temper?
7. Does the parent have rigid, unrealistic expectations of the
child's behaviorr?
8. Does the parent punish the child harshly?
9. Does the parent see thee child as difficult and provocative
(whether or not the child is)?
10. Does the parent reject the child or have difficulty forming a
bond with the child?
11. Are there currently excessive stresses in the family or paarent's
life?
Training and the Handicapped
The term disability refers to a mental, physical or emotional
condition (defect or impairment) which often hinders the person's
ability to function normally. People whose disabilities interfere
with optimal life adjustment are usually described as handicapped
persons. These people may have handicaps ranging from minor issues
which are almost unnoticed to disabilities which are severely
inhibiting. The handicaps may be physical, mental or both. They may
result from a congenital impariment or birth defect, from injury in
childhood, or from loss of some capacity in later life.
It is rare to find completely handicapped people. While there are
things which the handicapped person cannot do, there also are many
things that he or she can do. Medical treatment is designed to assist
the disabled person as much as possible in the physical area, and the
rehabilitation task is to help the individual live with the disability
and reach maximum effectiveness.
This rehabilitative task is not easy. Physical therapy, special
education and occupational therapy may all be involved. The trainer
may be helpful in assisting handicapped persons to face the handicap
realistically, to overcome the social rejection which is common, and
to deal with issues such as guilt, frustration, anger, insecurity,
anxiety and a low self-concept.
The optimal therapeutic objective may be to help such a person to
appraise his disability realistically so that he will not exaggerate
its negative consequences and see rejection where none exists, deny
its existence and attempt tasks only achievable by a whole man, or
engage in any other defense which is inappropriate and ineffective.
Somehow the patient must be induced to accept his disability, to live
with it, but of course not in the sense of using it to give up the
struggle to live as fully and normally as possible.
Training with the physically and mentally handicapped involves more
than the traditional one-to-one interaction. It involves cooperative
work with physical therapists, educators, physicians and other
specialists. It involves family training.
It is eIt is extremely traumatic for parents to discover that their
child is disabled or impaired. Parental guilt, rejection of the
handicapped person, overprotection, and a number of other family
reactions may appear annd complicate the handicapped person's
adjustment.
jesus was much concerned about handicapped people - the lame, blind,
deaf, epileptic and deformed. He accepted them completely and met
their needs. The Christian lifestyle tainer must do likewise.
Training the handicapped may require creative approaches, forsaking
some favorite techniques, and contact with a network of helpers. This
can be very rewarding work, however, especially if one sees the
disabled person growing in skills, psychological stability and
spiritual maturity, insofar as the person's mental or physical
capacities permit.
Training and the Question of "Why?"
When stress and problems arise, at some time people are likely to ask
"Why?" "Why did this happen to me?" "Why did it happen now?" "Why
did it not happen as I had expected?"
Christian laymen and theologians have struggled with these questions
for centuries and the answers are, at best, incomplete. We suffer,
first, because we are part of a fallen human race. Pain comes when we
are careless, exposed to disease, or lacking exercise and a proper
diet. Secondly, suffering comes to help us grow and mature. For
Christians, problems refine our faith, make us more Christlike, teach
us about God, and produce perseverance and character. Third,
suffering enables us to understand and care more effectively for
others.
Does suffering also result from sin? All suffering ultimately results
from mankind's fall into sin, and it is probable that some of our
present problems come because of the sufferer's specific sin. It must
be emphasized, however, that the Bible explicitly refutes the idea
that specific sin automatically brings suffering. People in need
frequently conclude that "God must be punishing me," but such a
conclusion is, at best, built on shaky theological evidence.
Apparently we cannot know for certain why people suffer. What we do
know, however, is that God is compassionate, all-wise, all-knowing,
and ever present. It is not wrong to struggle with the "why"
questions of life; Chrristian lifestyle training will be involved
often in helping trainees with this struggle. But the ultimate answer
is not likely to be found in intellectual debate. It comes from a
willingness of trainee and trainer alike to acknowledge the certain
truth that the sovereign, compassionate God is aware of our problems
and in control. He knows "why," and that is all that reallyy matters.
Christian Leadership
The Leader's Rewards
For leaders currently embroiled in the toil and stress of facing a
major challenge, reviewing the leadership rewards can be encouraging.
For leaders who feel unappreciated or taken for granted, a
consideration of their rewards can bring them renewed resolve. While
leaders ought to fulfill their leadership responsibilities with noble
intentions and not for their personal benefit, they should be
cognizant of the fact that with their responsibility also comes the
opportunity to obtain unique rewards.
To even the casual observer, the immediate rewards of non-volunteer
leadership are self-evident. The most tangible and obvious reward is
monetary. Those who hold leadership positions usually garner higher
pay than their subordinates.
All leadership brings a second, less measurable but equally enticing
reward, and that is power. leaders in an organization have greater
freedom to control and change their environment. people pay closer
attention to leaders' opinions; people seek leaders' involvement in
activities and their endorsement for projects; people may also seek to
curry leaders' favor by showering them with praise and privileges.
For some, this aspect of leadership is intoxicating. They are
exhilarated when their opinions carry weight with people, and they
welcome the opportunity to express their views to a wide audience.
They enjoy the authority their position affords them. Nevertheless,
such influence comes with a price. Influence comes with
accountability. Authority includes liability. For this reason, many
find that attaining a position of influence is relatively easy
compared to the much harder task of maintaining it. The cost of
influence, including peoples' high expectations and increased
responsibilities is simply a higher price than some are willing to
pay. If having influence were easy, more people would have it!
Positional influence, unlike character influence, is transitory,
because when the position ends, so does the influence.
A third conspicuous reward for leadership is prestige. Leaders are
usually treated with respect. The world places a premium on status,
but true leaders recognize its actual value. Prestige appeals to
people's egos; it can bring out the worst in people, and it is as
fleeting as the morning mist. People who seek leadership positions in
order to achieve status have disqualified themselves from holding such
positions. They will discover, to their dismay, that prestige can be
an albatross more than a reward. For, along with prestige comes close
scrutiny. It can be unnerving, even to the most upright person, to
have every move watched and evaluated. Prestige is therefore a third
bittersweet reward for leadership.
There are, more noble rewards that make the efforts of leadership
worthwhile. These rewards allow virtuous leaders to enjoy the fruit
of their labors and to experience a deep sense of fulfillment. The
following are the meaningful rewards leaders can anticipate when they
lead their people according to God's standards.
Spiritual Rewards
At the end of his life, the apostle Paul said, "I have fought the good
fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the
future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only
to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Tim. 4:7-8).
Paul's words epitomize the true reward for a Christian leader who has
led well. Such a leader can expect the reward of God's affirmation
and the satisfaction of a calling fulfilled.
God's Affirmation
No other reward could possibly equal the joy that comes from knowing
almighty God is pleased with you and what you have done with your
life. To sense God's affirmation and pleasure in the present life and
to know that he has eternal rewards waiting in the next life is to
experience a prize of immeasurable value. No earthly treasure can
compare with it. Christians, leaders and followers alike, have peace
knowing that death assures them of being in God's presence for
eternity.
Could there be any greater satisfaction than having spent your life in
obedience to God's call? Could there be any greater comfort than
approaching death without fear, knowing you have invested your life in
developing a relationship with the God of heaven? That is the highest
reward for leaders, as it is for every believer - knowing that heaven
welcomes you and because of your relationship with Christ and your
obedience to his will, your heavenly reward awaits you.
A Calling Fulfilled
This is a second reward for godly leadership, and it is closely tied
to the first. It is the satisfaction of knowing you have accomplished
God's will and purposes for your life. There is no more worthy
ambition for people than to fulfill God's purposes for their life.
God calls some people to serve him in leadership roles (Eph. 4:11).
Those God calls to leadership positions, he also equips for
leadership. For those people to do anything else would be to invest
their lives in less than God's will. Those who resist God's will for
them never experience all God had in store for them.
Leadership is a broad term that covers a wide spectrum. Some are
called to lead in smaller capacities. Others are assigned positions
of great influence. No matter how grand or how seemingly small a
position, those who have been called to lead will misspend their lives
and squander their potential if they do not yield to God's will.
Some people know God has called them to lead, but they are
apprehensive. They may be reluctant to leave the security of their
present position. They may fear the criticism that inevitably comes
with leadership. They may fear the criticism that inevitably comes
with leadership. They may doubt their abilities, which means they
question God's sufficiency. But if they will allow God to stretch
them personally, he will lead them to do things they never thought
possible. They will one day look back over their lives and marvel at
all God did through them. There is no life more fulfilling to live
than a life lived according to God's will.
The Rewards of Integrity
There are additional personal rewards to Christian leadership. These
benefits are the overflow of God's blessing on leaders who lead God's
way. A life of integrity is a life that is true, consistent, and
genuine. Integrity brings many intrinsic rewards, but tragically some
leaders forsake integrity in their quest for success. The results are
disastrous. Even if they win, they lose. The following are four
rewards inherent in a life lived with integrity.
Integrity at Home
If you want to know what a leader is really like, ask his family. A
leader with integrity will not give his best at work and then serve
emotional and physical leftovers to his family. If a leader is known
at work as easy going, quick to forgive, and always willing to go the
extra mile, yet she behaves like a short-tempered tyrant at home, she
lacks integrity.
People only have so much time and energy. if they direct all their
reserves to job-related pursuits and don't pace themselves, they will
have nothing left, regardless of how much they claim to love God and
to love their family. Conscientious leaders know their priorities,
and they order their lives accordingly.
leaders with integrity are purposeful in leading their families just
as they are diligent in their work. They understand that their
greatest achievements as leaders should occur in their homes. if they
are zealous in solving problems at work, they are even more earnest in
problem solving at home. If they are known for their courteous and
upbeat attitude at work, they are even more so in their home. If they
are respectful of their coworkers, they go to even greater lengths to
honor their spouse and children. leaders who are consistently loving,
patient, and kind whether at home or at work prove they are genuine
Christian leaders. Leaders can accomplish marvelous feats in the
public eye and be praised as heroes. But the real heroes are the ones
who go home at the end of the day to a family that loves and respects
them.
True Christian leaders move their families from where they are to
where God wants them to be. Although they enjoy seeing progress and
growth in their organizations, they take even greater delight in
seeing growth and maturity in their families. God has clearly laid
out his principles for leading families (Eph. 5:22-6:4). Those who
unwaveringly follow God's instructions will experience success in the
most important arena of leadership - their home (Prov 22;6). As a
result, spiritual leaders will leave behind them a "godly seed," which
carries out God's purposes generations afterward (Deut. 6:4-9; Mal.
2:11-15).
Integrity at Work
There is a profound reward for people who invest themselves with
integrity in their work. For as long as they lead an organization,
Christian leaders give their best. True leaders stive to do well, not
so they will earn a higher salary or gain people's praise, but to
honor God. Such leaders go home at the end of the day knowing they did
their best.
pastors and counselors are particularly susceptible to sexual
temptation because their duties often require them to hear
confidential details of the personal lives of emotionally vulnerable
people. These situations are not easy, but wise leaders will remember
that no matter where they are, they are in God's presence.
Their obedience to Christ supercedes their obligation to their
organization. Sometimes taking a stand for God's way and refusing to
participate in ungodly ventures will cost Christian their leadership
positions. Leaders who put godliness before worldly success can take
comfort in knowing their integrity is intact. Moreover, they can
trust God's promise to honor those who honor him (1 Sam. 2:30). God
will not abandon someone who has sought to glorify him. Christian
leaders' main concern regarding their career should be: "What is God's
plan at my workplace?" God's primary concern is advancing his
kingdom, not advancing people's careers (Matt. 6:33). When God calls
leaders to new jobs, they should look back over their completed
assignments and ask themselves: "While I worked there, was God's will
done through my life?" (Matt. 6:9-10). If the answer to this
question is yes the leader has led with integrity. Those Christian
leaders who refuse to compromise their Christianity while leading
their organization will know tremendous satisfaction at the end of
their journey, and they will be able to sleep at night along the way.
Integrity in Relationships
Integrity pays some of its largest dividends in the area of
relationships. Some leaders have willingly forsaken relationships
through the course of their lives in order to achieve success. They
have alienated friends, colleagues, and family members. Some
ambitious leaders have used people as steppingstones on the path to
prosperity. As a result, they have left a trail of embittered and
resentful former friends behind them. Such leaders are generally
lonely people. By the end of their careers they have little else but
their work to occupy them because they have destroyed or neglected
most of their relationships. Wise leaders know that people are never
the means to an end; they are the end. No matter how eager leaders
may be to achieve their goals, true leaders will do everything
possible to treat others with dignity and to preserve relationships.
They will be above reproach in their dealings with everyone regardless
of how they are treated themselves. Pastoral leaders must understand
this truth. pastors are called to lead people who are usually less
mature spiritually then they are. When these people reveal their
immaturity, pastors do not give up on them or steer clear of them.
They help them grow to maturity. Immature people do not prevent
pastors from achieving God's purposes. The people and their spiritual
growth are God's purpose.
Integrity with Self
Every year an alarming number of executives and Christian ministers
take their own live. many do so because they cannot live with the
shame and regret they feel for violating their morals and religious
convictions. God gives clear guidance to leaders on how they should
conduct themselves. While some leaders can become hardened to ethical
and moral failures, most people know when they have broken their vows
to God, to their family, and to themselves. They stand tried and
condemned by the court of their own conscience. Those who violate
their own standards of decency, morality, and Christian principles are
in danger of sacrificing their personal integrity. If that is lost,
nothing else will matter.
On the other hand, those who remain true to their convictions derive
great satisfaction in life. Leaders with integrity will not only know
in their hearts how they ought to live; they will steadfastly live out
their convictions throughout their lives.
The Rewards of Having Made a Contribution
Contributions to People
Great leaders are people who make those around them better people as
well. leaders should not underestimate the influence their character
has on those who follow them. leaders who invest in people will know
the deep satisfaction of seeing these people fulfill God's purposes
for their lives. There is no greater experience for leaders than
rejoicing with those who have matured in their faith as a result of
their leader's faithfulness.
Contributions to Organizations
Leaders may not always known the full extent of their influence upon
people, but their impact upon an organization is more easily
measured. Christian leaders can know tremendous satisfaction when God
leads them to a weakened, directionless organization and through them
brings renewed strength and purpose. Many pastors have known the
fulfillment of helping a declining church become revitalized. Truly
one of the most satisfying experiences for leaders is leaving their
organization stronger than they found it.
Contributions to a Successor
One of the most important, yet often overlooked, responsibilities of
leaders is that of leaving a successor. God gave his people specific
instructions concerning how they were to train and prepare the
emerging generation of leaders (Deut. 6:6-9; 20-25). For God's
purposes to continue, each generation must be prepared to embrace a
fresh relationship of love for him and obedience to his word. That is
why true spiritual leaders are always investing in the next generation
of leaders.
Often leaders do not carefully consider their successor until they
come to the end of their time as leader. Many leaders give little
thought to the conclusion of their leadership and so they do little to
prepare for it. However, when suddenly faced with leaving their
office, they realize that much of their work will have been in vain
unless there is a capable successor. True joy comes in knowing that
one's work has been preserved and is continuing due to the leader's
careful preparation of a successor.
The Rewards of Relationships
Leaders know that of the many rewards available to them, one of the
most treasured is the pleasure that comes from their relationships.
The reward that often brings the greatest satisfaction is knowing they
have developed deep, meaningful, and abiding relationships.
Family
Family relationships have the potential to bring leaders both their
greatest joy and their deepest grief. Much depends on how leaders
nurture their family relationships. Wise leaders cherish their
relationships with their family. They find solace in their homes when
their world is so hectic. Wise leaders are diligent to apply godly
leadership skills in their homes. Just as leaders move their
organizations to follow God's will, they also seek God's plan for
their families. Just as leaders evaluate their performance as leaders
in their organization, they also reflect on their performance as a
loving parent and a faithful spouse. Leading one's family to
Christlikeness takes prayer, deliberate choice, and conscientious
effort.
Long after a task is done or a project is finished or even a career
has ended, the leader's family will continue to provide a deep source
of fulfillment. Christian leaders who have led their families well
can generally look for their children to enjoy following their God
just as they have. Knowing that one has led well both at work and at
home brings tremendous satisfaction.
Friends
Leadership is not about positions but about relationships - with God
and with people. Since leadership involves working closely with
people, deep and lasting friendships can and should develop. True
leaders value people. One quality that characterized many of
history's great leaders was the number of close, loyal friends they
enjoyed. Close friendships are the leader's reward for investing in
the lives of people.
People need to know that their leader cares for them. Leaders need
friends. The responsibility of leadership can become overwhelming
unless leaders are strengthened by strong friendships. Friendship is
an effective stress reliever. Being able to relax and share one's
feeling with concerned friends is critical to a person's mental and
emotional health.
Once work is done, or retirement has come, those friendships
continue. Once people no longer hold positions of power and
influence, they have an unobstructed view of who their true friends
are. Friendships do not come haphazardly. They come intentionally.
For leaders who love their people, friendships are inevitable.
The Rewards of influence
There is a final reward that has potential for bringing great
satisfaction to leaders, and that is the reward of influence. It is
an influence that comes from an impeccable track record. leaders are
symbols. At the close of their formal period of leadership, leaders
symbolize all that God did during their time of leadership
positive, enduring influence comes from ending a leadership career as
well as it was begun. In other words, it comes through integrity.
often leaders lose their influence because of the poor way they end
their official leadership positions. leaders who overstay their
welcome or who alienate themselves from the next generation of leaders
forfeit their opportunity to continue exercising influence in their
senior years. The younger generation looks for mentors and
consultants. If all they find is criticism and resistance, they will
seek counsel elsewhere. On the other hand, leaders who graciously
encourage the next generation and help them assume leadership roles
will continue to make valuable contributions long after the name plate
comes off their office door. leaders who have spent their careers
learning anbd growing can find rich contentment sharing their wisdom
with others and having their life encourage those who come after them.
Conclusion
Christian leadership is a noble undertaking, but it is something God
must assign. Moving people on to God's plans for them is an
exhilarating endeavor. Helping people grow, mature, and gain new
skills is immensely gratifying. Taking weak, ineffective
organizations and transforming them into robust, productive
enterprises brings tremendous satisfaction. Nevertheless, such
leadership does not come arbitrarily. People do not become Christian
leaders haphazardly. They become leaders through the opportunities
the Holy Spirit provides as they strive to become the kind of people
God desires them to be. Effective leadership results from hard work
and a continuing effort to learn. Ultimately, Christian leadership
comes as a result of the working of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy
Spirit who reveals God's will to people. It is the Holy Spirit who
equips people to lead others. It is the Holy Spirit who guides
leaders and authenticates their leadership before people. It is,
therefore, essential that leaders cultivate a deeply personal and
vibrant relationship with God as they strive to become the kind of
leader God wants them to become.
Where do leaders begin when they want to improve their leadership
skills? They begin with God. They stand before God and ask him to
reveal his evaluation of their character and leadership. Leaders
search God's Word to see if their leadership is in keeping with the
standards God has clearly established for leaders. Leaders also take
responsibility for what is presently happening in their
organizations. If there are problems, leaders ask, "What is it about
my leadership that has allowed this to happen?" When organizations
struggle, genuine leaders don't blame their people; they ask God to
show them how to make a positive difference. Finally, leaders grow.
They learn. They continue to change until they have the character and
walk with God that is required to lead their organization
effectively. Leaders who are willing to make the effort will
experience the joy and satisfaction of being used by the Lord to make
a significant difference in their world.
What if you have failed in your attempts to be a leader thus far? Is
their any hope? Yes. If you sense that God has called you to be a
leader but you have failed to lead according to biblical principles,
there may still be the opportunity for you to become the leader God
wants you to be. If you know you have neglected areas in your
personal growth in your pursuit to lead others, ask God to take you
bck to those places in your character in order to develop you properly
into the kind of leader that pleases him. If you have disregarded
personal holiness, don't waste another day displeasing God. You may
need immediately to get alone with God and your Bible and allow God to
speak to you about changes that must take place in your life before he
will use you for his service once again. if you have broken
relationships, or if you have not been leading your family properly,
ask God to help you put those areas back in place before you ask him
for a new opportunity to lead. If you have children who have rejected
God's Word, daily allow God to mold you into the kind of domestic
leader you must be if you are to exert a godly influence upon your
family. The biblical pattern suggests God is sequential in the way he
develops leaders. He will undoubtedly take you back to the steps you
bypassed before he will develop you further as a leader. Don't give
up! Be patient. Allow God to take all the time he wants to build
your character. If God has called you to lead, he is perfectly
capable of developing you into the leader he wants you to be. No
person, no demon, no circumstance, no obstacle can prevent God from
accomplishing his will in your life. It only takes your willingness
to obey him and to do what he ask you to do next.
Messages from God
=B7 Job 1;8; Daniel 9:23; Luke 3:22; Luke 18:28-30
=B7 2 Corinthians 5:9-11
=B7 Acts 13:36
=B7 Philippians 3:14
=B7 Acts 26:19
=B7 John 17:4
=B7 John 19:30
=B7 Ephesians 5:22-6:4
=B7 Ephesians 6:5-9; 1 Timothy 6:1-2
=B7 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17, 23
=B7 2 Corinthians 5:9
=B7 Matthew 6:33; Matthew 6:9-10
=B7 1 Samuel 12:3-5
=B7 Acts 20:18-21
=B7 Romans 8:29
=B7 John 15:12
=B7 1 Chronicles 11:10-47
=B7 Psalm 92:12-114
=B7 Proverbs 22:6
Student Prayer
Guide my steps, O Lord, that I might always, in every way, be found
pleasing in your sight. Grant me special insight that I might
recognize your presence in my life. Amen.
Homework
1. Using the Tool-10 minutes
A friend has a child who has just been killed in an auto accident.
You are sitting outside the emergency room, and your grief is
aggravated by the fact that you had a rather poor relationship with
him or her. You have the job of ministering in this situation. A
tool I would like to suggest you use in your ministering (when
appropriate) is 2 Sam. 18:33, where David grieves over his son's
death. Give yourselves 30 seconds or so to get mentally prepared and
then begin sharing with the class as if they were the friend.
2. Now take five minutes to discuss your role play. Discuss the
following two questions: How did you know if it was appropriate to use
this scripture passage? Was it possible to introduce the Bible
passage in a way that sounded smooth and natural? If so, what made
that possible? If not, what could have been done differently to make
a smoother transition into the passage?
3. God with Me-
God communicates in many ways. For some it might be through the
Bible. For others, in dreams or through other people. Take about
three minutes to share an experience in your life when it seemed to
you that God was speaking loudly and clearly to you through the Bible.
4. Give a one-sentence prayer of thanks to god that he communicates
with his people.
Closing
God speaks and things happen: People are
confronted,
Challenged,
Healed,
forgiven.
God speaks and things happen: People are
helped,
motivated,
transformed,
made whole.
God speaks: Let's celebrate!
Amen.
For more information go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jeramiahs_back_aga=
in/
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