I thought that an interesting comment. It's like....what wrong with having a leader? Maybe it's just my mind set, but I've never really known a group that doesn't have a leader of some sort or other. Leaders help groups focus, get things done, make good choices, and so forth. I'm not saying a leader always has to be "THE" leader, but leaders aren't bad. Sometimes I wonder in today's world if people are being taught that leadership isn't good. That one must always follow the group consensus.
I hear children talk about in school how they do this group project or that group project, and college students having all this group work, and parents talking about how their children HAVE to learn how to work as part of group and follow the consensus, and I just kinda wonder, what's the point of it? Where's the focus on being able to work independently? Are we being "taught" that teamwork is most important? In many school, individual science fairs are being removed lest someone "lose". Some of these are being replaced with "group" science projects because apparently it's easier to lose with a group of other people than on your own.
I don't know, just strikes me as wrong somehow. To be so group focused. I think to a certain extent we lose a bit of what God has really planned for us. I'm not saying that groups are wrong, but God doesn't call us to be part of a group...he calls us to be family. We need to be family oriented, not group oriented. Families that stand together, watch over each other, celebrate joys and victories, extend sympathy when needed and so forth. Not that groups and teams can't do that....but there's a difference between the groups/teams and families that is real.
So what got me thinking about this? I was reading Titus this morning. This part:
5This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you-- 6if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
10For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."13This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
Titus has a job. Put things in order. He wasn't given a team to do it, he was given God's word. Find good men to lead. One leader for each town. These are the qualifications. This is their duty. Encourage the Cretans NOT to be what their larger "group" picture says that they are. Encourage them to be sound in their faith, not defiled. Seems less "group" focused then it does to be family focused.
I don't know, I just wonder sometimes....
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