I’ve been a “leader” all of my life.
I am the oldest of six kids, so it started as early as I can remember – “leading,” being an example. In school, I was the straight A’s, Student Council, National Honor Society, Young Leaders Club, Future Leaders guy. I was the Team Captain in sports. Professionally, I’ve been on every leadership team and committee, a trailblazer and forerunner, invited to specialized “Leadership Training,” and even “lead” so well that I’ve been a “Leader” of the up and coming “leaders.” I am considered a “community leader,” having been asked to be a part of several notable non-profit and ministerial board of Directors, acting as “President” or “Chair” of some of those, and otherwise being seen as out front and a part of the group that… leads.
But now, I am done with being a “leader,” or in “leadership.”
Notably and intentionally absent from the examples named above were: my family – where I am called and expected to be the “leader” of my wife, kids, family and home; and the Church, the things of the Kingdom of God. Not long ago, I would have proudly agreed with and noted my “leadership” roles and capabilities in these areas as well. Interestingly, it was in these 2 “areas” of life that the Lord most began to show me that I was taking on something He never gave me to take on in being a “Leader.” Further, as I go deeper into the heart of Jesus, learning to see things from an eternal perspective, the less I see my life in compartments. I no longer view myself as having a “work life” and a “home life” and a “church life.”
I just have a life. And even that life is not mine. It is He who Lives… and Leads. In learning to Live by an indwelling Lord, I am learning that I’ve never really been a “leader” at all. At least from that eternal perspective, where it is now my belief that being a “leader” is not something He has called me, or any of us to. I may have been “leading” from a worldly standpoint, and even sometimes with eternal motives – but it was all doing in my own flesh and strength – in which I can truly do nothing.
I (we) have the only Leader we’ll ever need in Jesus Christ, and His Leadership is all-sufficient and pre-eminent. He “Leads” each of our lives from the inside-out.
We are called to follow.
I am NOT a “leader,” I am a “follower.”
Jesus as Lord of this Life means that He is Lord of every part of it – what I do for a living, who I have relationship and influence with, my marriage, my family, my function in His Body – all of it. As Lord, He Leads, I follow.
It really is very simple, but oh so hard – especially in light of how our society is enamored with “Leaders,” “Leadership” and how to become “leaders” or be better at “leading.” Bookshelves are littered with titles on these topics. Blogs and podcasts on “leadership” abound. There are such things as “Leadership Coaches and Consultants,” and mega-churches have zero problem selling thousands of tickets to, and filling an entire week’s conference agenda with a docket that is “Leadership” heavy.
It’s almost as if we think Jesus said, “Lead them,” instead of “Follow Me.”
Actually, Jesus never said much about “leading” or “leadership” at all, except this:
Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant.” – Matthew 23:9-11
Jesus was addressing Pharisaism, the proclivity of “leaders” in religion to abuse their stature to flaunt places of honor at the banquets and lofty seats in the synagogues. Man, if I can be real honest with ya’ll – part of why I’ve loved being in “leadership” in my life, even in things of the Lord – is because I got my name called a lot, and got to go up to the front of the room, and speak or perform, and people would listen and love it, and love me, and it felt goooood. Pharisee. I was exalting myself and needed to be humbled.
And this, in Luke’s Gospel,
“The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.” – 22:25-27
The Disciples had been arguing amongst themselves (again) about which of them was the greatest (again). Ever notice that most of the time these guys had issues with each other, it was over their perceived position of “leadership?” Sounds like some of the shenanigans in today’s Church – with “leaders” posturing for position (Google “Strange Fire”). Jesus blew that all up. He said the greatest of them, the “leader,” would be the least of them, a servant. The “leader” would be the “one who serves,” following Jesus’ words here, and His actions later (John 13).
The “leader” would be the one who followed most.
Go do a word search and notice that the preponderance of the times “leading” or “leaders” as used in the New Testament (I did using the NASB), refers to either the Lord’s leading (Godly), or that of the likes of religious leaders, world governments or military, tyrants, fear, Judas, satanic spirits or false teachers (ungodly). It seems to me we should leave the “leading” to God, and focus on the “following.” In Scripture, this looks like Love and Serving.
A husband cannot rightly “lead” his wife unless he is following Jesus.
A business owner cannot rightly “lead” his employees unless she is following Jesus.
A member of the Body of Christ cannot rightly “lead” another member unless he is following Jesus.
In the Priesthood of all believers, in the Body of Christ, we are all “leaders” because we are all called to be followers. But we are only properly “leading” when we are following Jesus Christ, the Head of the Body.
While I am most definitely challenging our typical use and understanding of words here, my main goal is really not to get into a word battle. Like Jesus, I am more concerned with the heart of the Body, and as with most issues, this too is an issue of the heart, of posture. Let’s examine and correct the heart, and the mouth will follow (pun intended), speaking accordingly. If “leadership” in our hearts looks like position, title and authority – being front and center all the time, and having a tribe of people looking up at us – I would submit that is not leadership at all, it’s a form of tyranny. It’s Pharisaical. However, if “leadership” in our hearts looks like washing feet, serving, loving, and pointing others to Jesus – I would submit that is following, well done.
You should see far more of real “leader’s” back than their face – as they are marching after the Lord, following. Or, a real “leader” is standing behind you – encouraging you forward, or holding you up from falling. Or, a real “leader” is found kneeling at your feet, washing and loving.
Real “leaders” in the Kingdom of God are those following Jesus the deepest, highest, widest and longest. Real “leaders” show more than they tell. They reveal a Life, a Person, the Leader – Jesus. They are the ones who are always pointing you toward Him. If you know someone that this describes – let them “lead” you if you must use that word – but let that “leading” be in the example of responding to what the Lord is doing.
He is always doing something. The Kingdom of God is never in trouble, and eternally marches onward and upward. As Sons and Daughters in that Kingdom, there is no doing or “leading” expected of us. We have a Leader, and He has done it All. He invites us to follow, and show a hungry, watching world how to follow too.
{Image Credit: “Leadership” by varshapeterpanda on deviantArt}
