Emphasis Preaching Journal

Donald G. Miller of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary sent me the following illustration many years ago: A new type of bomber which was difficult to maneuver was introduced during the war. At a certain airfield, the fear occasioned by the difficulty of maneuvering this plane caused many accidents. So, the command at the airfield was changed. The accidents continued. The command was changed again. This time a colonel, a pilot, took charge of the airfield. Shortly after he took over, he lined up all available personnel along a runway as spectators. He took with him a crew, and with himself at the controls, headed one of these planes down the runway. He kicked out one motor, set the plane aloft with only three propellers, put it through all kinds of maneuvers, and set it down safely. Immediately, the number of accidents decreased. Previously, men had been giving orders to others, asking them to assume dangers that they would not take. They were using their authority by virtue of their position as superior officers. In this instance, one who could have ruled by virtue of his position as superior officer identified himself in the risks he asked his men to take. Out of this self-
identification with them, he produced a higher type of authority than was possible by a mere superior position. -- Keller