Leadership Courage Series # 35
This series on Leadership Courage began more than a year ago. Inspired by Edwin Friedman’s A Failure of Nerve, I set out to do two things. First, to establish the context: the Church in North America is, as they say in the South, “eat up” with anxiety.
Chronically anxious, the Church exhibits a culture of cowardice in hundreds of ways.
Unwilling to stand with clarity and self-differentiation, the Church has surrendered much of what makes Christianity distinctive.
And for what?
For the chance to have a seat at the table with the cultural elites. Trouble is, those at the table tolerate our being there only as long as we toe the party line. In other words, the Church must surrender what makes Christianity Christian. And, have you noticed, the cultural progressives keep moving the “line”.
Farther and farther from Christian orthodoxy.
And, as they do, the Church keeps surrendering truth so it can stay at the “table”. What some fail to see is that as the Church prostitutes herself in this way, the greater culture, more and more, views us with disdain, not esteem.
Our chair’s been moved to the children’s table… and we don’t even seem to mind.
Compromised.
Capitulated.
Silenced.
Adrift of our biblical moorings we float aimlessly downstream along with the culture… a culture that’s destroying itself with self-indulgence.
Second, my aim is to invite you to embrace the kinds of leadership that are most necessary for the Church, in this condition, in this hour.
Again, Friedman’s genius has been my guide.
Nine leadership distinctives were offered. In a season of immense challenge, of unprecedented pace of change, and of undeniable urgency for Christian ministers to step into the leadership void, nine essential leadership traits will define those who will lead the Church out of its decades-long regression.
Here they are:
One: Courageous leadership is not about skill, technique, or knowledge. It is, most of all, about the presence of the leader as he or she moves through life.
Christian ministry is people development.
We are called to “equip God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may … become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” [Eph 4:12-13]
That Christian leaders misunderstand the primacy of developing mature disciples may help explain why the Church is impregnated with immaturity in this hour.
Our job, as Christians, is to make mature disciples of Jesus. Not to run programs that educate and entertain receptive religious folks.
Do you live to champion people into Christ-likeness?
So they live like Jesus would be living if Jesus were living in their place.
Thanks, Kirk, for the no-holds-barred take on the emasculated Church. My favorite: “And, have you noticed, the cultural progressives keep moving the ‘line’.”
Reminds me of the old illustration about the frog and boiling water: if you drop a frog in boiling water, it will leap out immediately. If you drop him in cool water and bring it to a boil, it will stay in until cooked.
Thanks Kirk, I lead and counsel worship leaders and to me this is a good description of what has been happening in our world. Music has become something other than an avenue to help people connect with God, it has become a tool for, attention, attraction, setting up the sermon, program transition, and sadly, competition for gifted musicians, and band comparison with the church down the street. Many worship leaders are unfortunately seen as performers, (some are) and not true worshipers of God whose charge is to create an environment and promptings to help people connect with the Lord personally. Many think it’s all about butts in the seats, or hands in the air, or db volume from the congregation. But if we really had a Biblical definition of “Worship” (very few have), then we would see Jesus describing a Father who is longing for relationship with His kids on a personal, interactive, and relational level.
Music is a gift that can open the heart to go deep.
My prayer is that somehow these discussions serve to startle the frog [the courageous within the Church] so that it jumps, powerfully, out of the kettle… before our society destroys itself as we sit silently by…
Jeff, thanks for your insight.
To me, the biggest question for a senior pastor to answer is: “What business am I in?” Based on behavior, I’m afraid that, for most, the honest answer would be “to amass people and money to have the biggest religious education and entertainment operation we can have…”
I say they are in the LIFE-CHANGING business. Connecting powerfully and intimately with the Father, through authentic worship, certainly can bring life-change for those committed to grow in Christlike maturity.