I will be writing my next couple posts on what I believe are three main reasons for the necessity of spiritual leadership. I began to think about this idea while going through the book of Judges. This first post came after reading a verse in chapter two of Judges. "After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors [the generation of Joshua], another generation grew up who neither the Lord nor what He had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord. . ." (Judges 2:10-11a). I find this very interesting that an ENTIRE generation grew up who did not know of the Lord or his works. I began to ask myself why.
I once heard that the truth is always one generation from dying. This was the first thing that I thought of once I read this statement. The main way, if not the only way, this can happen is if leaders from the previous generation ceased to be a leader. In other words they ceased to be involved in their kids lives, raising them up in the way of the Lord. (Which, might I add is a direct violation of a previous command when God instructed the Israelites to teach the words to future generations according to Deuteronomy 11:19).
When strong leaders (i.e. Christian leaders) neglect the fundamental role of mentoring and discipleship, their is a lack of torch passing. Leaders do not "raise up" future leaders to pass the torch on to so that the truth will carry on. In the New Testament, Christ mentions how we are to go "and make disciples of all nations. . .and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded" (Matthew 28:19-20). Leaders are important for the sake of the continuity of Truth. Just like the Israelites had no leaders and the truth died, so too can that happen again IF leaders either cease to be, or neglect their "understudy".
I believe that discipleship/mentoring is the key to prevent this from happening. Leaders/adults must find someone they can help raise up in the faith teaching them and living out the command in Deuteronomy. Sadly, I do not see this happening very much in churches today. I was fortunate to have a "mentor" because I see a HUGE lack of leaders stepping up to take on an understudy. Pastors of all kinds, elders, deacons, christian business men and women should all be pouring out their own knowledge that they have received into the life of someone else. Major corporations and entertainment artists have been doing this practice all along, teaching and crafting young people and influencing them. IF the spiritual leaders of today do not begin to see the necessity for discipleship, then I believe we are only one generation from seeing the death of Truth.
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