WINDSOR, ONTARIO – On December 2, 2012, Spanish athlete Iván Fernández Anaya was competing in a cross-country race in Burlada, Navarre. He was running second, some distance behind race leader Abel Mutai - bronze medalist in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the London Olympics.
As they entered the finishing straight, he saw the Kenyan runner - the certain winner of the race - mistakenly pull up about 10 meters before the finish, thinking he had already crossed the line. Mutai was just a few feet from the finish line, but became confused with the signage and stopped. He thought he’d finished the race.
Fernández Anaya quickly caught up with him, but instead of exploiting Mutai's mistake to speed past and claim an unlikely victory, he stayed behind and, using gestures, guided the Kenyan to the line and let him cross first. Fernandez pushed him to victory.
A reporter asked Ivan, “Why did you do this?” Ivan replied, “My dream is that someday we can have a kind of community life where we push and help each other to win.” The reporter asked again, “But you could have won! Why did you let the Kenyan win?”
Ivan replied, “I didn’t deserve to win. I did what I had to do. He was the rightful winner. He created a gap that I couldn't have closed if he hadn't made a mistake. As soon as I saw he was stopping, I knew I wasn't going to pass him. What would be the merit of this medal? What would my mother think of it?”
Contrast that powerful example with the lies, deceit, and conspiracy theories flooding our news channels and social media feeds today. It’s tempting to believe that dishonesty has become the best policy — and political strategy.
It feels like “alternative facts” are twisting norms in our society. Too often, we’re hearing about, or personally experiencing, broken promises, bitterness, cheating, “shading the truth,” cutting corners, or failing to follow through, even in the church.
This year has seen a number of North Texas mega-church pastors become subjects of controversy, with some stepping down from their positions. Multiple pastors have received allegations of sexual misconduct -- with two being charged -- while other pastors face less clear allegations.
The leaders most of us admire — and follow — embody the leadership clichés like “walk the talk” or “lead by example.” Strong leaders maintain a close connection between what they say and what they do. Their video is synchronized with their audio. They push others to victory.
In Matthew 20:26–28, Jesus said, “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
We need more pastors and church leaders who understand this and live daily in the sphere of servanthood, pushing and helping others to win. Instead of clamoring for the spotlight, we must learn to be slaves of the Most High God so we can serve God’s people, not be served by them.
“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). Pay careful attention to yourselves! Spiritual leaders need first to guard their own spiritual and moral purity. Clearly, we cannot lead the flock of God under our care until we have learned to lead ourselves.
As we enter this Thanksgiving season, let’s focus our hearts and minds on the Master, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:6-11 NIV).
He must increase. We must decrease, for the glory of God and the good of His people.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Garth Leno is the Pastor/Planter Care Specialist with the BSCM. He serves in a similar role with the Canadian National Baptist Convention, and he is the founding pastor of The Gathering Church in Windsor, Ontario, a church he planted with his wife, Patty, and a few of their friends.
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