Leadership

Matthew 15:21-28

I think one of the most important characteristics of good leadership is someone’s capacity to be corrected. A leader should be able to accept when they are wrong and then fix the problem or change what needs to be changed.

A surprising story in scripture is found in both the Gospels of Mark and Matthew and it tells the story of Jesus encountering a woman at a well. In Mark she is described as Syrophoenician, and in Matthew she is called a Canaanite woman. In both cases, the most important detail is that this is a gentile woman. And that stories of men meeting women alone at a well is usually the set of a very dramatic and potentially scandalous scene!

In Jesus’ case, the scandal is far less interesting than it could be—but it is seriously important for Christians. You can interpret this story in many ways. You could make the case that this is not a story of Jesus being (gasp!) wrong, but Jesus simply testing a woman’s faith and rewarding it for being sustained when challenged. You could also read this story as a surprising account of Jesus confronting his own culturally jewish biases against gentiles and growing from it.

How we interpret scripture matters because that is the work God gives us through the gift of scripture itself. We don’t follow what scripture says, we interpret what scripture says and live out our lives in response to that interpretation—an interpretation best done in community, using the four primary sources of theological truth: scripture, reason, tradition, experience, and an interpretation that is constantly reengaged as the Holy Spirit works through us in our lives.

I am struck not by an interpretation that Jesus struggled with biases (though given that he was fully human alongside being fully divine, Jesus having biases would not be surprising), nor do I think the strength of this amazing woman’s faith is the only vivid part of the story. I am also struck by the notion that Jesus did not treat this woman the way he did so many Pharisees who challenged and questioned him. Instead, Jesus, like a good leader, heard a more compelling argument against what his claim was that he changed his mind.

Whether or not this changed Jesus’ worldview about gentiles, I do not know. I personally think it takes more than one real encounter with someone we are taught to hate to undo such deeply entrenched beliefs. But what I do know is that Jesus demonstrated humility—something we are called to demonstrate. Jesus demonstrated mercy—something we are called to demonstrate. Jesus demonstrated kindness (after he finally had an encounter that successfully challenged the beliefs he grew up with)—something we are called to demonstrate.

How valuable would it be if we celebrated more leaders who were able to admit they were wrong, and then do something about it? We see the opposite of this in our nation’s politics. Mistakes are spun or hidden. When someone changes their mind, it becomes a point from which to attack them for being inconsistent. And when apologies are made by many politicians, there is great spectacle but rarely great follow through. 

May we live with a humility that allows us to accept when we are wrong and then do something about it the way Jesus did at the well!