“Do not be angry, my Lord,” Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil.” (Exodus 32:22 NIV)
Moses had come down the mountain after his forty day legislative session only to hear the roar of debauchery rising from the camp. In his absence, God’s people had given themselves over to total depravity. And Aaron had helped.
David Guzik points out that there are two kinds of spiritual leaders: those who have a sense of their need to restrain the evil of people (Moses) and those who actually encourage and support the sin of people (Aaron). Essentially, by both action and inaction, leaders lead people toward the Lord or away from Him.
I’ve been thinking about leadership a lot during our national emergency. Of course, Facebook keeps me connected with ministers all over the nation and it’s occurred to me just how closely people are watching spiritual leadership in these unprecedented days. This is concerning because none of us have ever pastored through a pandemic before and there’s a steep learning curve. Spiritual leaders need to be extra aware of our messaging, especially in this season of digital connection only. Our opportunities to touch the lives of our congregants have been reduced to characters on a screen or short videos. It is maybe more crucial than ever to watch online our words and actions than in any previous season. We each possess influence, and like Moses and Aaron, we either lead people towards the Lord or away from Him.
I’ve been on several Zoom calls in the past few weeks with whole screens full of pastors far more influential than me. Some of the things I’ve heard in those online chat rooms have been exceedingly helpful, some of them have been downright destructive.
Friends, this is not the time to rage against our national/state/local government. You may have a valid beef, but right now our nation/state/community needs solidarity, especially from you. This is not the time to spout consipiracy theories or make accusations or armchair quarterback. This isn’t the time to share our fears publicly and add to the increasing national panic.
This is the time to use our words and shares to speak the things we know for sure. To promote the truth that affects eternity. We are sinners, saved by grace. There’s a God who loves us enough to send His only Son to die for us. We get to live in grateful response to His generosity. And we have a hope that is far higher than anything this dusty old earth has to offer.
Whether you are in church leadership or not, everyone leads someone, somewhere. You have an area of influence. Are you being a Moses or an Aaron? Are you restraining your own evil nature or indulging it? Are you speaking words of truth or is it only drivel?
I’m convicted. It’s tough for me, I tend to think with my lips and honestly when this season first started, I battled a lot of fear. For some reason it’s hard to keep your mouth shut when you feel afraid. In hindsight, I spent too much time in horizontal discussions when a few vertical conversations would have accomplished a lot more.
Restraining our online presence doesn’t mean that we won’t have concerns about conspiracies or can’t question the actions of leadership. It’s just far more effective and less damaging to take our apprehensions up instead of down. God can handle them. More than that, as He listens we won’t create an echo chamber of hysteria and distrust. Instead, He’ll disarm our concerns and replace them with a peace that passes understanding, so we can lead our people to the same place.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit this who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29 NIV)
Lord, lead us to the Rock that’s higher. Help us pour out our concerns in Your ear first. Give us godly perspective. Let us wield our influence for Kingdom building, nothing less. Calm us. Strengthen us. Purify our hearts as we seek to serve You in this season. Amen.