Can a leader make a mistake? All agree that the answer is ‘yes.’ There are differences of opinion about what should be done when a leader makes a mistake. Some say that leaders should never admit mistakes; others say that when a leader admits a mistake, he is shown to be more the man for the position.
Wherever there is a leader there are followers and rebels. Let’s say that in a certain situation a leader made a mistake…. Let’s continue by saying in this situation he decides that the right thing to do is to publicly admit the mistake. How people respond to that will tell you whether they are a follower or a rebel.
The follower appreciates the courage of the leader accepts his admission of wrongdoing and is ‘comforted’ in knowing that the leader is sensitive to whether or not he is doing the right thing. The follower further begins to understand that the leader is always trying to do the right thing although as a human being will sometimes err.
The rebel, on the other hand, picks up the leaders admission and parades it before all he thinks will listen. He says, “See, I told you so. There’s no need to listen to leadership. Listen to me instead.” He further shows his rebellion by the cunning way he communicates. With some he uses concern, with others dogma, with others still, he uses Scripture (while he lives in disobedience to Scripture himself).
If the leader admits a mistake, he should be forgiven. When the rebel parades the mistake and the admission thereof before all who will listen, he is sowing discord and gossiping. He shows his true colors. He does not carry the banner of the church. He waves his own banner and that banner says, “Listen to ME, not them. See. See. I told you so. They made mistakes years ago, they even admitted to it! So, listen to ME, and don’t follow those that God has given you to watch over you.”
So, what label fits your actions? Follower or Rebel.
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children: Ephesians 4:32-5:1
I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. 3 John 9-11.
You Think Too Much! 
I certainly hope this sentiment is not based on some negative experience that you might be facing this cold Christmas Eve. I certainly hope that all is well for you. God bless you, brother. Your post is excellent, as usual. Merry Christmas!
I love my leaders.
This is vaguely describing an meeting that happened in July/August of 2006. That date is significant to a lot of trash talking that is going around.
No one made any big stink to prompt this admission by the staff to those that were involved.
Someone has claimed that this post is full of heresy. Another person correctly said that I was vague and therefore could be condoning unbiblical actions. I can see the second person’s point.
Yes, this post is vague. I admit that in the previous comment. Here are some more particulars. I think it is appropriate to post these. Those that were directly involved know more than this. Those that were not involved don’t need to know any more.
The post was written December 24th, 2006. At that point, some people in our church were spreading unfounded rumors about an incident that happened on a teen trip to Mexico in 1997(?)
The meeting that this post is describing took place toward the end of July or the beginning of August 2006. There was no “big stink” going on to prompt the meeting.
Every boy who went on the Mexico trip and every parent who had children go on that trip… who were still attending our church was asked to come to the meeting. As far as I know, only one boy could not come, but his parents were there.
At the meeting, I did not address the particular problems that we were dealing with on the trip. I only admitted that the way we dealt with them was not right. I was trying not to excuse our actions. That’s why I did not go into any details of the things the boys did on the trip.
We did not beat or beat-up anyone. No one. We did make all the boys do lots of exercises and we let them know which boys were the reason they were doing all the extra working-out.
That was not the right way to deal with the problem.
No staff member beat-up any teen.
There are others, but here are two particular problems that we were dealing with:
1. a couple of the boys urinated in public
2. another boy urinated in the gang shower, purposely aiming for another boy’s toothbrush that had fallen in the water on the floor of the shower
…enough.