Speaking of the economic meltdown, or should I say Speaking Into the Meltdown, Gordon MacDonald weighs in with some thoughts on leadership in days like these.
Some teasers for you:
As I listen to leaders, I have yet to hear in the midst of all the organizational pain what I believe is a greater question than just institutional survival: Is God saying something in all of this international mess that a bunch of us might not be able to hear in any other way?
If we are a part of a biblical movement that believes God is continuously present and always speaking, then what is he saying now?
Is it time for a prophet?
And how about this?
Prophets usually came not from the center of society but from the edge. They were beholden to no one. They cared little about personal safety, reputation, or speaker-fees. They spoke with a gift of heavenly discernment, people who had insight into the meaning of contemporary events.
And this...
While there is always an appropriate moment to identify those who have walked outside the law, the first search ought always to begin with oneself. Prophets believed this. That means that I start with questions such as: how have I been complicit in the economic disorder which rages. Have I lived beyond my personal means? Have I incurred irresponsible debt? Have I lived indulgently, a lifestyle directed more by culture than by the influence of Christ? Has my life's purpose been more about acquiring stuff than living a life of generosity and compassion? What bothersome questions these are!
Finally, I'll leave you with this:
Some modern prophet might want to ask us if today's meltdown is really the result of a few greedy Wall Street financiers. Or do we all share a general responsibility for having bought into an economic system that has allowed some to become obscenely rich while allowing many others to grow obscenely poor.
For too many years there has been silence among Christians in my tradition regarding the flaws and excesses of the capitalistic system. To even hint in many of my circles that there might be aspects of our economic way of life that are unbiblical would be for most pastors an invitation to job-loss overnight. We have snuffed out intelligent and searching discourse by saying with a dash of humor that capitalism has flaws but it's way ahead of any other system. That does it. It usually stops conversation.
Read the rest here.

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