new leaders
As we contemplate the necessities of being a leader in a Christian community like Horizon Church, some things have come to the surface. There are lots of characteristics that are important for a leader to have. The ability to love people well is primary. But what has emerged as necessary prerequisites to loving people well are the ability to face yourself and the willingness to receive God's love.
What seems to be a particular danger is someone who is trying to serve and love people primarily because they need to feel needed and accepted. We might call this a "neediness factor." Also hazardous is the person who is generally afraid of people and their potential disapproval of them. We might call this the lack of "emotional stability."
Leaders need the emotional stability to receive criticism without crumbling and also without getting too defensive. Its also important that their "neediness factor" is low. The more needy a person is, the less they are able to stand firmly on the foundation of Christ. Neediness means a person is dependent on people inappropriately. It also means they have a warped view of themselves. This usually manifests itself in an inflated sense of self-hate.
The hard part is that everyone has some of this in them. We are all damaged by sin. We are all somewhat destabilized emotionally and somewhat needy in one area or another. So how much is too much? In order to be a leader, one must have some of this submitted to the Lordship of Christ. Highly dysfunctional leaders created highly dysfunctional churches.
This is a dilemma when inviting new leaders to come on board. We as a team of leaders must examine if someone is leading. We must decide if they are making disciples. We must also decide if they will be able to stand the storms of leadership. We must ask the hard questions and face the hard answers. What is their "neediness factor?" How is their "emotional stability?" Can they look in the mirror and be able to deal with what they see deep inside? Or will the responsibilities and demands of leadership crush them emotionally and spiritually?
This task is not an easy one. But this process is vital for the health of our church and the health of our future leaders.
posted by Mark @ 12:56 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Mark,
I like this site. Good stuff buddy. Some of your topics seem very interesting. Maybe soon I'll get a chance to read them and we can chat about them and catch up
Mark,
I am still chewing on this post I'll try to have a more thought provoked comment sometime this week
Well, I said I would return. Now, I am not too sure if this will be thought provoking, but I hope to at least generate my two cents.
Leadership is the most important role that a member of the corporate body can fufill. A leader is to not only measure up to the bar, but raise the bar and continue to set it at new heights. I am not saying that a leader can not have fault or ever sin. What I am saying is that a leader must be able to live by a certain code, and if they happen to fall to pick themselves up and try to right the ship that has sailed off course.
A true leader knows first the role of follower. Meaning they have to learn from those who came before them. You often hear the term "Born Leader." This term really seems to get under my skin. Every leader is born, because every human being is born. What the term needs to be is "Natural Leader" A natural leader is someone who embodies all of the characteristics of what a leader should be. It is a fine balance of charisma, earned respect, command, and attraction. I have been reading a few books by the author, pastor, and public speaker John C. Maxwell. I suggest that anyone in leadership, or aspiring to the role of leader pick up some of his work it puts it all into perspective.
Here is a list of some leaders from history: Jesus Christ (greatest of all leaders the world has eve known), Abraham, Noah, Esther, Moses, Joshua, David, Paul. I think that we can learn from the strengths and weaknesses of each of these men and women.
As far as the neediness factor, or emaotional stability, a leader needs to adapt and overcome. Everyone has the capability to lead. What really needs to occur is that when training up a future leader, there needs to be discipleship from the current leader(s). Also, the aspiring leader needs to dig down deep inside and put their faith to the test. God can mend all wounds and that means that any flaw can be healed by the power of God's Holy Spirit, and Divine Mercy.
You are so right in saying that all of us are damaged by sin. What we all need to understand is, is that with the Lord's guidence we can overcome anything, no obstacle is too grand, mountian too high, and no valley to deep. Reflection, deep inner relection is the missing piece to the puzzle. If everyone let the sin damage be a road block, then nobody would every step up and fill the leadership void. I really believe the only thing holding someone back from stepping up and taking on the challange of leadership head on is fear. Fear will cripple the strongest most passionate Christian there is. Fear is a deadly disease, it germinates in the deepset regions of or souls and begins to develope and then envelope us from the inside out. If we can cut of fear's lifeblood we can be victorious and begin to let God work within. Let's always be mindful that our greatest strengths can become our weakness, and our biggest weaknesses God will use to raise us up and strengthen us.
In closing, God will lift high the leaders that He has ordained in a time frame only He see fit. So when "New Leaders" begin to emerge remember that it is because the Lord has opened up your awareness and led you in a certain direction. Allow the spirit to guide you and everything will work out from there.
Signing off,
Captain CaaaaaveMaaaaan
It's interesting, because in the Scriptures, one finds some pretty needy people who turned out to be leaders. The difference is, as far as I can tell, that they brought their needs to God, expecting Him to meet them no matter how destitute they felt. They did not cease to have legitimate and sometimes very demanding needs. But their needs didn't dictate how they interacted with other people...the reliance upon God for meeting their needs overflowed into how they related to those around them.
Pretty cool.
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