Marching into a cupboard!

It was while I was a student at the Bible Training Institute, in Glasgow, that I first came across the name of Stuart Briscoe. He was, at that time, involved with the Capernwray Bible School, and also spoke at the annual Keswick Convention. 

He writes, somewhere, about the funeral for a war veteran in which the deceased's military friends had a role in the service.  The friends requested that the minister lead them to the coffin for a moment of silence. They would then follow him out through a side door.

The plan was executed with military precision - until the minister opened the wrong door, and marched the former soldiers into a broom cupboard! The men, and the embarrassed minister, were obliged to make an awkward retreat.

That clergyman made an honest mistake, but the incident illustrates the importance of leaders knowing where they are going. As go the leaders, so go the followers! 

The children's game "Follow the leader" that was popular during my own pre-multiple video-games, internet, computers, mobile telephones, and all of the other accouterments of today, adds to that statement. In that game, it was not enough to simply follow the leader wherever he went. One had also to copy his actions! It was a case of "Go where I go; do what I do" - and could lead to additional embarrassment!

The apostle Paul left his young friend, Titus, on the island of Crete, in order that he might establish a  good witness for the Lord Jesus. There appears to have been some form of witness, but there were problems with which Titus was to deal. "This is why I left you in Crete, that you might amend what was defective, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you, if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of being profligate or insubordinate." (Titus 1:5-6).

Titus was to appoint leaders for the growing group of believers. However, those leaders had to meet clear criteria. Except for preaching the Gospel, finding the right leaders was the most important thing that he could do for the disciples of Jesus on Crete. Those leaders were to be male; married to only one wife; and with children who were believers (indicating that the leader was to be of mature years!).

Those criteria have not been changed, and are confirmed in I Timothy 3. Those in positions of spiritual authority and influence in the church today, should meet those standards, and guide others to greater maturity in their relationship with the Lord Jesus. Followers should, at the same time, hold their spiritual leaders accountable to those goals. One of the things that saddens me greatly is the number of those in leadership in the church, today, who do not meet the Biblical requirements. Jesus said: "And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit." (Matt 15:14).

The only leader worth following is the one who is, himself, following the Lord Jesus.Whether you are a leader, or a follower, know where you are going. Otherwise, you may end up in a cupboard - or worse!