Reformers Who Failed in Reform
Lovers of leadership and appearance
Many participated in movements of reform and failed, because they did not walk in reform along a sound spiritual path. Among these are:
Oppose so that you may be known
A group of deacons, all its members chanting in complete harmony, with one tone; you cannot distinguish the voice of one from another.
But one of them may wish to appear, so he raises his voice under the pretext that he is correcting the melody for them. Thus he appears, even if as an opposer.
He becomes a discord in the harmonious melody. Yet this discord may claim that it is the real tone, and that the rest of the choir voices are the discord;
either all must submit to him, or the melody becomes confused.
It is the love of leadership and appearance.
The same situation may happen in any association, in any church, and in any organization… Positive work becomes hindered because of the discord.
Yet he fills the world with shouting, claiming that he is the real tone.
The love of leadership and appearance calls for stubbornness and resistance. Its Companions begin to gather around themselves a party in which they spread their objections.
Their party becomes negative, representing nothing but rejection.
Lovers of leadership and appearance claim that they call for reform. In reality they care only about themselves—how they may appear, and how they may take leadership.
Therefore they embrace every opposer, every troubled person, and everyone against whom a judgment has been issued.
They encourage him against the responsible authorities in order to add him to their ranks… In all this they rejoice in the increase of their number, not in its quality.
Thus Absalom acted with his father David…
Absalom used to sit and gather people to himself, and say to each one: “See, your matters are good and right, but there is no one from the king to hear you.”
Then he would say: “Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.”
And whenever anyone came near to him, he would take hold of him and kiss him… (2 Sam. 15:2–6).
Lovers of leadership and appearance have their whole life centered around themselves;
therefore they failed. And they clashed with everyone whom they saw as an obstacle to that self, or a competitor to it.
An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – in El-Keraza Magazine – Year Eight (Issue Seven) 18-2-1977.
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