Vol. XLII March 3, 2010 No. 5

The Role-Model Crisis

by Tom McLemore

Who determines our values and the way we live? Whom do we want to determine them? And whose manner of living is shaped by yours? We have quite a challenge before us. We live in a world in which image is often more important than substance; where presidential candidates are “packaged” like soap and presented to each block of voters in the guise calculated to appeal to them; where sexual activity is widely viewed as an exciting pastime which has little to do with morality; a world where economic success is often the sole criterion by which the importance of a person is judged; a world where rogues, con-men, and blood-avengers are heroes to be admired and emulated. Pick up a newspaper. Go to a movie. Watch TV. Everywhere you look, you see attempts to shape your values, but not according to the values of Jesus.

The values of today’s young people are being shaped by the values they perceive to be practiced by their parents (not the values that their parents PROFESS). And it’s not limited to parents. All of us need to be role-models for others, whether as parents, spouses, members of the church, church leaders, teachers, or whatever. We have the tendency to be conformed to what we see modeled before us. Therefore, we must be careful about what we model before others. In every area of life there is a role-model crisis.

In Numbers 20, we have the tragic story of role-models who failed, viz., Moses and Aaron. The people complained that there was no water. Better to have died in the wilderness. Better to have stayed in Egypt. God told Moses to take the staff, and assemble the congregation and command the rock before their eyes to yield its water. Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as he had commanded him. Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Listen, you rebels, shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff; water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me, to show my holiness before the eyes of the Israelites, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them” (Numbers 20:1-13).

Moses was the leader. What he did was “before their eyes . . . before the eyes of Israel.” He was a role model. The nature of the covenant established by God at Sinai was a relationship based on loyalty to God, generally. Specifically, it was based on absolute obedience to God, absolute distinction of God’s holiness, and absolute trust in God. These are the issues that the Israelites would face when they conquered and settled in the land of promise. It was absolutely vital for Moses to MODEL these characteristics before the people. When he ceased to do that, the integrity of his leadership was compromised. God told him, “Therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” It was punishment which was announced on that occasion, for sure. But more significantly, it was recognition that Moses had proved himself unfit to lead. He had failed as a role-model.

How do we measure up as role-models, compared to Moses? Do we obey the Lord explicitly? When our children or others look at us, do they see us obeying the commands of God? Or do they see compromise? Do we trust in the Lord completely?

In this instance, Moses did not respond well under pressure. What about the patience we show with a sales-clerk? The way we respond to our families after a grueling day at work? The way we react when we bump our heads on the trunk-lid of the car? The way we behave during rush-hour traffic? How do those who look at us see us responding under pressure?

Predominately, Moses failed to show the holiness of God before the eyes of the Israelites. His words seem to suggest that maybe it would be he and Aaron who would be bringing the water out of the rock instead of God, who alone had the power. When people look our way, do they see Christ and God as enthroned and us as mere servants? Or do we elevate ourselves to the place of God? Are people directed by our lives to glorify only God?

Israel experienced a role-model crisis that day when Moses and Aaron failed. And ultimately, when we look to finite human beings, there will always be a role-model crisis. But glory be to God that we are not so limited. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the ultimate-role model. He knew no sin. His lips never spoke guile. He went about doing good. He trusted in God, and showed God’s holiness before the eyes of all. He succeeded in every way in which Moses and others have failed and distinguished himself as the Author and Pioneer of our faith.

Our task is clear in the midst of a world experiencing a role-model crisis: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ,” as Paul wrote to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 11:1; cf. Matthew 5:14-16; Philippians 2:15). Let us strive to follow Christ and model his lifestyle for others. Then we will be proper role-models for our children and everyone who knows us.

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