Just the person for church leadership

The Charlotte Observer

Just the person

for church leadership

Bill Clinton may be unfit for office, but God seems to prefer using ‘wrong’ people.

The buzzards are circling overhead. Some have already swooped down and are devouring the road kill. The road kill, run over by his own arrogant abuse of power, is William Jefferson Clinton, the 42^nd president of the United States of America.

The buzzards are having a feast. There’s enough meat here for everyone to eat for a long time. Clinton has messed up in a major way: infidelity, hurting his daughter, Chelsea; abusing a White House intern; lying to the American people; and he is accused of lying to the grand jury and obstruction of justice. These sins are no small sins. Clinton claims he has repented, but many people, including myself, have serious doubts.

Voices are crying out from every direction for Clinton to resign. Perhaps he should. If he does resign, however, it should not be solely because he can no longer lead our nation, although that may be true. There is another reason Clinton should resign: the Church needs Clinton more than our nation does. That is, Clinton may not be fit to be our president, but he would be perfect for church leadership. Bill Clinton as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, or moderator of the Presbyterian Church, USA, for example, has a nice ring to it.

Sounds downright crazy, doesn’t it? And yet, time after time, God seems to choose the most illogical people to do the work God wants done. We in our churches try to get the best possible people to serve the church, and in the process we choose the worst possible individuals. We get it backwards.

God has a long history of asking the “wrong” people, the least desirable individuals, for help. Moses, a spoiled brat in the Egyptian court and later a murderer, got drafted to lead God’s people, Hebrew slaves, out of Egypt. Rahab, a prostitute, was enlisted to house spies who were scouting out Jericho. And then there’s Saul, who became the Apostle Paul. When Ananias and the disciples heard that God had chosen Saul, the persecutor of the Church, to lead the Church, they could not believe their ears.

Jerome, the translator of the Hebrew Scriptures into the Latin Vulgate, said the only thing that could keep the thought of dancing girls out of his head was the study of Hebrew. St. Augustine, the great Church Father, prayed for chastity, but not quite yet.

If the above-mentioned people qualified to be God’s servants, surely Clinton fits the bill. He has royally messed up. So please, Mr. President, resign as soon as possible. The church needs you more than the United States needs you.

Yes, it sounds preposterous, even sickening. Some days, I wonder about this God of ours.

_____________________________

The Rev. Chris Ayers is pastor of Wedgewood Baptist Church, 4800 Wedgewood Dr., Charlotte, NC 28210

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Encouraging A Thinking Faith		Columnists

Show All The Charlotte Observer Just the person for church leadership Bill Clinton may be unfit for office, but God seems to prefer using ‘wrong’ people. The buzzards are circling overhead. Some have already swooped down and are devouring the road kill. The road kill, run over by his own arrogant abuse of power, is William Jefferson Clinton, the 42^nd president of the United States of America. The buzzards are having a feast. There’s enough meat here for everyone to eat for a long time. Clinton has messed up in a major way: infidelity, hurting his daughter, Chelsea; abusing a White House intern; lying to the American people; and he is accused of lying to the grand jury and obstruction of justice. These sins are no small sins. Clinton claims he has repented, but many people, including myself, have serious doubts. Voices are crying out from every direction for Clinton to resign. Perhaps he should. If he does resign, however, it should not be solely because he can no longer lead our nation, although that may be true. There is another reason Clinton should resign: the Church needs Clinton more than our nation does. That is, Clinton may not be fit to be our president, but he would be perfect for church leadership. Bill Clinton as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, or moderator of the Presbyterian Church, USA, for example, has a nice ring to it. Sounds downright crazy, doesn’t it? And yet, time after time, God seems to choose the most illogical people to do the work God wants done. We in our churches try to get the best possible people to serve the church, and in the process we choose the worst possible individuals. We get it backwards. God has a long history of asking the “wrong” people, the least desirable individuals, for help. Moses, a spoiled brat in the Egyptian court and later a murderer, got drafted to lead God’s people, Hebrew slaves, out of Egypt. Rahab, a prostitute, was enlisted to house spies who were scouting out Jericho. And then there’s Saul, who became the Apostle Paul. When Ananias and the disciples heard that God had chosen Saul, the persecutor of the Church, to lead the Church, they could not believe their ears. Jerome, the translator of the Hebrew Scriptures into the Latin Vulgate, said the only thing that could keep the thought of dancing girls out of his head was the study of Hebrew. St. Augustine, the great Church Father, prayed for chastity, but not quite yet. If the above-mentioned people qualified to be God’s servants, surely Clinton fits the bill. He has royally messed up. So please, Mr. President, resign as soon as possible. The church needs you more than the United States needs you. Yes, it sounds preposterous, even sickening. Some days, I wonder about this God of ours. _____________________________ The Rev. Chris Ayers is pastor of Wedgewood Baptist Church, 4800 Wedgewood Dr., Charlotte, NC 28210 Print in pdf up scroll Pause or Play down