LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible…. 

LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY 

Leviticus 4:22-26

²² ‘When a ruler has sinned, and done something unintentionally against any of the commandments of the Lord his God in anything which should not be done, and is guilty,

²³ or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, he shall bring as his offering a kid of the goats, a male without blemish.

²⁴ And he shall lay his hand on the head of the goat, and kill it at the place where they kill the burnt offering before the Lord. It is a sin offering.

²⁵ The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour its blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering.

²⁶ And he shall burn all its fat on the altar, like the fat of the sacrifice of the peace offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him. 

The leaders referred to in the passage at which we are looking are most probably elders, judges, and what we would refer to as political leaders.  This is of no great moment to our concern this day.  National Israel was God’s church and these leaders furnish an illustration of Christian leaders both in and out of the church.

There are at least four lessons for us in the Scriptures listed. 

1.  Leaders sin.  This does not in and of itself disqualify them.  At their best they are flesh and it is a fact of life that sin is common to the children of Adam.As sin does not disqualify leaders, it is by no means a commendation or to be ignored.  The fact of human weakness and wickedness is no commendation for anyone.
2. Leaders are recognized particularly.  “Those who call others to account are themselves accountable to the ruler of rulers.”  Matthew Henry.  The fact of position offers no special dispensation.  Sin is reckoned the same way and accountability is required of them as it is of any other.Any who would use their position in the church to gain any advantage for themselves in moral, social, or economic privileges are brought to an abrupt halt.  The divine principle is “to whom much is given, much is required.”  For anyone to use their position of authority to injure or deprive someone of less stature is wicked and detestable.
3.  They are demanded to confess and make atonement for their sins.  This is not something that is commonly expected either in or out of the church. It is far easier to ignore sin and cover the responsibility that adheres to it.  One reason repentance and confession are so easily ignored is that they remind each of us of our like responsibility and our failures.  This does not excuse the sinning leader.  The church as a whole stands under just criticism because of its failure at this point.  The Lord Jesus can with great finality say, “Except you repent you shall all likewise perish””  Luke 13:3.
4.  There is provision for a leader’s sin.  The testimony of Scripture is to God’s covenant mercy.  This is ever present for the needy sinner.  The leader no less than “the common people” can receive forgiveness and fellowship with God and the church.  This reconciliation does not always include the previously held office but it should assure a full return to loving fellowship. 

Application:

1.  Believers should demand holiness of their leaders.
2. Leaders have responsibility for the highest standard of conduct.