Automatic Alignment System

Leadership is viewed in various ways by people of different cultures. Acceptable behavior for leaders can differ from one society to another.

Where we live, we’ve had people running for office while they are in jail for criminal offences. Their names were on the voting ballots, but they were incarcerated. It seems the voters don’t seem to mind at all.
Paul left Titus in Crete for the important task of appointing leaders for churches in each city. He gave Titus a list of acceptable behavior and characteristics. He puts these behaviors in direct contrast to the character of those who are unfit for leadership.
In his travels, Paul dealt with people of many nations with differing cultures. What is acceptable behavior for one nation may be different for others. I am sure that it gave him one of the greatest leadership struggles of his life.
But in this struggle to guide leaders in their character and life, he seems to have a set of guiding principles: “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled” (Titus 1:15 NKJV).
He takes this whole issue of behaviour to a deeper level. More important than identifying appropriate behaviour, he looks at their inner condition. Are they internally pure or defiled? Whatever is on the inside will eventually come out in their behaviour. Whatever their current behaviours are, they will surely come to alignment with their inner heart condition.
Maybe it is an “automatic alignment” system. The condition of the heart sets the pattern for the person’s life and character.
Your Turn
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