We hear songs of praise
from the ends of the earth, songs that give glory to the Righteous One! But my heart is heavy with grief. Weep for me, for I wither away. Deceit still prevails, and treachery is
everywhere. Isaiah 24:16 (NLT)
State dinners served at the White
House are more than just political form – they are meant to be a high honor for
visiting dignitaries from other nations.
These dinners started in the late
1800’s and have been a tradition for all that time. In the 1960’s President Lyndon Johnson hosted
54 of those festive nights – the most in presidential history. Coming in second was Ronald Regan in the 80’s
with 35 in 8 years.
President Obama has only had seven
of the $500,000 nights, although it was supposed to be eight; it seems two
years ago Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was to be honored, but it never
happened. She canceled after learning that the [U.S.] National Security Agency spied on
her.[2]
Hmmmm….sitting down to a
half-million dollar banquet given by people who want to honor you and your
service to mankind, while they peek into your private life to keep tabs on
you?
I believe I would have also
cancelled. (That is, assuming I’d ever
been invited….which I haven’t; yet!)
(And…by the way, I’m neither
holding my breath nor checking the mail for invitations!)
The picture of a pat on your back
before the crowd, while the “patter” is using his other hand to plunge a knife
in that same back, is a well-known and well-understood cause for
apprehension. Treachery, as Isaiah put
it, is everywhere.
Pastors are not exempt – neither
from being
treacherous, nor being targeted by people who deal treacherously.
A very long time ago, and almost in another galaxy (as Star
Wars has it), I was trapped by a pair of sharp operators. They were church members and leaders; they
laid a trap for the naïve preacher, and in front of a congregational meeting
praised my leadership and preaching and even the way I parted my hair.
Then the hammer fell!
They proposed something to the
congregation in a way that seemed to have my full backing, even though they had
privately suggested to me it wouldn’t work.
I was in agreement with them, and assumed that was the end of it, and
wouldn’t be brought up. One leader
brought it up; the other quickly seconded it and called for a vote.
After all their public praise, had
I contradicted this dynamic duo, it would have made me the bad guy;
unfortunately, allowing it to be adopted by the congregation, only to certainly
fail later made me a bad leader.
I would like to say I stood up
and spoke truth to power – but it’s hard to do that when you’re sitting there
in absolute disbelief and shock. I
froze. I think my mouth was dropped open
so wide I got splinters from the floor on my chin.
And then…the look. The proposer of the dastardly motion looked
at me and grinned a little. To the
gathered church brethren it looked like he was saying, we agree with your leadership
here, you fine fellow of a pastor; but I knew it meant, preacher
you’re gonna be one BIG fool when this flops and you get the credit for it!
Now, that’s not the only failed
leadership event on my resume’, but it stands as one of the most painful events
I ever experienced as a pastor. And
although it was personally humbling and painful, it taught me one of the most
meaningful lessons I’ve ever put on my personal tee shirt: when it comes to praise, be careful when
someone wants to give a state dinner in your honor!
For You Today
There’s not
a treacherous demon behind every bush just waiting to stick a knife in your
back. But there are some and you need to
trust God’s hand to guide you through the maze.
So, do what
you can to keep loving people, and keep trusting the Lord; and avoid state
dinners if you can.
Think about
that out on your rocky road today; and have a great day!
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