Love as a Disruptive Strategy

Scripture — Micah 5:2-5a (NRSV)

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return
to the people of Israel.
And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth,
and he shall be the one of peace.

Devotion

The Arrival at Bethlehem by Luc-Oliver Merson (1897)

I traveled to the Sea of Galilee as part of a study group a decade ago. Our tour leader was a New Testament scholar who noted that Jesus spent much of his recorded ministry in the small fishing village of Capernaum rather than in the up-and-coming city of Tiberias, which was nearby. Jesus seemed quite content to invest himself in small, out-of-the-way places like Capernaum rather than in arguably more influential Tiberias. Jesus’ ministry embodied what I have said elsewhere: “One of wisdom’s most countercultural leadership insights is to pay attention to those who are furthest from the center of power” (The Wise Leader, p. 89).

Today’s text from the prophet Micah makes the same point. God strategically chooses a backwater village – Bethlehem, from “one of the little clans of Judah” – as the Messiah’s birthplace. God’s love embodies a wholly unexpected and disruptive strategy. As another Hebrew prophet wrote,

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts

     nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8).

Advent reminds us that God’s love begins by identifying with the weak and marginalized rather than with the powerful. 

That’s challenging for those of us in leadership. We have things we want to accomplish, and since leadership is inherently a team sport, we need others to help us achieve our goals. We need team members and allies who are capable and have influence (i.e., power) to help us get things done. So, why pay attention to those we perceive as weak and without influence?

One of the fundamental tenets of the biblical narrative is that all human beings are made in the image of God. That means, among many other things, that each human being has a vital role to play and a contribution to make. The apostle Paul applied that insight to the believing community as the body of Christ in this way:

On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect, whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member… (1 Corinthians 12:22-26, emphasis added)

In my experience, seeing the seemingly weaker among us as indispensable and treating them with greater honor and respect is a challenge both for the church and the world. Frankly, it’s easier to gravitate to those whose gifts and influence we admire. Think of the charismatic and influential business or non-profit leader or pastor you know. Viewing them as more important and giving them greater honor and respect seems normal. But the apostle Paul challenges us to think and act differently.

What would it mean for me to give “greater honor to the inferior member?” 

I have to admit that I don’t do that naturally or well. My calendar is filled with meetings with people I consider important for the work that I do. In my work as board chair of a regional health system, I regularly meet with my CEO, fellow board members, and members of our senior executive leadership team. That’s both good and necessary for me to fulfill my responsibilities. But by themselves, they are not enough. If I’m not careful, all my time and attention will be focused on “the powerful” of our organization, and I will become disconnected and insulated from those who are thought of otherwise.

Finding ways to connect with and honor those on the periphery of institutional power is a creative challenge for all who lead.

In my board work, regular visits to our hospitals and clinics to meet with local leaders and front-line workers are a way for me to stay connected with those who would otherwise be on the margins of my vision. These visits are also a terrific time for me to show them how much they are valued and appreciated by giving them the honor and respect they deserve.

Hearing from patients about their experience within our system is another practice I’ve come to value. There’s nothing quite like sitting down with patients to listen to their stories directly, especially when their experience has been problematic. As a board member, it would be easy for me to be insulated from that kind of feedback, but hearing their experience firsthand provides urgency and energizes our board’s commitment to providing the best care for our patients. And rather than being treated as a mere statistic, patients feel seen and heard, honored and respected.

I have much to learn about how to do this creatively and well. Advent is a great time to reflect on how God’s love ought to disrupt our leadership practice. During Advent, we celebrate God’s choosing to identify with the weak and the powerless by being born in the little town of Bethlehem from “one of the little clans of Judah.” It’s a great time to refocus our attention on those who are at the periphery of our leadership vision.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project’s online commentary. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Anticipating His Advent.