I think as leaders we have a tendancy to put pressure on ourselves to have everything together, and to have all the answers. It seems when we walk into a room we desire to be the smartest, most compassionate, most decisive, or "most__". We want to be the best. It's not even necessarily that we want to be the best, we feel as though we have to be.
The Good News here is that we are not the best, never will be, and never were meant to be. As the Eikons of God, as His image bearers, we were designed by physcial nature and by our "unseen" substance to reflect and point towards a beautiful Creator. It's our design to point to someone better. Hebrews says Christ is the author and perfecter of our faith; no more perfecting left to do. Hebrews also says that because of Christ's ultimate sacrifice for us on the cross, there is no longer any penance left to do to cover our sin....no more sacrificing our lives to atone for our sins or the sins of others in order to be the "most compassionate"...It's completed.
On the other side of the coin, I think another harmful effect of this mindset is simply, we won't learn. We won't learn anything, if we think the best thing has already been said, was said by us. As a "resident" coming into a new community, there is a sense of arrogance, or a desire to "prove" myself in this community. I want to show them that I am justified in being the resident, I want to show them how awesome I am, and how much they need someone like me. There are many insecurities and sins that fuel this thinking, but I want to simply hit on the fact that, I won't learn or grow if I think this way.
There are so many stories, so much wisdom, and so much of JESUS(!) in our communities. Jesus' wisdom and power are found in the lives of every Christian. If we only think what we have to say is best, or only think we can learn from those who are already established as "leaders" we will miss out on much of what Christ desires to teach us.
In the midst of a very religious elite group, Jesus pointed to a very neglected, dis-respected widow as the example of faith unto God. Jesus said if we wanted to be leaders, learn to be like children. Learn from slaves, mothers, women, young, old, as Paul said "there is neither Greek nor Jew, nore slave, nor free man, but all are one in Christ".
I want to learn better. That involves humilty. The humility to hold on to Christ instead of my own pride to justify my existence, or calling. There is no longer any penance for sin, no longer any way to justify our existence or our calling. Christ has done all the justifying through his cross and resurrection(Romans 4).
I have seen how every person in our communities lives "missionally" in different ways. If we forsake the opportunity we have all around us, we will be shallow and egotistical leaders. The body of Christ is beautiful, and the gifts are given by the Holy Spirit for the edification of every believer(including us who lead!) Here are some practical questions to ask:
-Hear their story
-How do you cultivate in your life a love for your neighbors and city?
-How do you live missionally?
-How do you lead your family in doing this(if they have one)?
-How do you see yourself using your gifts in this fellowship?
Let us be a better learner for Christ, for our communities, and humanity.
The Good News here is that we are not the best, never will be, and never were meant to be. As the Eikons of God, as His image bearers, we were designed by physcial nature and by our "unseen" substance to reflect and point towards a beautiful Creator. It's our design to point to someone better. Hebrews says Christ is the author and perfecter of our faith; no more perfecting left to do. Hebrews also says that because of Christ's ultimate sacrifice for us on the cross, there is no longer any penance left to do to cover our sin....no more sacrificing our lives to atone for our sins or the sins of others in order to be the "most compassionate"...It's completed.
On the other side of the coin, I think another harmful effect of this mindset is simply, we won't learn. We won't learn anything, if we think the best thing has already been said, was said by us. As a "resident" coming into a new community, there is a sense of arrogance, or a desire to "prove" myself in this community. I want to show them that I am justified in being the resident, I want to show them how awesome I am, and how much they need someone like me. There are many insecurities and sins that fuel this thinking, but I want to simply hit on the fact that, I won't learn or grow if I think this way.
There are so many stories, so much wisdom, and so much of JESUS(!) in our communities. Jesus' wisdom and power are found in the lives of every Christian. If we only think what we have to say is best, or only think we can learn from those who are already established as "leaders" we will miss out on much of what Christ desires to teach us.
In the midst of a very religious elite group, Jesus pointed to a very neglected, dis-respected widow as the example of faith unto God. Jesus said if we wanted to be leaders, learn to be like children. Learn from slaves, mothers, women, young, old, as Paul said "there is neither Greek nor Jew, nore slave, nor free man, but all are one in Christ".
I want to learn better. That involves humilty. The humility to hold on to Christ instead of my own pride to justify my existence, or calling. There is no longer any penance for sin, no longer any way to justify our existence or our calling. Christ has done all the justifying through his cross and resurrection(Romans 4).
I have seen how every person in our communities lives "missionally" in different ways. If we forsake the opportunity we have all around us, we will be shallow and egotistical leaders. The body of Christ is beautiful, and the gifts are given by the Holy Spirit for the edification of every believer(including us who lead!) Here are some practical questions to ask:
-Hear their story
-How do you cultivate in your life a love for your neighbors and city?
-How do you live missionally?
-How do you lead your family in doing this(if they have one)?
-How do you see yourself using your gifts in this fellowship?
Let us be a better learner for Christ, for our communities, and humanity.