Leading by consensus?

And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, "For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you. Now then bring it about, for the Lord has promised David, saying, 'By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies.'" Abner also spoke to Benjamin. And then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought good to do.
2 Samuel 3:17-19 (ESV)

This "king" thing was not a good idea from the start, for it was not an idea initiated by God. Often, we "make up" the will of God by believing that the majority constitutes an affirmation of His will.

Somehow, we forget about the word "holy" and the concepts of narrow gates, narrow roads, and the "few" that find them.

Those who trust people more than God usually insist on leading by consensus. They sometimes point to the verse about the "counsel of many" while ignoring that it may not be worth listening to the many.




https://www.podbean.com/relate365

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

One day, we answer to God.

The next day the common people who came to the feast, having heard that Jesus is coming into Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out with a view to meeting Him. And they kept on shouting, Save now. Let Him who comes in the name of the Lord, the One who in times past has been eulogized, be regarded as such at present, even the King of Israel.  John  12:12-13  (Wuest) The crowd saw Christ's exceptional power and authority and wanted Him to act on their behalf now. This crowd would soon change from wanting to crown Him to wanting to crucify Him. What makes a crowd change its mind so quickly? Propaganda soon focused on the truth, and Jesus was in the crosshairs. If the people believed Jesus, the religious establishments were history. Therefore, religious leaders began to fight for the right to control their subjects. Jesus offers freedom. Religion offers repression. Jesus offers hope. Religion offers fear. Jesus gives life purpose. Religion is its own purpose. We mu
Read more

God Speaks

And the Lord called again, "Samuel!" and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 1 Samuel 3:6-9 (ESV)   We often try to find God outside of the ways God has chosen to reveal himself. God speaks through His Word, His Son, His Spirit, and, at times, His people, His donkeys, and His creation. It seems God's voice was so rare that no priests recognized it. This is a tragedy that seems to be repeating itself today. http
Read more

The blind leading the blind

But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, "No! But there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles." And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, "Obey their voice and make them a king." Samuel then said to the men of Israel, "Go every man to his city." 1 Samuel  8:19-22  (ESV)   God's will is not always accomplished, even though his purposes will always be fulfilled. Those who live outside the plan will live scattered, confusing lives. During specific periods in our brief history, we have the freedom to listen to or reject God. There is much that rides on that decision. To reject the obvious counsel of God is to reject the very purpose for which we were created, and those who do so must expect a tragic ending.   The blind leading the blind has never
Read more