Good Leaders Judge Fairly Without Partiality
Why able and capable young leader’s leave. In good leaders delegate without control, I explained why Moses was a wise and effective leader, while many leaders fail to lead well because they continue to hold on to their authority and power while delegating. They think they know better and are more experienced than the younger leaders they delegate to, which is true. What they fail to realize or accept is that this should not translate to imposing their preferences and methods on them. By doing so, they are not raising leaders, but followers, who do not know how to stand independently on their own and think critically for themselves. Also, their imposition stifles and frustrates able young leaders, many of whom eventually leave in order to get out from under their leader’s controlling leadership.
In judging fairly who the person is should not matter. In my sermon on Deuteronomy chapter 1, The Words Moses Spoke, Moses also taught us that good leaders MUST judge fairly without partiality (Deut 1:16-18). This means that a good leader’s judgment should not be affected by any consideration other than the truth. Practically, it should not matter in the least if one person is an Israelite and the other is a foreigner (Deut 1:16). Ajith Fernando writes eloquently:
“Applying this to the life of the church or nation today, it would mean that sometimes a judgment may be made against a loyal member for the benefit of an outsider. In our cultures there is a strong sense of community solidarity that goes to the extreme of protecting one’s own when outsiders are involved. To do otherwise is considered an act of disloyalty and betrayal. But Moses instructs the judges to judge against members of their own group if necessary.”
“Pronouncing judgment against one’s own and in favor of an outsider is very hard for leaders as sometimes it looks like ingratitude and disloyalty to one who has worked so loyally and hard. But though there will be hurt at first, in the long run such thoroughgoing commitment to justice will reap good results.”
In judging fairly favoritism and partiality should not be shown to the one with status. Good and fair judgements must also treat the small and the great alike (Deut 1:17a). Sadly, in many societies and in some churches too, people with influence are considered to be above the law or immune to prosecution. But showing favoritism or partiality in judgment toward anyone, regardless of who they are or what they have done, will invariably result in a sick nation or a sick church, because it blurs the fact that God is always fair and just (Gen 18:19, 25; Prov 31:9). Therefore, a good leader fears no one but God (Deut 1:17b; Prov 29:25; Mt 10:28).
Have you experienced fairness and justice when judgments were made by your leaders?
I’m loving this series Ben!
“By doing so, they are not raising leaders, but followers, who do not know how to stand independently on their own and think critically for themselves. Also, their imposition stifles and frustrates able young leaders, many of whom eventually leave in order to get out from under their leader’s controlling leadership.”
This succinctly describes the self-labeled “crisis” ubf is facing.
Thanks, Brian. It’s truly quite fascinating how Scripture “painfully” and accurately reveals and exposes all of our deficiencies and failures, if we are willing to humbly listen and learn with contrite hearts.
Another verse that should be quoted in this context: “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17).
Matthew Henry comments: “Heavenly wisdom is without partiality. The original word, adiakritos, signifies to be without suspicion, or free from judging, making no undue surmises nor differences in our conduct towards one person more than another. The margin reads it, without wrangling, not acting the part of sectaries, and disputing merely for the sake of a party nor censuring others purely on account of their differing from us. The wisest men are least apt to be censurers.”