Struggles with internal politics and leadership decisions relative to legitimacy and clearly respected lines of authority dominated at least a part of the ministry of the Apostle Paul.
Paul reports some of the background of the early church's process for working out these issues in Galatians 2:1-14.
What causes me pause whenever I read of these internal wranglings over order, authority and power is this one sentence that describes a fundamental, inviolate truth that all leaders were required to follow in those early days:
"They asked only one thing, that we remember the poor, which was actually what I was eager to do" (Gal.2:10).
that truth is one of the most important as it brings so many others with it. remembering the poor implies empathy for them, an effort to help them, and instills a sense of community in the places where the poor are actually remembered. in our day, it is growing more difficult to remember the poor even though their numbers are increasing. i feel like too many are getting distracted from our destitute (unfortunately most of my reference is aimed at those who wield the most power {except God} over the circumstance). great post and thanks for sharing. may God bless you.
ReplyDeletealex
http://curiousmang.blogspot.com/2011/06/bad-big-businesses-going-good.html