THE CHRISTIAN EXCEPTION?
Those who are winners at heart (not to be confused with simply being competitive), are able to lead and to follow. In fact, they probably do not get to be good leaders until they learn to be good followers.
When a player becomes part of a team, he should become subject to the higher powers of the team (whether in sports, music, business, medicine, government, academics, civil order or warfare). In all spheres of life there are teachers, coaches, mentors, trainers. Even the more talented players need to get instruction from another person. We see this in sports, with specialized coaching for hitting, pitching, passing, running, blocking.
How interesting that Christians seem to think that just because they have been saved that...
they do not need to come under authority,
they do not need to follow instruction,
they do not need to accept counsel.
How interesting that people will submit to other people, or they will follow and study the instruction of successful people in a wide range of disciplines, but Christians don't follow our submit, or they don't want to accept leadership and instruction concerning behavior, relationships, management of time or talent or treasure. It is sin when Christians do not yield to God's appointed leaders.
This is one reason we see the organizations of the world succeed in their endeavors, while the Church stumbles along and withers away.
Cheap grace has replaced Biblical discipleship.
Each man doing what is right in his own sight.
Believers not believing that they need to sacrificially and humbly follow and grow and change.
Ok, the fact is, Christians, real Christians, growing Christians, exemplary Christians are the most humble, submissive, condescending, self effacing and obedient people in the world. If you are not excelling in the "following" category, you are not going to excel in the "succeeding" category.
Ephesians 5:21
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Hebrews 13:7
(7) Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Hebrews 13:17
(17) Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Release the grip on your own will eagerly.
Take hold of God's will violently.
Submit to spiritual authority adamantly.
