忠心的僕人FaithfulServants
作者: Burk Parsons 譯者: Maria Marta
我們已經邁入現代史的新時代。這個時代的特點是領袖層空缺，同時領袖的觀念也惹人反感。此外，還有一種不斷增長的趨勢，那就是讚頌自我任命，卻缺乏正直品格的領袖；和無視與羞辱其正直品格在過去幾十年間已得到證實的年長領袖。具備勇氣和信念的領袖遭鄙視；作出妥協和讓步的領袖受到偶像般的崇拜。我們現在生活在一個稱讚張伯倫（譯註：Neville Chamberlain，1869－1940，英國保守黨政治人物，以其綏靖主義外交政策聞名），和嘲笑丘吉爾（譯註：Churchills，英國首相，20世紀最重要的政治領袖之一）的世界。假若這些現象只真實的出現在這世界，那也許比較容易忍受，但可悲的是，它们在教會和家庭也同樣真實的存在。
有些基督徒甚至暗示領袖不是聖經的一種類別，提議仆人應該取代領袖的概念。然而，這樣的提議不僅造成假兩難（False dilemma），而且還削弱聖經的權威，聖經教導我們，領袖角色是上帝指定的。領袖應該殷勤帶領，而在領袖之下的人應該服從、順從他們，仿效他們（羅十二8；1林前十二28；來十三7–24）。盡管我們都觀察到領袖不力，有時也遇到領袖濫用權力的問題，但我們也必須承認，上帝在世上、政府、工作場所、學校、教會、家庭任命領袖。身為基督徒，我們不能容許自己質疑所有的權柄，陷入憤世嫉俗的陷阱，任憑我們在自我任命的權柄的泥潭裏打滾。我們每一個人都在權柄底下，我們所有人都有自己的領導人，我們要（為自己的所作所為）向他們交待，正如每一個領導人都在上帝的權柄底下，最終要向祂上帝交賬。
領袖和仆人並不相互排斥。領袖首先是上帝的仆人，做帶領事奉。領袖最重要的品格是謙卑，真謙卑在勇氣、同情心和信念這些方面體現出來。一個忠心的領袖是一個謙卑的領袖，他以愛心而不非擔心來領導。一個忠心的領袖不關心被所有人喜歡。一個忠心的領袖知道如何委派，和信任他的委派者，而非關注誰得榮譽。一個忠心的領袖知道自己的缺點和罪，過著悔改和饒恕的生活。最終，一位忠心的領袖是耶穌基督忠實的跟隨者，他以謙卑、奉獻、喜樂來服事我們。
本文原刊於Tabletalk雜誌2017年十一月號 。
Faithful
Servants
by
Burk Parsons
e
have entered a new era of modern history. This era is marked by a gaping void
of leadership, but also by an antipathy toward the very notion of leadership.
What’s more, there is a growing trend that celebrates self-appointed leaders
who have demonstrated a lack of integrity and to ignore and dishonor faithful,
aged leaders whose integrity has been proven over the course of decades.
Leaders of courage and conviction are despised and leaders of compromise and
concession are idolized. We now live in a world that applauds Chamberlains and
mocks Churchills. If this were true only in the world, it would perhaps be more
bearable, but sadly it is also true in the church and in the home.
Some
Christians have even gone so far as to insinuate that leadership is not a
biblical category, suggesting that servanthood should displace the notion of
leadership. However, such a proposition not only creates a false dilemma but
undermines Scripture, which teaches us that the role of leader is appointed by
God. Leaders ought to lead with diligence, and those who are under leaders
ought to obey and submit to them and imitate them (Rom. 12:8; 1 Cor. 12:28;
Heb. 13:7–24). Although we have all observed poor leadership and have at times
experienced a leader’s abuse of power, we must nevertheless recognize that God
has appointed leaders in the world, the government, the workplace, the school,
the church, and the home. As Christians, we cannot allow ourselves to fall into
the trap of cynicism that questions all authority and leaves us wallowing in
the mire of our own self-appointed authority. We are all under authority, and
we all have leaders to whom we are accountable, just as all leaders are under
the authority of God and ultimately accountable to Him.
Leadership
and servanthood are not mutually exclusive. Leaders are first and foremost
servants of God who serve by leading. The most essential quality of leadership
is humility, and authentic humility is manifested by courage, compassion, and
conviction. A faithful leader is a humble leader who leads foremost by love,
not fear. A faithful leader is not concerned with being liked by everyone. A
faithful leader knows how to delegate, trusts his delegates, and isn’t
concerned with who gets the credit. A faithful leader knows his shortcomings
and sins and leads a life of repentance and forgiveness. Ultimately, a faithful
leader is a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, who has led us by serving us
with humility, sacrifice, and joy.