Electing Good Leaders 1 A Citizen s Responsibility A training manual
Introduction 2 Who will lead us through the coming years? This question has been asked around the world for centuries: in villages, in countries and in churches. It is particularly relevant during times of election. For most of human history, people didn t elect/choose their leaders. Leaders were usually appointed without consulting the people whom they would lead. Today, in many parts of the world, democracy has given citizens the right and responsibility to evaluate different candidates running for office and then to choose the one to vote for. Although the Bible never talks about democracy, it gives several reasons to favor this form of government. 1. God created human beings with the ability to reflect and with the responsibility to make good choices. (Deuteronomy 30:15,19) 2. God places his image in all human beings. Therefore it is appropriate that all, and not just some, citizens take part in choosing their leaders. (Genesis 1:27-28) 3. Democracy encourages citizens to evaluate their leaders and change them when they are not doing a good job, especially when they do not respect the law they are called to uphold. (read an evaluation of leaders in Micah 3:1-3, 8-12.) 4. It is God s will that the peoples of the world be governed by good leaders who favor peace, prosperity and justice. (1 Timothy 2:2, Romans 13:4) This manual will help you reflect and choose in a responsible way by asking these questions: What are the signs of a good leader? How can I recognize a good leader? Am I a good leader? How can I become a good leader? The six lessons of this manual should be studied in a group that meets regularly for six sessions. Each participant should have a copy of this manual. The Bible texts and questions are to be read and discussed during the lesson. The task of the group facilitator/leader is to help each participant reflect on the questions and participate in the discussion. Each lesson ends with each participant writing an individual action plan. The facilitator provides enough time for this. During the following week, participants put their action plans into practice. At the beginning of the following lesson, everyone reports on their action plan before studying the next lesson together. May God bless you and give you the strength and wisdom to be a good leader and to choose good leaders!
LESSON ONE God as Creator and Leader 3 The Bible presents God as Creator and Leader. God Creates the World and Leads it (Genesis 1-2) From the time of creation, God exercised good leadership in at least four ways. 1. God established a good relationship with those he created. Genesis 2.8 What does God do to welcome Adam and Eve into His world? Genesis 1.27-28, Psalm 8.5-7 How do Adam and Eve know that they are valued by God? 2. God speaks clearly. What he says is relevant. Genesis 1.27-30, Genesis 2.16-17 What instructions does God give Adam and Eve? Why is God s blessing important for Adam and Eve? What does it means to bless someone? 3. God works. Genesis 1.9, 20 Does God work according to a plan? Genesis 2.1 Does God stop in the middle of his work plan? 4. God works for the sustainable development of the world. Genesis 1.27-28, Genesis 2.15 What project for sustainable development does God entrust to Adam and Eve? Psalm 8 God is the Creator and Leader of the world. He delegated important responsibilities to Adam and Eve. They held a place of power, prestige and privilege in God s world. The Great Creator God leads in a different way than many leaders. In many places around the world: People work to please their leaders, but necessarily the opposite! People honor their leaders, but not necessarily the opposite! Many leaders spend much of their time and energy to build their own power and prestige, rather than investing in the future of their people. God Continued to Lead through Crisis (Genesis 3)
Adam and Eve are not content with all the privileges God gives them. They want more. They weren t happy to govern the world under God s authority. They wanted to do what God had forbidden. Genesis 3 tells how the Great Creator God reacts in a crisis situation when Adam and Eve revolt against him. 6. God worked to repair the broken relationship. Genesis 3.8-10 What does God do? Do Adam and Eve want to see him? Why does God go to them anyway? 7. God speaks clearly. Genesis 3.9-13 How does God begin speaking to Adam and Eve? Does God ask questions because he doesn t know the answer? Genesis 3.16-19 What does God explain to them? Genesis 3.15 What did God say that gave them hope for the future? 8. God works. John 5.17 Does God stop working in the world because of sin? Genesis 3.21 What did God do to assist in a material way those who disobeyed him? Does God want Adam and Eve to live in shame because of their sin? 9. God pursues his project of sustainable development Genesis 8.22-9.1 Does God stop blessing the world because of sin? Did he abandon his program of sustainable development Colossians 1:20 What is God s plan for the sustainable development of our sinful world? 10. MY PLAN Activity: Write one thing that you will do this week to be a good leader in your family, in your church or in your neighborhood. When will you do it? Expected change: What change do you expect to happen because of what you do? What will be a sign that this change is happening? 4
LESSON TWO Leaders in the Bible 5 1. Action Plan Reports Did you do what you planned at the end of lesson 1? If not, what obstacle prevented you? How will you overcome that obstacle this week? Did the expected change happen? Moses and David 2. Exodus 3:7-10, 1 Samuel 16:12-13 Moses and David become great leaders. Why? 3. Exodus 5.1-2, 1 Samuel 17:43-46, Hebrews 11:27,33 Moses and David were not intimidated by those who seemed stronger than they. Why not? How do you say intimidated in your language? 4. Exodus 7:6 Who was Moses leader? 5. Exodus 4.13 When God met Moses the first time, did Moses want to free his people from slavery? Did Moses learn to love the people God called him to lead? (see Exodus 32:31-32) 6. 1 Samuel 18.16 What did David do to show that he loved his people the way God loved them? 7. Moses taught his people how to respect and obey God s law. What are some of the laws given by Moses which are still relevant today? Exodus 20:13-16, 22:20, 23:6, 23:8, 23:13 8. Psalm 119:1-8 What did David do to help others understand and appreciate God s law? 9. Did Moses and David have easy lives? Did they abandon their responsibilities to have an easier life? Give some examples. 10. Through God s power, Moses and David delivered their people from their oppressors. Is there spiritual, economic or political oppression in your country today? What is a leader s responsibility when his people are living in oppression? Jesus 11. Jesus personal relationships John 7:16 Was Jesus an obedient leader? Who was Jesus leader?
6 Luke 4:31-37, Matthew 26:3-4 Who opposed Jesus? Was Jesus intimidated by them? Matthew 23:4-7 Jesus criticized the bad leaders of his day. Why? Acts 26:14-16 Was Jesus plan to destroy all the bad leaders who opposed him? Matthew 9:10-11, Mark 7:24-30, Mark 10:13-16 Who appreciated Jesus? 12. Jesus teaching Luke 19:48, Mark 11:18, Luke 19:48, John 7:16 Common people appreciated Jesus teaching. Why? John 13:12-17 What did Jesus tell leaders to do? Do you know a leader who leads like Jesus? 13. Jesus work Matthew 9:35-36, Mark 1:35-39 What was Jesus work? Jesus spent much time teaching and healing the sick. Do you know a leader who works hard to provide good education and health care for his people? 14. Jesus project for sustainable development Colossians 1:20 Jesus came to reconcile everything in the creation. Another word for reconcile is repair what is broken. Jesus came to repair our relationship with God and with other people. He also came to repair everything that is broken in our village, our neighborhood and our country. For example, schools, water supply, roads, government services Jesus was a great leader because he repaired what was broken. What needs to be repaired in your family, in your church or in your neighborhood? MY PLAN Activity: Write one thing that you will do during the next week to repair something that is broken in your family, your church or your neighborhood. When will you do it? Expected Change: What change do you expect to happen because of what you do? What will be a visible sign that this change is happening?
LESSON 3 Why Leaders Fail (1) 7 1. Action Plan Reports Did you do what you planned at the end of lesson 2? If not, what obstacle prevented you? How will you overcome that obstacle this week? Did the expected change happen? Why do leaders fail to be good leaders? It is often for three reasons: Temptations Obligations to/pressure from their ethnic group Corruption TEMPTATIONS 2. Leaders are often tempted to think that they have more privileges, more prestige and more power than is rightfully theirs. The great king David was tempted in that way. 3. Privileges. 2 Samuel 11.4 What privilege did David want that was not rightfully his? Do you know leaders for whom nothing is forbidden, who think that they have the privilege of having or doing anything they desire? 4. Prestige. 2 Samuel 11:5-13 What was most important for David, the truth or his personal prestige (Other words for prestige are reputation and honor)? How do you say prestige, honor and reputation in your language? Do you know leaders whose personal prestige (honor) is more important than the truth? Do you know leaders whose personal prestige (honor) is more important than doing good work? 5. Power. 2 Samuel 11:14-25 How did King David abuse his power? Do you know leaders who abuse their power? Give some examples. Like David, leaders today can also be tempted by privilege, prestige and power which is not rightfully theirs.
OBLIGATIONS TO/PRESSURE FROM THEIR ETHNIC GROUP 6. In your country, do citizens usually vote for candidates who belong to their own clan (ethnic group)? Who tells citizens to vote for the candidate belonging to their clan? Is it good for Christians to always vote for the candidate from their own ethnic group? What happens in the church or in society when people always vote from someone from their own clan or ethnic group? 7. Can older brothers and clan elders make mistakes? Think of Joseph s older brothers (Genesis 37:17-20), David s older brothers (2 Samuel 17:26-28) and the elders during Jesus time. (Matthew 27:12,18,20) 8. Do clan elders influence elected officials in your country? What happens when an elected official always does what the clan elders tell him to do? 9. Ephesians 2:14 Why did Jesus come to the world according to this text? 10. Does Paul speak about the ethnic origin of his fellow-workers in Romans 16:1-16? What does Paul warn them against in Romans 16:17? 11. MY PLAN Activity: Write an example of a temptation which leaders in your town or your country face. Speak about this temptation with your family before the next lesson. When will you do that? Expected change: What change do you expect will happen because of what you do? What is a sign that this change is taking place? 8
LESSON 4 Why Leaders Fail (2) Corruption 9 1. Action Plan Reports Did you do what you planned at the end of lesson 3? If not, what obstacle prevented you? How will you overcome that obstacle this week? Did the expected change happen? CORRUPT LEADERS 2. Ecclesiastes 7:7, Jeremiah 22:17 What do corrupt leaders do? Corrupt leaders do not respect the law. Why does corruption encourage violence and not peace? 3. When David committed adultery with Bathseba, did he believe adultery was a good thing for the people he was leading? A corrupt leader: doesn t want to obey the law, thinks that can disobey the law without being punished (impunity), punishes others for disobeying the law that he doesn t keep himself. 4. What is the word in your language for corruption, and impunity? Is corruption practiced in your neighborhood, your church or your country? Give examples. 5. Luke 22:3-5, Matthew 28:11-15, Acts 24:25-26 Who were some corrupt leaders? 6. What does corruption do to: leaders who become corrupt? Proverbs 25:26, Ecclesiastes 7:7, Jeremiah 22:17-19 those they lead? Proverbs 15:27, 29:4, Micah 3:11-12 wise people who can give good counsel? Amos 5:12-13 7. Deuteronomy 16:18-20 In your country, do multinational companies give secret presents to government officials in order to have access to your country s natural resources? What is the result of this corruption on the development and prosperity of your country?
HONEST LEADERS 10 8. Deuteronomy 10:17-19, 2 Chronicles 19:7 Who isn t corrupt? Who is a good Leader? 9. Proverbs 22:22,1 Peter 5:2-3, Titus 2:7-8, Ephesians 6:4 What is the behavior of a leader who is not corrupt? Give the example of a leader in your country who was not corrupt. OPPOSING CORRUPTION 10. Luke 19:8-10 What did Zacchaeus do to oppose corruption? 11. Proverbs 22:6, Matthew 5:14-16 What can you do to oppose corruption? Give examples. 12. Deuteronomy 16:20, Proverbs 20:26, Leviticus 19:1,15, Isaiah 33:15-16 What happens when good leaders oppose corruption? 13. MY PLAN Activity: Write one example of corruption that you see around you. Speak about this temptation to your family before the next lesson. When will you do it? Expected change: What change should happen because of your family discussion. What will be a sign that this change is happening?
LESSON 5 Signs of a Good Leader 11 1. Action Plan Reports Did you do what you planned at the end of lesson 4? If not, what prevented you? How will you overcome that obstacle this week? Did the expected change happen? 2. In the past lessons, we observed that a good leader: Maintains good relationships, Communicates in a clear and useful way, Works hard, Promotes sustainable development. Here are some questions which will help you evaluate your leaders, especially political leaders who are called servants of God in Romans 13:4. ( See also Exodus 18:21 for signs of a good leader.) 3. Good relationships A good relationship to the law: Does this leader respect and obey the laws of the land? A good relationship to his family and clan: Does he honor his family but only appoint those who have the 4 qualities described in Exodus 18:21? A good relationship to his colleagues. Does he honor his colleagues and enable them to do their work well? Does he make certain that they obey the law and punish them if they don t? A good relationship to those he leads. Does he show consideration for those who have no power? Does he defend the cause of the poor against those who try to exploit them? (Proverbs 22:22,23) 4. Good communication Speaks clearly Is this leader easy to understand? Does he say useful things or does he often talk just to be talking? Says what is useful Does he explain clearly what he expects of those he leads? Does he also explain clearly what they can expect of him?
12 Talks without insulting others Does he show respect to everyone, even when they don t share his opinion? (2 Timothy 2:23-25) Speaks the truth Does he hide the truth when it is to his advantage? 5. Good work Method Does he work according to a plan? Are his plans clear for him and for his colleagues? Perserverance Does this leader stick to his work plan even when he encounters obstacles? Evaluation Does he evaluate his own work regularly? Does he ask that others also evaluate his work? 6. Promoting sustainable development Natural resources Does this leader develop the natural resources of the country to build a prosperous future for future generations? Or, is he more concerned about building his own personal fortune? Human resources: Education Does he invest resources in education: training good educators, developing good educational programs, providing necessary buildings and equipment, etc.? Human resources: Employment Is he able to generate productive employment which will contribute to long-term development? 7. MY PLAN Activity: Write one of these four leadership qualities which you want to develop personally. What will you do before the next lesson to develop this quality? When will you do it? Expected change: Write one change that you expect to happen if you do this.
13 LESSON 6 Political parties 1. Action Plan Reports Did you do what you planned at the end of lesson 5? If not, what obstacle prevented you? How will you overcome that obstacle this week? Did the expected change happen? 2. Political parties play an important role in democracies. Citizens are called to evaluate and judge the integrity and the effectiveness of the political parties in their country. The signs of a good leader are the same signs we should look for in political parties: Good relationships, Good communication, Hard work, Insuring sustainable development. 3. Here are some questions which will help you to evaluate a political party : Good relationships Does this political party work to reconcile and bring unity throughout the country? show respect for the laws of the land and the rules for an honest election? Or does it foster suspicion and animosity between the different peoples of your country? try to intimidate and threaten people during the electoral period? refuse to accept the election results if they are disfavorable to their party? Good Communication Does this political party tell the truth about themselves and others? stay realistic when making election promises? Or does it make unrealistic promises if its candidate wins the election? constantly criticize and belittle other candidates? secretly give money to influential members of the community, including pastors, so that they will persuade others to vote for their candidate?
Hard Work 14 Will this political party promote the honest work of farmers and small businesses? Or will it promote mainly big development projects to the advantage of a privileged minority? Sustainable development Will this political party develop and maintain a good educational system throughout the country? promote good health through the country? combat impunity, even among the rich and powerful? Or will it try, more than anything else, just to stay in power if it wins the election? Give examples of political parties who worked for the good of your country. Give examples of those who did not. 4. The pastor s responsabilities What are a pastor s responsabilities in a democracy? Here are some guidelines from the Bible. A Christian pastor: Should be an example of a good leader. (1Timothy 4:12) Is a messenger of the Kingdom of God which is greater than any political party. (1 Corinthians 1:22-25, John 18:36) Should not associate to closely with any one political party. He is called to minister to all people. In democratic countries, members of the same church can belong to different political parties and vote for different candidates on election day. Avoid the temptation of receiving money from a political party in order to influence church members to vote in a certain way. (Proverbs 15:27, Proverbs 17:23, Proverbs 29:4, 1 Timothy 3:3) MY PLAN Activity: Meet alone, or with others, a representative of a local political party to speak with him about the 4 signs of a good political party. When will you do this? Expected change: What change can happen because of that visit? What is a sign that this change is beginning to take place?