true authority

it used to be simpler

i'm the parent. you're the kid. i have authority over you.
i'm the teacher. you're the student. i have authority over you.
i'm the boss. you're the employee. i have authority over you.

though mankind has always been rebellious (since the fall of adam n eve),
authority used to be rather clear cut
if i have the title or position over you, i can pretty much ask you to do anything
(though you may do so grudgingly...)

not so anymore

in today's age, titles and positions carry little weight
just ask any of us who does relief teaching - the chaos is a glimpse of hell!
or take a look at how those brats talk to their grandparents on mrt
(seriously, they should be made into mince pies! at least they'd be useful!)

thus, just because i say so, it doesnt mean you will follow or even believe me
so what does that mean to us - people in God's divine authority?
how do we use leadership influence in a biblical and effective manner?

the simple answer lies in this: exemplary life

exemplary life is one that is worthy of imitation
people have become wary of authority because they've seen too many lousy examples
people whose words and actions are as out of sync as a badly dubbed tv drama

we need to preach the word first with our lives before we do so with our words
it doesnt mean we must be perfect (or we'll be mute for the rest of our lives)
but it does mean we must always strive to live out what we talk about
"yea, i'm still growing, too! but i'm giving it my best and so can you!"

when people see that in our lives, they see a powerful example worthy imitating
learning by example is, after all, idiot-proof learning
the easiest way to teach someone to love is to model extravagant love to him
this 'live demo' is the one that will give weight to our authority

one clear example was jesus himself
people may not agree with him but they cant deny his great authority
even his enemies couldnt find a flaw (and patheticly resorted to miscontruing his words)
and that's because jesus truly lived out what he preached - to love God and to love people!

another example was st basil - they said of him:
"his words were thunder because his life was lightning"

ohh.. i'd love to have that in my eulogy

speaking with authority starts with my life, not with my words

my question of the day:
is my life louder than my words?

listenin -- fly farther by jars of clay

s.h.i.r.l.s musing away at 11:02 pm