The Gift of a Leader

In Romans 12, the Apostle Paul provides a list of some of the ways that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to people for the purpose of Kingdom work. While this list is not exhaustive, he does, interestingly enough, list the gift of leadership. “…if it is leadership, let him govern diligently…” (Romans 12:8)

There is often a palpable tension around the gift of leadership. One of the most obvious examples of this tension is found in the management/union relationship of our day. Stereotypically, management is viewed by the union as trying to take advantage of the worker; and so one must view the leaders with suspicion. Union workers, stereotypically, are viewed by management as trying to get something for nothing; and so one must view followers as lazy and uncooperative. Unfortunately, this mentality is also a familiar tension in the Church.

Over the past couple of years we’ve been going through a transition in our leadership structure – moving away from the ineffectiveness of a large board to a smaller group of congregationally elected Council members. In this transition, I have seen this management/union tension come to the surface on more than one occasion with the complaint that the Church Council is “a secret group and nobody knows what is going on.”

As I have been considering what feelings and experiences are behind such a statement, a couple of things have surfaced. First, we have developed a culture in the baptistic tradition referred to as “one person, one vote.” We have come to think that the biblical model of church governance is a pure democracy where we all get to vote on every decision that is made – from carpet colors to ministry programs. But I would encourage you to consider whether our baptistic tradition of “one person, one vote” and biblical teaching really match up on this point. What is the point of the Spirit gifting the church with leaders if the entire group is to make every decision anyway?

Second, I have observed that some of us simply are not willing to trust the very leaders that we have chosen to lead us. For a variety of reasons, including some bad experiences in the past, we put people in positions of responsibility and then refuse to give them the authority to do the ministry that we have asked them to do. We choose a person to serve as our Team Leader, but then we go around the leader we just voted for in order to get done what we want done. As a group we have chosen a Council of leaders to serve us by leading, yet we come up with conspiracy theories about how they are trying to sneak things through.

In Hebrews 13:17 we read instructions, “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” The way that many of us want to apply this verse is by re-writing it to sound something like this. “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority if you agree with their decision. If you don’t agree with their decision you should resist at all cost, or kick them out and pick a new leader who will do what you want them to do – then you can submit to them in good conscious.” This, of course, is not what the writer of Hebrews actually says. There is responsibility on both sides of leadership. On the one hand, leaders will have to give an account to God for the way we have led; and on the other hand, followers will have to give an account for the way we have followed. The result of distrust, suspicion, and conspiracy theories is an experience that is burdensome and joyless for leaders and anxiety laden for followers.

God has given us a great gift in leaders whose hearts are seeking the life and way of Jesus, and are diligent in leading us as a body in Kingdom work. Instead of treating our leaders with self-centeredness and suspicion, the Bible calls us to pray for those who are in leadership on all levels (church, state, family, etc.)and to submit ourselves to them in love and cooperation – even when we don’t agree with every decision they make. When leaders lead with diligence and followers follow with participation and prayerful support, we will find our partnership in Kingdom work to be a joy!

The Silent Stars Shine Down

The silent stars shine down on us with bright but sightless eye,

Unmindful of our little earth, of us who live and die.

Are we but grains of stranded sand beside a cosmic sea

That lie unvalued and unseen in such immensity?

Creator of all stars you came to grace our transient race.

In Christ you spoke a word that broke the silences of space.

Still through that word you call our hearts to know that we are known,

To trust we do not walk through time unvalued and alone.

We see the star the wise men saw and hope again is stirred.

We track the footprints left in time by your incarnate Word.

We see them climb a lonely hill where Love is left to die –

The Love that formed the farthest star and hears the faintest cry.

O Christ, the bright and morning Star whose radiance does not fade,

Whose glory filled the universe before the planets played:

Come, heal our hearts of blinding doubt till faith shall end in sight.

Shine down upon our darkened earth and conquer sin’s long night.

Herman G. Stuempfle, Jr.

Saying "No"

Have you ever met a person who is really good at saying "no?" Aren't they annoying!! I say that not for the reasons you might assume, but because I have a hard time saying "no." As a parent of two young boys, the word "no" seems to fly out of my mouth - contradicting my previous statement. It seems that many of their decisions aren't a good idea. They simply would not result in their good. But once the relationship is different, I find it increasingly difficult to say "no." Again, this might not be for the reasons you think.

There is a fine art to saying "no." This word could be used out of self-centeredness, rejecting the needs of others in preference to my own desires. I can say "no" as a way of being mean to another person, denying their request as a way of causing them discomfort or pain. I can even use this tiny word to isolate a person in contempt, keeping them on the outside of my circle of friends. But the word "no" can also be used as a way to move in redemptive love towards another person. When I say "no" to my son because he is about to leap off the coffee table and onto his head, "no" is a loving response. When I say "no" to a request to spend more time at work when I should be at home, "no" is a loving response.

But here is the rub, sometimes I feel guitly saying "no." If I'm honest with myself, I'm concerned that if I don't do what that person wants then they will be upset with me. So, all to often, I say "yes" as a way to manage their opinion of me. And in saying "yes" I end up saying "no" to what is truly good.

I had a situation recently where I had to say "no" to another person. Their request was sincere and heartfelt, but I simply could not say "yes" and move in redemptive love towards them at the same time. In fact, as best as I could tell, if I was to move in love towards them I had to say "no."

God, it appears, has mastered the fine art of saying "no." As he moves in redemptive love toward us, it is necessary for him to say "no" to some of the things we desire. Not because he enjoys our misery or disappointment, but because he is working for our ultimate good.

I'm not sure if saying "no" will ever feel good to me. But as I am the recipient of God's movements of redemptive love towards me, I find that his "no" carries with it the tender embrace of a loving Father who only says "yes" to my good.