{"id":1408,"date":"2018-12-07T12:14:11","date_gmt":"2018-12-07T12:14:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/word-world\/leadership-in-times-of-crisis-daniel-salinas\/"},"modified":"2020-01-27T11:20:43","modified_gmt":"2020-01-27T11:20:43","slug":"leadership-in-times-of-crisis-daniel-salinas","status":"publish","type":"word_world","link":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/journal\/leadership-in-times-of-crisis-daniel-salinas\/","title":{"rendered":"Leadership in times of crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Translated from the Spanish by Catherine Shepherd<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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According to Colombian newspaper Semana<\/em><\/a>, \u201chalf of the recent presidents and former presidents of Latin America are involved in major corruption scandals. Lula is simply the latest one to come out.\u201d[1] It mentions at least three cases in Brazil, as well as cases in Peru, Panama, Chile, Argentina, Guatemala, El Salvador and, of course, Colombia. The article clarifies that although only the most notorious cases are mentioned, there are many others across the continent. The conclusion about the situation in Colombia is that \u201cthe country is facing an ethical crisis and there is no point in denying it. The fact that it is not as bad as in other countries is no consolation.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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In view of this situation, talking about leadership is complicated these days. The great failures of so many leaders today have given people a negative impression of the institution of leadership. People question motives, strategies, personalities, leaders\u2019 lifestyles, what they like and dislike. Not even leaders\u2019 families are safe from criticism. The media gorge themselves on these stories. As Semana<\/em> points out, presidents that are elected democratically manage to make their bank accounts grow, extend their terms and refuse to let go of their position. A large number of politicians, congresspeople, senators, ministers, and other government employees are on trial after making millions illegally. Meanwhile, the people fight to survive and are defenceless against the greed and hunger for power of their leaders. Unfortunately, the situation in the church, ministries, NGOs, and mission organisations does not appear to be any different. It seems like the salt has lost its flavour. Instead it has been contaminated by the corruption of society in general.[2]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Many readers may say, and rightly so, that this is not new, that it has always been like this since the dawn of time. History is full of despots, dictators, megalomaniac rulers, corrupt leaders and their followers. But for every leader who falls, there are hundreds of other leaders who have remained faithful, but who have been systematically ignored by those who write history. Shocking stories sell more, and that is what the media looks for nowadays.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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This is why the example of Nehemiah in the Bible is like an oasis in the middle of the desert. In the midst of a painful exile, mainly caused by the depraved and corrupt monarchy, while going through a transition process in the middle of a spiritual and existential crisis, Israel needed a different leader, someone who would help the people as they tried to settle back in their own land.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The situation was critical. Those in exile were returning to a city in ruins, with financial problems and no food security, and they ended up being exploited by greedy speculators. Even slavery in Babylon seemed better than the situation in Palestine. In this context, Nehemiah made a difference and we can learn important lessons from his leadership. As the cupbearer to the king, Nehemiah knew all about what went on in the empire\u2019s government. He was no stranger to the benefits that came with power. He was used to the luxury and glitter of the palace. Because of all this, the fact that he took part in the process to rebuild the city is even more noteworthy. As he said himself,<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year\u200a\u2014\u200atwelve years\u200a\u2014\u200aneither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. But the earlier governors\u200a\u2014\u200athose preceding me\u200a\u2014\u200aplaced a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land. Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people. (5:14\u201318) <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Something stands out in this description: Nehemiah put the needs of the people he was governing before his own. There was not enough money for him and his entourage to charge impoverished citizens interest, like the governors preceding him had done. Furthermore, Nehemiah rolled his sleeves up and worked shoulder to shoulder with the people. He could have simply supervised and managed the project from the governor\u2019s chair. But instead of that, he got his hands and clothes dirty, like everyone else. \u201cWe did not acquire any land\u201d can be understood if we look at 5:1\u20135: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. Some were saying, \u201cWe and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.\u201d Others were saying, \u201cWe are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.\u201d Still others were saying, \u201cWe have had to borrow money to pay the king\u2019s tax on our fields and vineyards. Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.\u201d <\/em> <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The land was mortgaged to usurers who, like leeches, held on to the fields and crops. The only way the people could survive was by selling their possessions and enslaving their children. Nehemiah could have taken advantage of the situation, but he didn\u2019t. He didn\u2019t take away anyone\u2019s land. Instead, as it says in verse 10, \u201cI and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain.\u201d Instead of taking away from them, he helped them by giving them resources.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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We might ask, why was Nehemiah so different to other leaders? We find the answer in verse 15, \u201cBut out of reverence for God I did not act like that.\u201d It was his \u201creverence for God\u201d that made him act that way, unlike his greedy predecessors. The meaning of \u201creverence for God\u201d is not clear. Nehemiah possibly meant obeying God\u2019s law. At least that is what he seems to be saying when he talks to the people in verse 9. Obeying God\u2019s law was something that God\u2019s people had to do and that set them apart from other people (verse 9). But this required them to know the law, which is an important topic in the narrative (see chapters 8 and 9, for example). What we can see is that it permeates Nehemiah\u2019s entire life. From the beginning of the book, God and His law are central themes. He is constantly praying to God. His involvement in the rebuilding process is presented in the narrative as a direct answer from God to his prayers. The success of the project and the defeat of the enemies are entirely God\u2019s doing. Everything Nehemiah did, his decisions, way of working and exercise of power, was all guided by the fear of God, the obedience to the law.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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There is so much more we could say about this amazing leader in the Old Testament, but this is enough to bring out a few essential principles for our leadership model.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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1. The common good must be above all our personal interests, even when it is not good for our finances. The accounts in foreign banks of many former politicians warn us that it is easy to give in to temptation and get rich illegally. Our work must be transparent and public, so that no one can accuse us of being corrupt. We must not see leadership as a way of growing personally at the expense of the people we are leading. We must be careful not to have questionable motivations for the exercise of power. As Mexican president Benito Ju\u00e1rez said in the nineteenth century, \u201cGovernment employees should not earn their wages without responsibility; they should not govern following their own selfish desires, but according to the law; they should not try to improvise fortunes or live a life of idleness, but dedicate themselves to their work, deciding to live an honest life with average earnings, as established by law.\u201d [3]Wouldn\u2019t it be amazing if these recommendations were followed in real life?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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2. Our leadership must seriously take into account the specific context of those over whom we have authority. Previous leader models may be useful, but we must be ready to be different, especially if our predecessors left a negative legacy, as we see in Nehemiah. Sometimes we have to be reformers. Not long ago people preferred an authoritarian leader who told everyone what to do, with a big ego; someone who governed without asking anyone\u2019s opinion. Today the paradigm has changed. Human, participating, transforming leaders who work in a team are preferred. Our group\u2019s specific context must help us to determine the type of leaders we want to be.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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3. As leaders we must listen to our subordinates, take their comments seriously and adapt the way we manage our work, so we can address them. We see this several times in Nehemiah\u2019s story. He permanently kept an open communication line with the people and responded accordingly. His example encourages us to show empathy to the people, to put ourselves in their shoes, to share their daily concerns. The people we have the privilege of leading are not objects. It is very easy to dehumanise people and forget about their situations, and there are many examples of this in history. As well as having management skills and specialised administrative knowledge, as leaders we need to develop our human capacity. We must be willing to be assessed by the people and get feedback about our leadership. We need wisdom to understand what type of leadership the context requires. One model does not fit all.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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4. We must set an example and work side by side with others. Nehemiah is an example of a leader who is present in the people\u2019s everyday lives and shares their human progress. We must be leaders who are present in our people\u2019s reality. Leaders who are absent or who work from the outside and avoid permanent contact with the people will inevitably fail. These leaders will be invalidated, and the people will be confused. Nehemiah identified with the desperation and fears of those who had come back from exile. He does not shy away from working with the people and getting his hands dirty. Leaders who remain on the sidelines, without \u201cgetting infected\u201d by the germs of real life, without breathing the dirty air of the streets, discourage the people and in the end the flame of the mission is snuffed out.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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5. Leaders must be willing to fight against abuse and injustice, whenever necessary and wherever it comes from. Rebuilding the wall wasn\u2019t enough\u200a\u2014\u200ait was more important to rebuild the people, following the principles of God\u2019s law. The former would have been enough for Nehemiah to fulfil his task, but he had set higher goals. Nehemiah realised that, although the city\u2019s safety was important, he needed to address the problems of social injustice, exploitation and disobedience to God\u2019s law. The urgent matters did not limit the important ones. Leaders must keep the organisation\u2019s vision and mission clear, so they don\u2019t get distracted by tangential problems and forget the essential issues. Nehemiah\u2019s guideline was \u201cfor the sake of the Law of God\u201d (10:28). This must be our guide too. God\u2019s Word must be the highest authority for any changes, strategies, goals, objectives and anything else in the group. As Desmond Tutu said,<\/a> \u201cIf you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.\u201d[4] Nehemiah is known especially for not remaining neutral and for taking the side of those who were suffering.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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6. As leaders we must remember that we are accountable to God, before anyone else, for how we exercise our authority. The \u201cfear of God\u201d should make us aware of the temptations that come with power. We are accountable to God and we are ultimately responsible before him for how we carry out the leadership that he entrusts us with. We should have a close, growing relationship with God and his Word. Obedience to God\u2019s will must be a characteristic of our lives. We can learn a lot from modern leadership theories, but the ultimate guidelines are in God\u2019s Word. Being a leader does not exempt us from obeying God\u200a\u2014\u200arather, we are even more committed to doing his will. After all, the group of people we are leading belongs to God and not to us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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While the Semana<\/em> article might have been right in saying that we are facing a serious ethical crisis, they do not suggest any solutions. We could also say that there is a moral, spiritual and human crisis with the corrupt leadership in Latin America. The solution is not simply to have more leaders or to get rid of the institution of leadership altogether. Our challenge is to demonstrate distinctive models of leaders who are sensitive to real life, subject to God\u2019s Word, committed to God and his people and willing to lead while getting involved in the work, and who have an ongoing, growing relationship with God. This is the only way to solve the leadership crisis in Latin America today.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Discussion questions<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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  1. What qualities would your ideal leader have?<\/li>
  2. Would you like to have more leaders like Nehemiah? Which of Nehemiah\u2019s qualities do you think are most necessary today in your group, church, family, city?<\/li>
  3. Why is corruption so attractive, even for Christians?<\/li>
  4. How can we help leaders in our groups to remain upright?<\/li>
  5. Why is it more important to be a leader with \u201creverence for God\u201d than a leader with amazing professional qualifications? Would this change the way new staff workers and employees are recruited in your group?<\/li>
  6. What practical steps can you take to avoid becoming a corrupt leader? How are you going to live out the biblical leadership model?<\/li><\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n
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    Further reading<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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