Leadership is key to church life.
Jim McGuiggan preached today about singing in defiance. I love the thought; have had coinciding thoughts just recently which made his message even more curious. Leadership in the kingdom defies the threats of leadership from earthly wisdom.
Our staff enjoys an unusual freedom to serve in the vast kingdom. The reason? Jesus and our elders. Really? Really.
First, we haven't always had the bent of following Jesus. We were heavily devoted to traveling down the path of Church-of-Christ safety and peace. One well-known preacher wrote me years ago to say I would be much more accepted in our brotherhood if I would walk down the middle of the road; that I would have a lot less critics. His statement wasn't even tempting. Mediocrity isn't the nature of the cross.
Would Jesus have taken such advice? Really? Jesus would do that? He played it safe? His goal was to live peacefully among men? If so, shouldn't he have been able to live to about age 54?
Second, our elders give the flock assurance we have the room to work. We can try, and should we get it wrong, have the confidence we can correct our effort and do it better the next time. We just concluded a major workshop. Do you know we never had a meeting with our elders to get the approval of anything; not theme, not speakers, not budget, not date?
Nothing.
We keep them informed for their pleasure and excitement. We always accept their insight and direction. But, we don't seek their permission. They set us free to get on with the work. When Jason Thornton and Shane Coffman revealed next year's workshop theme at the closing of the Saturday afternoon session, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if that was the first time the elders heard of it. They lead by freeing us to get on with our work.
Of course we make mistakes. Of course they wish we would be more effective at times...lots of times. But the upside to Memorial Drive is the Shepherd is active and then the shepherds are active....both the former and the latter believe in us. This gives us the confidence to defy the world's wisdom (which can also be the church's wisdom) to just see if God might do something most amazing.
And....often He does! Because God is God, leadership has both its ups and its ups!
2 comments:
The workshop was very rewarding to me and those that I accompanied - my wife, the Hite's and Busbea's from Searcy. Thanks for all of the preparation that so many had put in to make it a success.
I loved your message and Jim's about not micro-managing each other. It is so much appreciated, especially, for those whose background has not always been in a church or those who ran away from made-up (man-made) tradition. It was very profound and liberating!
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