Acts 8:26-40
Last blog featured four “C’s” leaders do not do. Leaders do not convince, convict, corner, or convert. These are not effective means of leadership. They are manipulative and coercive. Generally, they do not create impact and influence, but resentment and resistance.
There is a fascinating story in Acts 8 where Philip is whisked away from a lively revival in Samaria to an isolated spot in Gaza. Remember Jesus’ instructions in Acts 1:6-8? How are these instructions being lived out in Acts 8?
In Acts 8 Philip encounters an Ethiopian government official. Quite possibly, it is through this connection that Ethiopia develops its unique Christian heritage in northern Africa.
What does Philip do in this encounter that makes the incident so remarkable? What is the role of the Holy Spirit in this encounter? Who initiates what actions in this story? Could something like this happen today in the 21st century?
Philip practices the four “I’s” of leadership influence. See if you can identify these “I’s” with examples in his story.
First I is invite. No one can make anyone do anything. Even if life is threatened, people still make choices. Threatening someone in order to gain a desired response is not God’s way, nor is it likely to produce any meaningful growth or change. It is done to avoid the threat.
Philip does not threaten the Ethiopian official. He could not. The official likely had weapons and body guards with him that would overpower Philip. It would have been counterproductive anyway.
Philip’s approach is to wait for an invitation. Philip positioned himself to receive an invitation. He matched the direction and pace of this official, but still he waited for an invitation.
Perhaps this happens to you, too. You sit down in a nice restaurant, maybe one that has your favorite dish. You have been planning this event all week with special loved ones to create precious memories.
The wait staff approaches your table and asks, “Can I interest you in …. (something that is not what you want and costs a lot of money)?” Now I realize the staff is only doing what they have been instructed to do. It is called “up-selling.” It is a technique of suggesting products and services to initiate increased sales.
Personally, I find it annoying. It suggests that I am incapable of making my own choices, and I need to be manipulated by others who may not have my best interests in mind.
If something as simple as a salad or a burger is that annoying, how much more we can annoy people by presuming what they need or want. Philip waited for the invitation.
On the average people go through a crisis about every 18 months. A crisis can be a positive event such as the birth of a child, marriage, job promotion; or it can be a negative event such as loss of a loved one, change in health, traumatic change in status, etc. If we are patient enough, inevitably everyone comes to a point of looking for support, encouragement, wisdom, and direction. Philip waited and received the invitation.
Second “I” is interpret. At the official’s request, Philip interpreted the meaning of the scripture to him.
In the end that is all any of us have. It is not about our deep theological insights or our indescribably mystical experiences. We offer our interpretation of truth as we have experienced it. Others will quite likely experience God differently than us. Others will quite likely understand God differently than us. Our interpretation is not to dictate how others encounter God, but to open the door for others to experience their own encounter.
Philip respectfully shared his interpretation and allowed the official to ponder his message at his own pace and in his own manner.
The third “I” is interpolation. This is a math term. A more popular expression would be “filling in the blanks.” In geometry a graph may depict several points on a grid. The points are only points until someone connects the points with a line to indicate direction and trend. Extrapolation is extending the line beyond the dots in a consistent direction. Interpolation is extending a line within the dots.
Philip filled in the dots for the government official. What does this passage mean? About whom is the writer speaking? Philip was ready to share his message, when he waited for the Eunuch.
The fourth “I” is engage. (I know engage is spelled with an “e.”) The point of encountering other persons is not the accomplishment of some impersonal goal such as: “I manipulated someone else into a decision they did not want to make.” The point of encounter is to build a relationship with another person. It is to respect them and honor them by listening to their quest.
It is within this context of respect and honor that others will listen carefully to what you say. If respect and honor were not necessary, we could influence people by merely sending out a post card.
Philip so engaged the government official that it was the official who asked to be baptized. Philip was available as he was needed, and then he was whisked away into another adventure. And the official went on his way full of joy!
In this experience Philip offered significant influence and leadership on the official who then passed it on to his own country. Can you think of any other examples; either in the Bible or elsewhere?
All of us influence others. The question is whether or not it is helpful, supportive, and grace-filled? These four “I’s” can help us test whether our encounters with others are also helpful, supportive, and grace-filled.
When we do have the opportunity to interpret, interpolate, and ingage; what do we say? Next time we’ll look at some examples in scripture of how different people responded to that question differently.
