I am very excited to write for this synchroblog on leadership. I had a few churchy things up my sleeve. I thought about some of the things I had the privilegeto teach on leadership (from one who is fallen yet redeemed). I also wrestled with writing something about politics. Given the title you can see which one I chose.
Ah, diversity. This was buzz word back a few years ago as companies looked to meet the challenging market demands. Many companies prided (and many still do) in being diverse and having diverse leadership. I believe in many churches this has been something overlooked and many of Ty’s and my earlier posts dealt a lot with race in the church. This is still a huge issue for us and maybe we will begin to revisit it. My man CJ has been doing a great job of this over at his blog also.
Given the thick and what I believe to me the most tense election of my life I wanted to talk about diversity in American politics and why the Church in America should really desire it.
1. It Fairly Represents America
I think those who want Christian leadership alone have no desire to work at being the Church. This great nation is made up of many different religions, dialects, ethnicity and personal convictions. All of these need to be represented if we are to really have a democracy. To have one people group dominate and be the voice of all misrepresents the great diversity God has so blessed us with. I know I might sound like a liberal, but we need humanists, activist, fundamental Christians, homosexuals, Muslims, Atheist, and Postmodernist running this nation collectively. Each will bring a unique view and be able to let the voice of those individuals be heard. I would NEVER want a majority Christian leadership, because though I love Jesus I believe this would be bad for this nation. Shoot, just look at Europe during the 16th-17th centuries. Didn’t work well then and I don’t believe it works well now.
2. Diversity allows policies to be balanced
I don’t think having a Christian moral value system as the standard of law is right. Again I will pull my liberal card out for this one. If so where do I stop? Fornication, gossip, lying, greed (which is idolatry), adultery, unforgiveness, selfishness? You see where I am going? Diversity brings a group of individuals together who want to both preserve life, but also not be overly religious in setting laws and public policies. That is why a gay senator is good for America and a lesbian Supreme Court Justice. That is why a Muslim Congressman and a Jewish Vice-President are good for America. We need Atheist politicians and humanistic judges. Why? Because the policy is to be good for America and America is diverse with a trillion different moral convictions.
3. Diversity Should Stimulate Conversation
Finally though it has not happened, a diverse leadership should stimulate a conversation. Let me explain this one. Diversity forces me to hear what others think. Put a group of individuals that are dogmatic for the same thing in a room and there is little conversation and much head nodding. However, bring in a few liberal folks, a couple of moderates and now you have fireworks. We need our leadership to be diverse so that weak areas are covered. If we have too many conservatives many of the poor and marginalized are ignored, too many who happen to be a bit more liberal moral decay, if no one cared about the world pollution would be rampant. These are stereotypes but you get what I am trying to convey. Too many of one people and weaknesses are exposed.
This was my feeble attempt to try to communicate what I think about leadership especially diverse leadership within American politics. Thanks for reading.
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This post is part of a Synchroblog on Leadership. The following blogs took part in the experiment:
Jonathan Brink – Letter To The President
Adam Gonnerman – Aspiring to the Episcopate
Kai – Leadership – Is Servant Leadership a Broken Model?
Sally Coleman – In the world but not of it- servant leadership for the 21st Century Church
Alan Knox – Submission is given not taken
Joe Miller – Elders Lead a Healthy Family: The Future
Cobus van Wyngaard – Empowering leadership
Steve Hayes – Servant leadership
Geoff Matheson – Leadership
John Smulo – Australian Leadership Lessons
Helen Mildenhall – Leadership
Tyler Savage – Moral Leadership – Is it what we need?
Bryan Riley – Leading is to Listen and Obey
Susan Barnes – Give someone else a turn!
Liz Dyer – A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Polls…
Lionel Woods – Why Diverse Leadership is Good for America
Julie Clawson – Leadership Expectations
Ellen Haroutunian – A New Kind Of Leadership
Matt Stone – Converting Leadership
[...] Lionel Woods – Why Diverse Leadership is Good for America [...]
[...] Lionel Woods – Why Diverse Leadership is Good for America [...]
[...] Lionel Woods – Why Diverse Leadership is Good for America [...]
[...] Lionel Woods – Why Diverse Leadership is Good for America [...]
I don’t believe that an exclusive Christian leadership in a “pagan” country can work, and diversity… people generally are only willing to go so far.
I’ve seen diversity work within the context of the law, and companies diversified because the LAW required them to. Because of that, many companies have come to understand its benefits especially in a global marketplace.
Forgive me for seeming pessimistic, but diversity in the leadership in America as you’ve expressed can’t have the balancing effect simply because of the tension between elements. There is no utopia for American Leadership.
I Ain’t Nobody!
DJ,
You said:
“There is no utopia for American Leadership.”
That is very true, but at least a diverse one reflects who America is. The only utopia will been we Jesus Christ reigns as King of the World, maybe this is more sooner than we think or much longer than we would like.
What’s good Lionel…
I understand your point of the necessity for leadership to actually reflect the diversity seen in this country.
But do you really believe that a leadership in America made up of those elements you’ve expressed can truly happen?
I Ain’t Nobody!
[...] Lionel Woods – Why Diverse Leadership is Good for America [...]
Lionel, I agree – a diverse leadership has many benefits. I just think that we have to be sure that we are not putting someone in a leadership position simply because it would achieve diversity. In other words we shouldn’t put someone in leadership simply because they are a woman or a particular race or a particular religion just because we want diversity. We should look to what that position requires from a person and decide who has the characteristics, experience, knowledge etc. to best fill the position. If I am voting for POTUS I am going to vote for the person that I believe will best achieve what I think is good for our country. If I am hiring someone for a position at work I am going to choose the person who I think can do the best job. If I am selecting someone for a position at church I am going to try and find someone who appears to be gifted in what the position requires.
I really appreciated your thoughts on this. We live in a pluralistic society with people from different cultures, faiths, and ethical perspectives. God gives us the freedom to disagree, and as long as people aren’t physically harming each other it makes sense to me that we strive to have a nation where people are fairly represented.
[...] Lionel Woods – Why Diverse Leadership is Good for America [...]
I’m all for diversity but I long for leadership of any sort that is in submission to the Father.
Not me Riley. Unless that dude is like David Black, Joe Miler, Alan Knox, BLD, or Hutch (though Hutch stays strapped!) LOL!
Liz,
I agree with that. I don’t want diversity if competentcy is at risk!
John,
I had found your blog, and then missplaced it. I added to our RSS so I can read it more frequently. I really enjoy the way you write.
Thanks for your thoughtful remarks. Diversity, too, is the expression of God’s glory. I like the pic. It’s beautiful.
Brother Lionel,
I understand your argument but I offer this:
Matthew 6:25-33 (and I’ll paste verse 33 here):
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
There’s a point at which we as Christians are to live in this world with unbelievers. It’s a dubious relationship because we must also call them to repentance. It’s not enough to say that plurality is the status quo. Things always change. They may change for what seems is the better or what seems is the worse. God will be glorified in all ways. However, we must be wary when dealing with those who are not filled with the Holy Spirit, or who don’t act in the power of the Holy Spirit.
For the Jews, it meant falling away from God to the point where they went into exile. There are many stories of horrendous things in the Bible. At what point is a society complicit in the killing of every male child under the age of 2 in Bethlehem? At what point is a society complicit in the reasonable killing of the weak and diseased as they were in Germany? At what point were the members of the governing party complicit in the killing of millions of Jews in the Holocaust? Yet we know from recent history that the people were lulled into accepting an ideology that was contrary to the prescriptive will of God. Most simply accepted the lies that the media told them and were stunned to learn of the atrocities they had allowed to happen in their own back yard. Those who didn’t believe it were punished. Even now in other parts of the world, people who choose to believe in another religion are summarily killed. I’m not saying that things will get that bad here, but it’s not outside the scope of the horror that God will allow us to accomplish even here in the United States. Even now thousands of babies are killed each day.
There is no easy cut and dry method for the Body of Christ to live peacefully in a pluralistic society with people who despise Christ. He promises that we will suffer for His names sake. I would observe that if you’re a Christian and you’re not being persecuted, then you’re either not really a Christian or wait and it will happen.
What is good for the United States is Christ. There is no other good, for others look for provision for their material needs and despise the One who provides. Our churches have been compromised and the Truth is diluted with our political delusions. If biblical and world history is any indication, the United States will most likely devolve into tyranny and the Church will be purified through persecution for a considerable season. God will be glorified in this.
And I would argue that neither Obama nor McCain, nor anyone else, could prevent this course. Leadership? It’s as Christ told Pilate: we have no power that God has not given us. This is the same God who gives His Holy Spirit to indwell His people. This is also the same God who hardened the heart of Pharaoh.
So, how should we then live? I leave you with these excerpts from Eph 5:1-21
11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
and
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
where
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Jim,
There are only two problems brother.
1. Jesus never tells us nor do any of the Apostles ever encourage us to use the sword to get people to be moral. I think the New Covenant actually forbids such a thing. The Gospel is good news that changes from the inside out. Not good force that changes people from the outside in.
2. Jesus and the Apostles do tell us to engage the world with the Gospel and it is the power of God. We are to be Ambassadors, we are to be gentle and not quarrelsome. If someone rejects our Jesus we are to love them. If someone is immoral it is a symptom of a wicked heart. But never are we encouraged to be salt and light by political alignment.
Which leads to this. Do align myself of with someone who hates adult Muslim life or unborn infant life? Both are equally evil to me.
Thanks a lot. I’m glad to hear that. I am just finding your blog since the Synchroblog and really enjoying it. I’m adding it to my feeds now.
lionel, YES, i so agree. the more diversity the better!!!! it is how a much more integrated image of God & community is reflected, in my opinion. thanks for your thoughts!
[...] Lionel Woods – Why Diverse Leadership is Good for America [...]
Kathy,
I checked your blog and I really like it. So you are a co-pastor? Hmmm… nice!
Lionel I feel your heart, but I don’t believe that diverse leadership is the answer to America’s ill’s. At least from the standpoint that the Church in America should be advocating or championing.
Yes it’s great that it may be representative of the nation as a whole, but it is the very thing that the enemy uses against us. That tension created between Muslim and Jew, Christian and Atheist, Black and White will not be eliminated simply because they feel they have representation. I would even argue that it could bring further polarization between the elements especially if they feel one sector is benefiting more than another. This current election testifies to that!
Heck even Christendom testifies to this fact! Look at the diversity of beliefs within “Christianity”. To be a “Christian” was (and maybe still is) a cool buzz word not too long ago. Anybody was claiming to be a “Christian”. So now when the unbelieving hears someone claiming to be a Believer, they automatically dismiss them. People who truly are modeling there life after Christ time and time again have to deal with this… guilt by association.
What I am NOT saying is that Christians SHOULDN’T be involved in the political process. There are many Believer’s employed in this sector. But I think involvement should be tempered by the fact that… DEAD PEOPLE DO WHAT DEAD PEOPLE DO!
Jim I think you’ve made some excellent points!
“What is good for the United States is Christ. There is no other good, for others look for provision for their material needs and despise the One who provides. Our churches have been compromised and the Truth is diluted with our political delusions. If biblical and world history is any indication, the United States will most likely devolve into tyranny and the Church will be purified through persecution for a considerable season. God will be glorified in this.”
I concur!
I believe that Believer’s should participate in this political system based upon their convictions. But not through coercion, intimidation, fear or demonizing! For God’s will shall be accomplished! That is the overriding issue for me, I vote according to my convictions and rest in the fact that no matter the outcome, God’s will be done!
The Church who represents Christ’s campaign so to speak, shouldn’t be campaigning on Hope, Change or America first. Christ’s campaign slogan could be what He and John the Baptist cried… “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
Selah!
I Ain’t Nobody!
[...] Lionel Woods – Why Diverse Leadership is Good for America [...]