SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP...
We have a mandate. God calls all men who have placed their trust in Him, to be the spiritual leader in their home. I remember the first time I heard that statement. I was attending a men's conference in Lake Tahoe. The speaker, Dr. Dwight Hill, was giving us a punctuated message on our responsibilities as men. I remember thinking, "RIGHT, I'm called to be the spiritual leader in my home. Now just exactly how is that supposed to happen? First of all, my wife has been a Christian for at least 30 years, and I have been one for 4 years. I don't go to church. I don't give any money to God's work, I don't understand very much of what I read in the Bible. And follow that up with the very real practical fact, that my wife is independent. We started our marriage with the understanding that we would divide labor and responsibilities according to our abilities, not according to traditional male, female roles.
This so called mandate about spiritual leadership was sounding an awful lot like traditional roles, and I knew this would go over like a lead balloon at my house. Needless to say, I never mentioned it when I got home from the conference. But I thought about it a lot. I prayed about it. "Lord, what does that look like, being the spiritual leader? Lord, you know my situation, is that even possible in my household? Lord, does it really matter anyway? I mean, I know I'm going to heaven, you have already made that a reality for me, and I have never read that sentence in the Bible where it says, "YOU MUST BE THE SPIRITUAL LEADER IN THE HOME."
That's because that exact sentence isn't in the Bible, but spiritual leadership is woven throughout the scriptures. And the way to understand this role is through understanding the Bible.
I finally asked a man if he would disciple me so that I could grow in Christ. Through that discipleship process I began to develop a hunger for God's word and a dependence on prayer. All the while I was conflicted between what the world had taught me and what the scriptures were teaching me. Often times the two were harmonious, but when they were not, I ten ded to lean toward the world and what the hard fought lessons of life had taught me. Gradually I noticed that Jesus' promises were real, and that learning to trust and obey Him was the greatest source of peace in my life. I also learned that spiritual leaders lead by being servants. I was to serve my wife, serve my sons, serve my parents and serve my God.
Then one day, several years later, I was having a conversation with Gail, and during that conversation she said to me, "you are the spiritual leader in the home." The words almost knocked me over.
I finally asked a man if he would disciple me so that I could grow in Christ. Through that discipleship process I began to develop a hunger for God's word and a dependence on prayer. All the while I was conflicted between what the world had taught me and what the scriptures were teaching me. Often times the two were harmonious, but when they were not, I ten ded to lean toward the world and what the hard fought lessons of life had taught me. Gradually I noticed that Jesus' promises were real, and that learning to trust and obey Him was the greatest source of peace in my life. I also learned that spiritual leaders lead by being servants. I was to serve my wife, serve my sons, serve my parents and serve my God.
Then one day, several years later, I was having a conversation with Gail, and during that conversation she said to me, "you are the spiritual leader in the home." The words almost knocked me over.
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