leadership

Trump: The Worthless Shepherd

Tom Ratkovich, , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

“Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.” Ezekial 34: 2(b)-4 NIV

Ezekiel 34:2–4 functions as a moral lens on leadership. Moral leaders care for the vulnerable, heal the sick, feed the hungry and seek justice for the aggrieved. They do so with truth and humility. Moral leaders do not use authority as a means to enrich or feed themselves.

It seems absurd for even his most deluded adulators to confuse Donald Trump with a moral leader. They simply cannot deny his blatant neglect – or, more accurately, his disdain – for the impoverished, the sojourner, the forsaken, and anyone that doesn’t pay him homage, cannot benefit him, or doesn’t look like him. Nor can they deny his unrepentant use of the presidency to enrich himself, his family and those who bend the knee.

And as incredulous as it is, those adulators seem not to care. They see not a corrupt, narcissistic POTUS who rules with “harshness and brutality” directed towards the most exposed – but a demigod who blinds them by stoking their fears with deceit and slander.

God spoke to the prophet Zechariah, informing him that Israel would suffer leaders (“shepherds”) who would ultimately preside over the nation’s demise. Such leaders would prefigure those of modern day.

“For I am going to raise up a shepherd over the land who will not care for the lost, or seek the young, or heal the injured, or feed the healthy, but will eat the meat of the choice sheep, tearing off their hooves.” Zechariah 11:16

To the moral among us, that sounds an apt description of POTUS. The Lord continued in verse 17:

“Woe to the worthless shepherd,
who deserts the flock!
May the sword strike his arm and his right eye!
May his arm be completely withered,
his right eye totally blinded!”

In these passages, God condemns shepherds who prioritize personal gain over those they lead, who fail to strengthen the weak or heal the sick, who do not seek the lost or care for the vulnerable – but rule with spite and mercilessness rather than grace and compassion.

Such is the reign of Donald Trump, the worthless shepherd.

Zechariah 11 is both symbolic and prophetic. Verses 4-14 speak of the people’s rejection of the “good shepherd” representing God’s appointed leader. Many commentators see the rejected shepherd as prophesy regarding Jesus Christ. The “worthless shepherd” described in the subsequent verses is then a foil – a false messiah, antichrist figure, or corrupt leader that the people turn to in place of the true Christ.

I do not believe it is a reach to suggest that Zechariah 11 has prefigured the volatile circumstances we find ourselves in today. There is no more compelling evidence than the fact that Donald Trump has become the most powerful person on the planet. Such a scenario could only unfold if the nation turned from the teaching and the example of Jesus Christ.

Those who enable, empower and encourage Trump have rejected the Good Shepherd. They have renounced love, compassion, humility and truth, embracing instead a morally bankrupt potentate who exalts himself, is vindictive and unrepentant, and presents himself as uniquely capable of “saving” the country. Such renunciation contrasts sharply with biblical ideals of godly leadership and is a bold rejection of the Lord’s instruction.

Lessons from Proverbs 28: Leadership and Its Consequences

Tom Ratkovich, , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

My current Bible study finds me in Proverbs. The book is traditionally attributed to King Solomon and contains vast wisdom and instruction on moral behavior. Unfortunately, Solomon’s inability to adhere to his own teaching led to the rupture of his realm into two kingdoms – and initiated a downward spiral of failed kingships across Israel and Judah resulting in ceaseless wars and, ultimately, exile.

Solomon’s is a story of failed leadership. We may be nearing a time when history will repeat itself – a time in which failed leadership precipitates the division of our own country into two (or more) “kingdoms” – and triggers the fragmentation of the global order.

Much of the wisdom related to leadership – and the ignorance of failed leadership – can be found in the 28th chapter of Proverbs. This chapter contrasts the deeds of the righteous and those of the wicked, teaching that true wisdom is more than just the discerning of moral behavior; it is living it.

Let’s get specific.

“When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.” (v. 2, NIV)

Stability is the result of wise leadership, creating peace and order. Conversely, poor leadership leads to division and chaos.

Where are we today? I lean to division and chaos. Peace and order seem but a pipedream.

“Evildoers do not understand what is right,
but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.” (v. 5)

Justice is rooted in righteousness. Just leaders are guided by the Lord’s commandments for compassion and, above all, love for others – ALL others, not just those that look like them. Evil leaders are led instead by personal interest.

I see very little compassion within this country’s current leadership. Actually, that is generous. I see NO compassion. I observe only disdain for those that do not look like, think like, or bend the knee to POTUS. The only love I see is self-love.

Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than the rich whose ways are perverse. (v. 6)

Integrity is essential to wise and effective leadership. Integrity is reflected not by wealth, but by truth and selflessness. Those preoccupied by riches will abuse their leadership to increase them.

Consider the current administration. POTUS frequently visits and promotes his own properties, receiving exorbitant  payments from political groups, foreign dignitaries, and government officials. Campaign funds have been frequently spent at those same properties. Foreign governments have booked rooms and events at Trump properties – evoking ethics complaints and violating the Emoluments clauses in the U.S. Constitution. And rather than divesting in the Trump Organization, POTUS empowers family members to leverage his brand to enrich his businesses through media, mobile services, cryptocurrencies and more. His greed obstructs his ability to care for his constituents.

“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,
but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” (v. 13)

I’ll admit, I don’t know if POTUS conceals sins. But those that remain unconcealed are quite prolific. Of course, we all sin…me more than most. But while I seek the Lord’s mercy, Trump remains utterly unapologetic and unrepentant in his iniquity. This reflects his immense arrogance and enormous pride. He is effectively putting his morality above God’s.

Confession and humility strengthen a leader’s character – and his ability to serve rather than be served. Ultimately, this is most disqualifying of our current POTUS as a leader of men: he believes that he – and those that share his idols and prejudices – are to be served rather than to serve.

In Proverbs 28, Solomon warns against greed, dishonesty, corruption and pride in leadership. He praises honesty, compassion, justice, generosity and accountability.

Unless one is lost in the bubble of Fox “News,” it is evident that POTUS remains ignorant of Solomon’s wisdom. It is also likely that were he acquainted with it, his pride, like that of Solomon, renders him incapable of abiding by it. Let us pray that history does not repeat itself.

As water reflects the face,
so one’s life reflects the heart. (Proverbs 27:19)

See also The Tragic Fall of King Solomon; The Righteous v. the Wicked

Virtuous Leadership

Tom Ratkovich, , , , Leave a comment

In his instructions to his protégé Titus, the Apostle Paul outlined essential qualifications of a church leader:

“For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.” (Titus 1:7-8, ESV)

While I am reluctant to conflate church and state as it feeds the disastrous Christian Nationalism narrative, I believe that important elements of Paul’s criteria for elders can be extended to leadership excellence and effectiveness in the political arena.

A virtuous leader – regardless of the domain – provides an example of how we are to treat and respect others. He (or she) is not, for example, “arrogant or quick-tempered.” That is, he does not assume himself to be the smartest person in the room. He is not only willing to listen but actively seeks to leverage the wisdom of others. Importantly, he is not “violent” or abusive to those who fail to fall to their knees before him.

Instead, a leader should be “hospitable” – welcoming the opportunity to engage with those to be led in a “self-controlled and disciplined” manner – demonstrating goodness, integrity and humility.

In an earlier post, I pointed to King Solomon’s wisdom and humility as virtuous traits of an effective leader of men. Needless to say, Solomon’s humility dissipated in the face of wealth and women, precipitating the fracture of Israel. Perhaps we can see similar traits in would-be leaders of today.

Many great leaders of the Bible were indeed flawed, but were humbled and repentant when confronted with their sin. Moses, for instance, led Israel out of captivity in Egypt demonstrating faith, compassion and obedience to God’s will. Yet he equivocated on more than one occasion – his trust in God wavering as he doubted his ability to deliver on what God was commanding. Needless to say, he found that trust.

From his youth, King David maintained a deep connection with God. He was gifted with bravery, conviction, compassion and faith. And, like most, he was burdened by pride. David was both an adulterer and murderer. He needed God’s help to see his sin. But once he did, David was repentant. He found God’s mercy and grace to be prodigious. David was promised that his descendant would sit on the throne over God’s people for eternity.

The Apostle Peter was a flawed man. Yet Jesus calls on Peter to “Feed my sheep.” Peter was asked to carry the Gospel to the Jews – the very people who crucified the Son of God. Why? Because despite his many missteps, Peter did not wallow in self-pity. He did not blame others or circumstances. He accepted responsibility and grew. That is what virtuous leaders do.

Perhaps the greatest lesson – the most powerful example ever given in leadership – is that provided by none other than Jesus Christ. That lesson is this: ultimately, leaders are servants – whether such service is as humble as washing the feet of His apostles, or as momentous as satisfying God’s wrath as the propitiation for the sins of His creation through death on the cross.

Scripture is clear that virtuous leadership is a function of character. Integrity, faithfulness, trust, humility, self-control, truth and compassion are among those qualities that make a leader virtuous and effective. Arrogance, greed, self-righteousness, falsehoods and a lack of repentance do not.

The Tragic Fall of King Solomon: Lessons for Modern Leaders

Tom Ratkovich, , 4 Comments

Before his heart turned from God, King Solomon was a humble and devoted servant of the Lord. It was in that humility that when asked by God, “What shall I give you?” Solomon responded:

“…give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil.”

1 Kings 3:9 (NKJV)
Continue reading “The Tragic Fall of King Solomon: Lessons for Modern Leaders” →