NO BIBLE NO BREAKFAST DAILY BIBLE REFLECTIONS AND MORE

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “Change takes courage.” “Change takes courage” means that challenging the status quo to bring about transformation requires boldness and resilience to speak the truth. It acknowledges that moving beyond established patterns and comfort zones to adopt new behaviours ultimately leads to growth and a more fulfilling life. Galatians 2:1-14 describes Paul’s meeting with the apostles in Jerusalem, where his gospel of salvation by grace through faith was affirmed, and his confrontation with Peter in Antioch over Peter’s inconsistent behaviour towards Gentile believers. We shall reflect on the fact that the Gospel is the truth that gives us courage to bring about change.

Beloved in the Lord, Paul, who was a junior apostle, dared to preach change in the way the Gospel is practised by Peter, who was his leader and senior in the apostolic ministry. Peter was a “senior” apostle and, together with others of his rank, was the leader of the Church. They commissioned Paul as an apostle when Christ appointed and empowered him to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. Paul confirmed this fact when he wrote, “For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles.” Galatians 2:8 We can therefore say that Peter was ahead of Paul in ministry. Ordinarily, Paul took instructions or directions from Peter, but when the time came for Paul to speak truth to his senior and leader, he courageously confronted Peter for being a hypocrite. Paul wrote, “When Cephas(Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.” (Galatians 2:11-12) Paul courageously called Peter to order because Peter was an influential leader and others looked up to him for instructions in the faith. No wonder Paul wrote that “The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. (Galatians 2:13) In other words, Church leaders ought to remain faithful to the teaching of the Gospel lest we lead our members astray. Let us remember that Peter was the same person who said in Acts 10:34 that “…Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” This is the same Peter who refused to eat with Gentile Christians in Antioch to please other Jewish Christians who had a misconceived understanding of the Gospel. Interesting, isn’t it?

The lesson of the day is that if we want a change in the behaviour or attitude of hypocritical and inconsistent leaders, then we must be ready to courageously confront them with the Gospel. We must be bold to remind them of the truth and nothing but the truth. We must hold leadership, and for that matter, our fellow believers accountable for their wrong deeds by courageously drawing their attention to the Gospel of Christ. It is our divine duty to remind our fellow Christians, and for that matter, church leaders, to hold on to the truth or the Gospel so that we don’t place ourselves and those we lead under the bondage of sin. We are greatly admonished by Jesus, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)  In Africa, the action of Paul would have been described as insubordination and disrespectful and therefore attract sanctions since our religio-cultural and political systems do not usually give room to a subordinate to question the actions of superiors or leaders. This must not be condoned among Christians; we have the obligation to courageously speak the truth, and according to Peter’s own admonishment in Acts 5:29, “We must obey God rather than human beings! What happens if we are timid and refuse to courageously speak the truth to our leaders for a change? What do we become if we allow leaders to act in ways that are inconsistent with the Gospel? How does God see us when we allow leaders to lead members astray through their disobedience of the Word of God? The answer is in James 4:17, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” In other words, if we know the truth or the Gospel, yet we look on either through timidity or indifference for others to disobey the Gospel, then we are equally as sinful as the disobedient people. It is for this reason that we are being emboldened to be courageous in speaking the truth if we want a change in our church and, by extension in our nation. We must learn to speak truth to power or those in the position of authority if their behaviour is inconsistent with the Word of God. Jesus, is our greatest example when it comes to preaching or speaking the truth courageously, He said to the leaders and elites of His time, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. ²⁸ In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” (Matthew 23:27-28)

In some churches, tension and conflicts have arisen simply because congregants and young ministers have questioned the wrong actions and decisions of leadership. People who courageously speak the truth have become the target or victims of vindictiveness and abuse of power by leaders who engage in hypocrisy and double standards. Usually, when a subordinate or a nonconformist questions the wrong decision or action of leadership, he or she is classified as disrespectful, an enemy to the administration and a rebel. Paul was a nonconformist to a hypocritical and discriminatory church leadership; he was a conformist to the truth or the Gospel of love and inclusiveness, hence he dared to confront Peter’s hypocrisy and inconsistency. Do we have pastors in the 21st-century church who can courageously confront church leaders when they are inconsistent with the teachings of Christ? Do we have pastors who, for the fear of transfers to unfavourable stations, would prefer to be mute or condone the ills of church leaders? Is it the case that some pastors want to maintain their current positions or want special favours or privileges from church leaders, hence, they refuse to speak about the wrongs and inconsistencies of church leaders?

Away from ecclesiastical leadership, in some countries, people have lost their lives, and some have been imprisoned for confronting the unjust and unreasonable actions and decisions of political leaders. In some instances, some people have gone missing for many years just because they questioned the corrupt practices of a government. Both church and political leadership must understand that leaders are human beings given privileged positions; they are fallible, especially when the will of God is ignored for the pursuit of selfish ambitions.

In sum, leaders are not above reproach or rebuke. The Scripture is the truth and our standard of measuring our actions and inaction including that of church leaders, It is for this reason Paul admonished Timothy, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Paul enjoins us in Galatians 6:1 that “Brothers(and sisters), if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” It is our Christian responsibility to endlessly confront that which is against the will of God and correct that which is wrong, regardless of who the wrongdoer is. However, the correction must be done courageously and with love and gentleness for the sake of positive change, the unity and development of the church and the nation. Leadership comes in different forms, from parenting, class prefectship, to the highest ecclesiastical, traditional and political office. Let us all re-examine our leadership responsibilities and ask God to purge us of any hypocrisy and deeds which does not conform to His will. Shalom.

QUESTION FOR REFLECTION

1. What better ways can we correct our leaders when they make wrong decisions or mistakes?

2. What decisions of leadership in your church and nation needs to be reviewed to conform to Scripture and the will of God?

PRAYER

ALMIGHTY GOD, HELP US TO UNDERSTAND THAT LEADERSHIP IS A PRIVILEGE AND NOT A POSSESSION, MAY WE ALWAYS ACCEPT CORRECTIONS AND CONFORM TO YOUR WILL. AMEN.