How Are We to Lead?

January 20, 2021 Christopher Lai

I have registered for a leadership class for the spring term and just started reading one of the books. Then, I read today’s Scripture Reading:

Turn Back to the Lord Listen, nation of Israel, to my mournful message: You, dearest Israel, have fallen, never to rise again— you lie deserted in your own land, with no one to help you up. The Lord God has warned, “From every ten soldiers only one will be left; from a thousand troops, only a hundred will survive.” The Lord keeps saying, “Israel, turn back to me and you will live! Don’t go to Gilgal or Bethel or even to Beersheba. Gilgal will be dragged away, and Bethel will end up as nothing.” Turn back to the Lord, you descendants of Joseph, and you will live. If you don’t, the Lord will attack like fire. Bethel will burn to the ground, and no one can save it. You people are doomed! You twist the truth and stomp on justice. But the Lord created the stars and put them in place. He turns darkness to dawn and daylight to darkness; he scoops up the ocean and empties it on the earth. God destroys mighty soldiers and strong fortresses. Choose Good Instead of Evil! The Lord said: You people hate judges and honest witnesses; you abuse the poor and demand heavy taxes from them. You have built expensive homes, but you won’t enjoy them; you have planted vineyards, but you will get no wine. I am the Lord, and I know your terrible sins. You cheat honest people and take bribes; you rob the poor of justice. Times are so evil that anyone with good sense will keep quiet.

Amos 5:1-13

In Grace to Lead by Kenneth L. Carder & LaCeye C. Warner, they said something very interesting right at the beginning of the book:

“Gift”, “grateful”, and “follow” are not the usual words people associate with “leadership” or even “Christian leadership”. “Assertive”, “strong”, and “lead” are the usual suspects. When we look for leaders in the church we also usually look for those who are commanding and instill “awe” into people. In turn, we often ignore or downplay those who fail to fill those kinds of shoes.

That, unfortunately, is not the Biblical way. We need to remember that God has, from the beginning of “time”, been counter-culture. It’s not about us, and it’s all about Him. Having those traits are often NOT who will lead people to God but to themselves. I think that’s why there are so many failures in pastors and church leaders lately.

A pastor went as far as having a suspected sexual relationship with a Muslim girl, while he was selling this imagine that he is a friend of the lost….celebrities…. When their fellowship is all about those who will “sell” who he is than who God is. When a leader presents an image of “look at me” (like having multiple multi-million dollar jet planes as something they deserve to use to travel instead of travelling on commercial flight beside the peasants)…. When pastors demand his church be exempted so that thousands can gather at his church to listen to him preach when people are getting sick and dying all around them….

Be missional without being the mission giver; be grateful for the opportunity, not the fame and gain the opportunity will bring; and, be a follower in order to lead, not be the centre of whom people are to follow. That’s what Christian Leadership is all about. Are we, the leaders of God people Christian leaders, or just leaders?