Closing the Hatches...The Sacrifice of Leading

So the other night I was watching TV and the movie Crimson Tide was on.  For those of you who've never had the chance to see this movie, it's all about the power struggle between a lieutenant commander and his captain (played excellently by Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman); the plot revolves around life aboard a nuclear submarine and the moral and ethical decision of whether to fire nuclear missiles based on the receiving of a partial order to launch.  Exciting stuff, huh?  Well, at one point in the movie, the sub was damaged.  A few determined sailors tried to fix a massive leak that was threatening the entire sub and every man on board.  The commander was forced to make a gut-wrenching decision:  do I risk the entire crew's safety for the sake of a few men or do I close off that area, dooming those few but saving the rest in the process?  Agonizing as the decision was, the commander ordered the closing of the hatch, locking the sailors in a watery grave, isolating the leak, and saving the sub and the rest of the crew from certain destruction.

This week has been a really hard week for me.  We've had a couple major illnesses and hospitalizations in the church; we've had some difficult issues hit us hard in the face and we've been forced to deal with some old fears as well as new ones coming to light in the face of discovering our focus of ministry.  In the midst of all of this we're planning for a major event (a first ever for Calvary community Thanksgiving Dinner).  I got to thinking about the ramifications of following God...the consequences for living a life of obedience.  As the pastor of this congregation I have been gifted by God to have momentary clarity in the midst of everyday craziness as to the vision for ministry in this community.  I have times where cloudy ideas become crystal clear and in those moments I attempt to see how God could use Calvary Baptist Church Monte Vista to impact the world and make our region a better place by our very existence.  All this sounds great, doesn't it?  It sounds wonderful to have vision for the future and to invite people to join me in that vision.  But what if I become that commander who has to close the hatch?  What if the cost is so high for following God that my people whom I love begin to suffer for the direction in which I lead?  I've never worried about myself but what about them...what about my family?  Being a Christian is not a bullet-proof vest.

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality." (Romans 12:10-13);  "For I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18); "For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17-18); "Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God." (1 Peter 4:1-2). 

So what idea do all of these verses seem to share?  Followers of Jesus will suffer for their faith...it's not if but when.  What was clearly illustrated through all of these passages was that when suffering does take place, Christians must be ready to react in the way Christ would want them to react.  Part of the suffering of leadership is watching those you lead feel sorrow, pain;and confusion; the obedience of one impacts everyone and the suffering of one can impact all.  We can't share in the beauty of obedience without being willing to suffer together in the misery of attack.  Just as the commander of that sub made the hard decision of leadership, dragging his men into the midst of ethical turmoil through the closing of the hatches, as a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and shepherd of this flock, I too share the sacrifice of leadership knowing that as we walk together people will be hurt for the faith that they show towards God and each other.  

I still don't know how to feel about it.  I'm still torn up with the thought that I could be leading individuals towards  suffering.  The only hope that will keep me going is knowing that this is all temporary and that true glory is not fleeting and cannot perish. "For I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us."  Lord, help us all to realize the enormity of the promise of Your glory and to rest satisfied in Your Sovereign will, knowing that You are good, and trusting Your perfect plan, that will escort us through this life filled with purpose and pain and into the only life that will provide eternal protection and Your eternal presence which will never be taken away. Amen.