Accidental Herod

I had never thought much about Herod the Great other than as the notorious, paranoid baby killer from the birth narrative in Matthew’s gospel. But there’s a reason that he is referred to as “the Great,” as I learned from David McNitzky’s new book, Accidental Herod: Becoming a Leader You Can Live With. Herod was “successful, rich, culturally relevant, powerful, and pragmatic, and he built some awesome structures.” Even though Herod was power-hungry, he brought prominence, economic development, and stability to his kingdom. And his story is an important warning for anyone in leadership. McNitzky is the senior pastor of Alamo Heights United Methodist Church, a large and prominent church in San Antonio. He gives a personal account of his unsettling discovery that he shared much in common with Herod. What could a dedicated pastor today have in common with a ruthless political leader from two thousand years ago? McNitzky confesses that a “focus on size,” “success as the goal,” and “calculating behavior/pragmatism” are some of the ways that his behavior paralleled that of Herod. This confession is one that may make many ministry leaders squirm uncomfortably. But what drives this behavior? McNitzky realized that he was living more as an orphan or slave, rather than as the beloved son and heir that God intends. As he explains, “Life as an heir involves working from approval, not for approval.” The problem is that many of us don’t live like heirs. “We trade our unconditional acceptance as children for a life of slaving away in the kingdom, hoping somehow to earn a place at the Father’s table.” I’ve reflected a lot on the orphan/heir distinction over the past couple of weeks. How often does my behavior – competition, drivenness, or distrust – grow out of an “orphan” desire for approval and acceptance? What would change if I lived every moment of every day with a deep realization that I am a beloved child of God and an heir in the kingdom? I suspect that I’ll continue to reflect on these questions, and that I’ll recommend Accidental Herod to many others who want to “become a leader they can live with.” It’s easy to receive my blogs by email. Just sign-up on Feedburner by clicking here.]]>