By Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., Senior Columnist
The Truth is the Light
By Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., Senior Columnist
Proverbs 29:18a says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” I am compelled to remind our leadership that there is surely a price to pay. The question for us all is simply, are we willing to pay it? We can agree that we are indeed on the verge of a breakthrough! God is doing a wonderful work in our church. We have made so many gains. We have overcome so many obstacles. However, there is still much to do and quite a way to go.
We have all heard the biblical adage, “without vision, people perish.” I am truly thankful for our membership, who are firmly committed to availing themselves to God as we move forward as a ministry and mission, realizing God’s vision for our church. However, on the rare occasion that I have the opportunity to sit comfortably and safely in my study, I find myself pondering the question, “Does our leadership understand the cost, and are we truly willing to pay?”
I am convinced that many people do not realize the responsibility that comes with leadership. If one would honestly measure the responsibility, then I submit that some would not volunteer so readily. An earnest assessment of the duties and responsibilities that come with leadership will reveal the inescapable reality that there will be heartbreak and heartache. There will be incredible highs as well as painful lows. I wonder sometimes if people understand that there will be sleepless nights.
Unfortunately, many times leadership within the church is viewed in a romantic sense. We have become people-worshippers, sometimes failing to keep in mind that this is God’s kingdom. We need to be reminded often. Scriptures tell us that the God we serve is a jealous God, and he will not share his glory with anyone. There are certain prices to pay, and if we commit ourselves to do the work that God has ordained us to do, we must expect them and be willing to pay them.
Leaders, we must understand that there are times when we will become the object of negative comments and negative feelings. We can expect to be lightning rods for people’s pain. However, we must lead by godly example! Our walk must clearly exhibit the difference between godly and selfish ambition. Selfish ambition focuses on our position and our role, whereas godly ambition focuses on a need.
As leaders in our beloved church, we cannot live to please people and allow ourselves to become slaves of people. We will find then that instead of one master (Jesus, whose yoke is easy), we end up with numerous pharaohs who never seem to be satisfied with our performance, no matter what we do. God has called us to a mighty work. He did not promise us the work would be easy. God did, however, promise that we would never be alone.
Beloved, there is truly a war going on in and around our community. We are being confronted with challenges on every side. Many times, in the heart of our community, we find very little stability. There are very few families that have not, in one way or another, been affected by disappointment and lack of self-respect. However, the one thing that has not changed is that the church is truly the heart of the community. It is safe to conclude that, in fact, in many ways, the church is the community. The church, at her most effective capacity, is certainly a microcosm of the community.
The church, the Body of Christ, equipped with the Good News of Jesus Christ, continues to be a beacon of light that shines on all those who are broken, weary, and downtrodden. Our leaders, who by faith have embraced Jesus as Lord and Savior, still boldly stand to serve as the center of the community’s spiritual growth. Our prayer must be that, with God as our ever-present helper, time will prove that the church will be the center of the community’s economic growth as well.
We are faced with an awesome responsibility. We are called to stand as a courageous witness for Christ in a time when Satan would have our people believe that God has forsaken us. Yet, we still serve an on-time God. We pray, and sometimes it does not appear that he is coming to help. We fast, and it sometimes appears that he does not see our plight, but we know, by faith, that God is somewhere watching. By faith, we know that somewhere over in the fourth hour of our watch, Jesus will come walking across the waters of our critical situation. Jesus will provide the help and the answers that we so desperately need.
In the meantime, the church must continue to be the church. We must faithfully be about our Father’s business. God has called us to be leaders in this portion of the vineyard and challenges us to serve this refuge boldly for the spiritually sick. God commands us to stand as examples of faith in this place where those without hope may come to know Jesus. There is no greater entity or a more powerful institution in existence for our people than the community of believers that is the church. There is no greater responsibility than to pick up the mantle of leadership, understanding that “where there is no vision, the people perish.”
The Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is the pastor of James Chapel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
