As Christian leaders, we should be careful how we guide others, since sometimes the way we are guiding others may not necessarily be following God's will, but following our own agenda. Some Christian leaders may appear to be guiding others, but in actual fact, they are merely getting others to align to their ways. When there is dissent or disagreement from certain members, some of such leaders may reproach such members, or issue warnings to them to toe the line, or even have such members suspended, even though what is being dissented or disagreed is sensible and valid. This begs the question: are we as Christian leaders only expecting members to become "yes men or yes women" just to rubber stamp what we do, without proper evaluation, scrutiny or discernment?
In today's Gospel, Jesus cautions us: "Obstacles are sure to come, but alas for the one who provides them! It would be better for him to be thrown into the Sea with a millstone put round his neck than that he should lead astray a single one of these little ones. Watch yourselves!" When we try to enforce our own agenda, without any room for scrutiny or dissent; when we expect others to blindly or obediently accept our ways or our views; when we insist that only our way is the way to go; then we may be creating obstacles for others to grow and be of service to God. We may also be leading others astray, since we are concerned only with our own agenda, our ego, and our pride. May we come to realise what we are doing, and change our ways so that in all we do, we do it for the glory of God.
No comments:
Post a Comment