How To Inherit The Earth by Scott A. Bessenecker

With How To Inherit The Earth, author Scott A. Bessenecker set out to “write a critique of the Christian infatuation with leadership.” Instead, he added his own contribution to the mix. Even if it was by accident, as he says, we are the better for it.

Bessenecker does explore the near obsession with leadership material in Christian bookstores today, but not just as mere observation. He asserts that our focus should be on becoming effective followers of Christ, and less on becoming effective leaders. Bessenecker points out that even the apostle Paul “was more concerned with the exercise of excellent servanthood than he was with excellent leadership” and clearly communicates the need for Christians to do the same. By becoming effective followers of Christ, we are able to lead from a place of love and humility. “Followers of Jesus should be preoccupied by an ambition to outdo one another in sacrificial love, respect, obedience and submission,” he says.

Bessenecker explains the MONOPOLY (TM) mindset and “biggering” that dominates the West and has infiltrated our churches and leadership structures. He explains why it flies in the face of the downward mobility that is required of Christians. While Bessenecker emphasizes the need for a renewed focus on becoming better followers, he never questions the necessity of leadership; only how it is defined and implemented. He says, “We want to come under meek leaders, destined to inherit the earth because they lead with love, are mindful of the powerless and feel the spiritual weight of their position.”

Bessenecker uses personal stories, self-deprecating humor and brutal honesty to get his points across, often sharing his personal struggles and failures to punctuate an idea. In particular, I found his thoughts on wealth, comparison and entitlement, and how they impact our lives as believers, to be challenging and insightful. He suggests we should live a life defined by meekness, submission, repentance, following, slavery and obedience in order to flourish spiritually. It looks good in print, but, as Bessenecker would likely agree, is quite challenging to live out. Hopefully, we are up to the challenge.














http://www.urbana.org/blogs/blog.main.leastofthese.cfm

(Book provided by IVP)