When Moses began to lead the people of Israel, he soon realized that it would be too heavy a burden for him to carry alone. He asked the people to choose some wise, discerning, and experienced men from among them to rule over them. These men were given authority over thousands, over hundreds, over fifties, over tens, and as officers over their tribes (Deuteronomy 1:9-15).
Just as the Israelites selected their own leaders at various levels of government, we also select rulers to lead over us to do the same. But are these rulers wise, discerning, and experienced? Both Peter and Paul tell us that we should be subject to rulers and authorities for God establishes authorities to punish evildoers and to praise those who do what is right (Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-17). Have we elected leaders with the wisdom and discernment to best punish those who do evil and praise those who do what is right?
Given our responsibility in our nation to select our rulers, how do we also ensure that they are wise, discerning, and experienced? Many candidates for office are shrewd and experienced in the ways of this world, but are these the persons that we desire to be governing over us? James tells us that the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruit, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy (James 3:17). Are our current leaders governing with this type of wisdom?
We can’t expect the world to produce wise and discerning leaders. The world will continue to turn out leaders that seek after their own interests. This type of leader may tell us what we want to hear, but according to James, where selfish ambition exists, there is also disorder and every evil thing (James 3:16). Instead, it is our responsibility to train up the next generation of leaders with godly wisdom, such that they may discern right from wrong and make challenging and difficult decisions. The Scriptures tell us that the fear of the Lord is to hate evil and is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; 8:13; 9:10). We begin by teaching our children to fear the Lord and then disciple them through their childhood, leading them along the path of wisdom.
As we develop a biblical worldview in our children, we also need to show them how to be leaders. We should provide them with experiences in leadership, such that the wise and faithful leaders of this generation are training the next. If we allow the blind to lead the blind, they will only fall into a pit. We must disciple our children and bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord, so that may become the future servant leaders of our communities, state, and nation.
This year, CHAP brings you the iAdvocate program from Generation Joshua. The iAdvocate program is designed to help our teens learn to apply the Christian worldview to law and public policy. More specifically, this program will give each teen an opportunity to learn what it would be like to be a member of the U.S. Congress by working through the process of drafting legislation. They will gain experience in how to navigate competing priorities, such as personal legislative goals, interests from political parties, and agreements made with other participants. Our teens will have opportunities to work together in committees and advocate for legislation in front of the entire assembly. They will build relationships with each other and have fun in the process.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to provide your teens with this valuable training designed to help them become the wise, discerning, and experienced leaders of tomorrow.
Steve Wayde serves as the Board Chairman for CHAP and 2022 Convention Planning Team Chair. He has been involved in homeschool leadership since 2013. He has been an IT professional at Elizabethtown College for over 17 years. Steve and his wife, Ginger, are homeschooling their six children. He enjoys investing his time into the lives of his children and encouraging the next generation to do the same.
