He Had to Go

Well, that was quick. General McChrystal returned today and resigned today. While it was unfortunate that this happened at such an inopportune time, it was necessary for him to go. I'm glad he resigned. His behavior was an embarrassment to the American military. He may not have said extremely incendiary things himself, but he allowed an environment of disrespect to grow under his command. In the military, respect of command is extremely important.

I may not support everything that President Obama does, but here is one thing where I am behind him completely. He did the right thing. McChrystal had to go. Had President Obama failed to "accept his resignation" he would have critically undermined his already weakened ability to lead.

Lack of support of leadership is addressed in the Bible. I read just this morning that I am to: "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith... Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us [leaders]" (Hebrews 13.7, 17-18a). Paul was very supportive of the idea of giving support to leadership: "Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor" (Romans 13.7). Also: "Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you" (1 Thessalonians 5.12).

These verses give us the biblical counsel regarding leaders. It's not our job to "fix" our leaders. We are to:

1. Remember them (Hebrews 13.7)
2. Obey them (Hebrews 13.17)
3. Pray for them (Hebrews 13.18)
4. Respect them (Romans 13.7 and 1 Thessalonians 5.12)

I've been in a position where those who report to me have failed to follow this biblical instruction. It always leads to confusion and pain. I also have been in positions where I could not stay because I was unable to follow one or more of these guidelines. Rather than making a fuss, I quietly sought to move out of the situation.

That is what McChrystal should have done. Instead of allowing - even encouraging - a culture of disrespect, he should have cleaned it up or gotten out long ago. Now we are extremely disadvantaged in a sensitive time in the prosecution of the war in Afghanistan. We can only pray that more lives won't be needlessly lost because of this extreme lack of judgment.

We should take a lesson from this moment in history, remembering this in our church relationships as well as our families and places of employment: Remember, obey, pray for and respect our leaders.