Absalom knew where to go to infiltrate the people's hearts. It is so easy in Christian leadership for people to set you up as their voice. It is a powerful position to find yourself in when you believe you are the voice of persuasion in any ministry. As a church staff leader I see this constantly where well intentioned individuals begin their ministry leadership journey and before you know it they get off course trying to solve everyone's gripes and complaints about the church or any particular area of ministry and take on whatever negative possibility is available to them.
This is one of the greatest threats to any church or ministry and the one that causes the greatest casualties to the cause of Christ. Everytime I see someone fall into that trap I think how crafty Satan is when an individual eager to seve the Lord finds themselves instead at the gate like Absalom, ready to hear the complaints of the people only to be involved in the demise of the work of the Heavenly Kingdom.
Living out your design should always be a process that you find yourself moving forward in your spiritual journey, not going off course in trivial pursuit and especially never taking other Christians or leadership off their course. The church has a huge responsibility to guide all that enter in towards Christ and His Kingdom.
It is not for us to rally around everyone's problems or complaints, nor should they rally around us and our causes. We are only to rally around our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
