Grouchy? Who Me?
Commentators can sure sound grouchy at times. My favorite grouch is Andy Rooney on 60 minutes, he is the king of the grouches. Andy represents a generation that will never understand how the world has changed, but I suppose when you and I are 92, we won't either. Andy has a perspective where fewer is better, and simple makes sense. The older I get, the more I appreciate that point of view. As I look down the list of people I either read everyday, watch or listen to, many of the commentators on either side of the aisle politically or religiously sound grouchy.
So, I went through many of my recent blogs to see how grouchy I have been, and guess what, I tell truth, I am not a grouch. Hmmmmmm, interesting observation, I can see how others are grouchy, but not me. Its so easy to look at issues through the only opinion that really matters, yours! To be honest, (that's one of our trademarks here) I do get grouchy, it's because I get easily irritated with ideology that doesn't coincide with mine. Why are so many people morons for doing or believing or acting in such and such a manner, can't they see how wrong they are? Did Jesus ever have a grouchy day? Well, I have to be careful in accusing God of being a grouch, however, Jesus was a bit irritated by the Pharisees in Matthew 23, let's take a look at it. Remember, Jesus is addressing the leadership of His day, let me summarize His words to the Pharisees.
1. Leaders preach, but don't practice.
2, Leaders do things to be seen by others.
3. Leaders are petty and accent on minors
4. Leaders are all about appearance and reputation
5. Leaders are unteachable and unresponsive to God
Sorry, but that sounds like a grouch to me. Couldn't Jesus find something positive to say about these leaders? Quite frankly NO. They were representing God to the people, leading them into a false security, and being dishonest about the way in which they were doing it. These leaders weren't interested in God, they were interested in controlling people by using God and at the same time, profiting from their efforts.
I appreciate Jesus for helping us see that leadership is not what was practiced by the Pharisees and if I could slip into my grouchy mood for a minute, let's evaluate our leaders today.
What makes me grouchy is that I can take those five leadership criticisms and find leaders in our day that can be described in the same way. Leaders who are unteachable, set in a pattern of denominationalism, or doctrine that they say best represents God. Some leaders today will not preach the inconvenient truth, they don't want to offend anyone, because their reputation is at stake. Some leaders today teach a spiritual principle, and live something totally different, and then excuse this inconsistency by acknowledging that a new revelation has come. Leaders want good press time, keeping themselves marketable to masses.
Listen, God is looking for leaders who are fearless, courage driven, aggressively passionate for God, painfully truthful, honesty at all costs, and hypocrisy free as they represent the truth of Jesus Christ. Anything less than this standard for leaders of the Church makes me grouchy.
There I said it, I am a grouch....the truth is finally known.
Keeping it truthful and honest....and sometimes just plain grouchy....K
Its summertime in Minnesota and I love to ride my Harley Davidson, so much so I even got my wife to grow a passion for the freedom that a motorcycle gives. Here is a message from another Harley rider who is a fearless leader when it comes representing Jesus Christ.
Larry Kutzler
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