Tuesday, October 14, 2014

THE CHRISTIAN LEADER

As in all ages, leadership is crucial.  One of the threats to any leader's role is that of routine rocking one's imagination into slumbering and thoughtless habit.  This is ever so needed in the church.

Henri Nouwen, one of my very favorite authors, pegs my point more clearly.

A Christian leader is not a leader because he announces a new idea and tries to convince others of its worth; he is a leader because he faces the world with eyes full of expectation, with the expertise to take away the veil that covers its hidden potential.  Christian leadership is called ministry precisely to express that in the service of others new life can be brought about.

While we live in a world crammed full of new (new intentions, new discoveries, new ideas), we in the church must be alert to the wonder of it all.  After all, all of this newness is simply verification that the Creator very much knows how to keep this tired world from running out of new ideas.

I have good news for us; new has just begun!

It will be up to the church, who is God's idea by the way, to stay ahead rather than drag behind.

Yes, many things are going well.  Yes, there is much joy to be experienced.  And yes, there is also much need in a world deep in injury and pain.  We must be sure we are awake for the input of the Living God as we minister at every turn.

If we are going to be leaders, lets be current ones who have high expectations to learn what God has yet to show anyone to this point.  I want in on that one!

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