A Gracious Legacy of Leadership and Integrity
One of the things that intrigues me most when reading from the bible is the spirit of honesty and openness in which it was written. I’m talking about the Old and New Testaments altogether now. You wonder, how did the story of David’s adultery become public knowledge in such elaborate detail? Can you imagine that at one time, such sordid news about the most popular Israeli ruler till date, hit the headlines? That is potentially devastating enough for any country, so to what purpose is documenting it as a lesson for generations. Apparently, if you where God’s PRO, certain things will never have made it into the Bible. 
What a legacy …
You can only name too few of similar instances. Look at Abraham, the father of faith according to the bible, the stories of his fearfulness and unbelief in the same bible are probably too many for your comfort. Moses wrote the first 5 books of the bible, many of our leaders today would think the prophet probably needed a lesson on management and public policy, couldn’t he have doctored the story of Noah so it didn’t end with him getting drunk and … So on?
The Fathers of the Christian faith, the twelve disciples of Jesus and company, could have easily done differently as they wrote the gospels and epistles, but instead they made me know that Peter, the most prominent of them, in one night, denied Jesus three times! Yeah, I know he repented, I’m just saying …
Do you understand how important the notorious history of Paul of Tarsus, the apostle, was to his witness?
13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1Ti 1:13-17
He didn’t just preach a message, His story told the message very strongly, The gospel was his very own testimony.
Truly Gracious
I wont pretend I fully understand this concept, but I tend to believe that God intended to make an example of how he dealt patiently and graciously with this people, so that we can fully understand or appreciate the grace with which He is dealing and beckoning on us too.
Every time I read about the powerful exploits of righteousness these men of God did, I am blessed… And when I come across their shortcomings and mistakes, I am further inspired that God is interested in me despite my own weaknesses, and that when His grace is through working on me I would come out better than I ever was, without a blemish or a spot.
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Rom 15:4
A legacy of hope
This is a challenge, maybe an appeal sort-of, to our Leaders, in the church and Christians in affairs of Government and politics. It’s disheartening that many of our states men and women go to church, and seat on the high table, yet daily rumors of corruption and embezzlement are told in their offices, our witness to the Gospel is losing integrity, but they greet the TV cameras with a rhetoric smile and tell us it is well.
Most of our Church pastors and bishops are too high up and far away, to be influential on the flock. We have forgotten how to trust them, because we don’t really know them and so can’t identify with them, their story looks retouched, jerry-curled… you know, too darned cosmeticised (permit my usage) or artificial.
I was in a meeting of church workers some weeks ago, where the pastor was telling his workers that to show commitment to his ministry, they had to believe it was the best church around, as if there was nothing better anywhere else. Now assuming such a concept of unique commitment to any church was necessary, where did we get the idea that for me to show you love or commitment, I had to believe you were the best person in the world? Is this how we pass on a legacy of Leadership? A leadership with integrity? Nay! the bible says we should judge or correct one another with love, this is how to sow seeds of integrity.
What’s the hope for younger leaders coming on board, if there is no passed down legacy of integrity? How do we know how to do right, talk less of lead right, if all we saw our leaders do was wrong and how they avoid the truth?
Well… do what you may, but we have a legacy to uphold. The bible’s legacy of integrity and the apostles’ legacy of Leadership gives me Grace and again Hope!
