God Calls Reluctant Leaders

by David Baer | published: Friday, September 13, 2013, 9:00 AM

Why is it that God’s most effective and faithful servants seem to be the most reluctant to answer God’s call?

Take Moses, for example. The scriptures record an extended argument between God and Moses, with Moses emphasizing his complete unsuitability for the task of going to Pharaoh to demand the release of the Hebrew slaves. I am a nobody, says Moses, and I don’t speak eloquently, and no one will listen to me, and no one will believe that I’ve spoken to God. God patiently deals with each of Moses’ objections, promising to give Moses power to perform miracles and to put bold words in Moses’ mouth. Finally, Moses is left with nothing to say but: “O my Lord, please send someone else!” (Exodus 4:13). This, at last, makes God angry. God appoints Moses’ brother Aaron to speak for Moses, thrusts a miracle-performing staff into Moses’ hand, and says, essentially, “Now get going!”

Moses isn’t the only one. When God called Jonah to go give a message to the city of Nineveh, he ran in the opposite direction. The prophet Jeremiah told God, “I’m too young.” Abraham and Sarah laughed at God and said, “We’re too old.” Peter told Jesus, “Get away from me! I’m a sinner!” The apostle Paul compared meeting Jesus, after persecuting Jesus’ followers, to being “untimely born.” Time and again, when God called, so many of the great heroes of our faith have mocked, argued, or fled—and finally acquiesced, taken charge, and shone like stars.

All of this is to say that when the church is in need of capable, gifted leaders, the place to look may not be center stage but behind the curtains. As we start a new program year, I invite each and every one of you to help me and the elders and deacons bring forward the gifts that are present in our congregation. Maybe you know someone who takes special interest in connecting with those who are ill or lonely. Maybe there’s someone who enjoys spending time with children. Or someone with a clear and ringing speaking or singing voice. If you see someone with a gift that lines up with a need here at church, please speak to this person, or speak to me!

Right now, though, I’d like to recognize some of the gifts that have lately been offered at Highlands:

• Pat McKernan, chair of the Congregational Life Committee, for organizing so many celebrations this summer in what is usually a quiet season—including two special coffee hours after baptisms, together with our picnic with the First Presbyterian Church of Ramsey at Crestwood Lake in August.

• Greg McDonald, chair of the Building and Grounds Committee, for singlehandedly tackling many of the vexing issues with the church’s physical property this summer, including the loose faucet in the kitchen and the weeds proliferating in the outside beds.

• And last but by no means least, Trudie Dodge, our nursery coordinator, who throughout this calendar year has steadfastly championed the cause of hospitality and care for our younger children, soliciting donations of toys and equipment, and most lately organizing volunteers to paint the nursery.

I hope you’ll join me in voicing your appreciation to these folks and everyone who offers their gifts (however enthusiastically or reluctantly!) to the glory of God!

A version of this item appeared in the September 2013 edition of the Highlands Highlights.