Overcoming Common Leadership Flaws found in Biblical Characters: Paul’s struggle with rejection

The Apostle Paul has received a lot of 'bad press.' I'm not saying that he has been undeserving...just stating an observation.

In fact, I think an honest appraisal would conclude that Paul had some 'issues.'

Why is it that we don't like to allow heroes and high profile people to have 'issues?'

If we really, really like them we excuse them and justify their quirks with interesting 'twists' of logic. It seems difficult for us to just accept the normalcy of any human and grant grace for their flaws.

That's how I look at much of the extreme views attributed to the Apostle Paul.

Was he 'called of God?' Yes, certainly.

Was he a brilliant mind? Yes, certainly.

Was he 'out-of-step' with the 'original' disciples and 2nd generation leadership? Very much so.

Was Peter always 'wrong?' Was Paul always 'right?' How could Paul be 'right' and the other disciples/apostles also be 'right' when they really strongly disagreed with one another on very important doctrinal/theological issues?

Why did the writer of Acts 'rewrite' Paul's history (post-conversion) in such contradictory ways as Paul had recorded his own history (post-conversion) in Galatians?

Who's right? Well, the writer of Acts is telling a narrative that was reaffirming the story of the growth of the 'church' and had a 'mainline' perspective...which would, of course, be affirming to Peter and the other gentlemen based in Jerusalem.

Paul, on the other hand, was evidently feeling 'second-guessed' and trounced on by the brethren back in Jerusalem and took it as rejection of his authority. This wasn't just a one time thing, it seemed to be to the point that 'Jerusalem' was sending spies out to sit in Paul's ministry and report back everything about which they disagreed with him.

A couple of chapters in Galatians give you a taste of Paul's bitterness over this sense of rejection that he was feeling from Peter and the other brethren.

He had made trips there, condescended to their debates, and still felt as though he was considered 'less' than the others.

So, he snapped back. He lashed out. He took a powerful stance as the leader of the pack even if they weren't following.

A motivational speaker once said, "If they are running you out of town grab a baton and act like you are leading the parade!" (Zig Ziglar)

Did Paul respond to the genuine rejection of the Jerusalem brethren appropriately? Far be it from me to make a judgment call there...I'm certain that I would have handled it worse.

I do suspect that most of us have experienced at least the undertones of rejection, and some have been subjected to out-right total discrimination.

I'm not Jesus, Paul wasn't either. Paul said that he didn't "suffer fools gladly..." Many of us don't either.

Just be careful...I say that as gently as I possibly can. Please be careful. Don't let rejection back you into a stance that really isn't consistent with who you are or how you would normally wish to respond.

Otherwise, people whom others look up to might provide reasons for those others to look down on you. It shouldn't happen...but we are human.