IN SEARCH OF SPIRITUAL LEADERS

Joshua 5:1-7:15; Luke 15:1-32; Psalm 81:1-16; Proverbs 13:1

When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town."

“Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!”

“Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things. “But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around.
So I let them follow their own stubborn desires,
living according to their own ideas.”

I long for church leaders who possess and live out personal security and vision in the Lord. My heart yearns for spiritual mentors willing to trust their flocks to and in the Lord and willing to be vulnerable and accountable rather than defensive when their personal opinions are challenged. I understand this is not an easy place to get to, given the thoughtless criticism so often carelessly leveled by the Body of Christ against its leaders. But I don’t care. Give me a leader absolutely committed to discerning and following the Lord’s will and intractable in his or her submission to the Lord’s direction as discerned with and through the Body of Christ, and they can lead me into battle anytime, even against the tide of popular opinion. I cry out to the Lord for disciples who unflinchingly lead into growth, rather than worry so much about protecting their own personal authority, vision and ambition.

Spiritual leadership has very little to do with personal opinions of right and wrong and almost nothing to do with logic or practicalities. Since when has it been practical to even think about just walking through a raging, flooded river to enter into the Promised Land, much less do it? What is logical about thinking a group of people might destroy a major city’s walls with a few shouts and trumpet blasts, let alone trying to do so? But here’s the point: when spiritual leaders affirmatively focus on uniting the people behind a common cause or ministry, rather than defensively defending doctrine, themselves or what they see as their turf, logic always takes a back seat to the power of God. The world needs more disciples who understand and will accept that simple fact, and be less consumed with what they think is “reality” or their own authority. Neither reality nor personal authority (to be distinguished from Spirit-given authority) is ever quite what it’s cracked up to be.

I am blessed to be joined in ministry with a number of Christian brothers and sisters without whom the ministry I help lead simply would not exist, certainly not as it stands strong today. They are Christ-centered, focused and accountable to each other and to me, and I to them. Even as a group, we sometimes make mistakes. But in Christ, we find the strength and vulnerability to admit them and fix them in love, usually without a lot of angst. It was not always so easy. Last Spring, I flat overstepped my bounds and took too great a piece of leadership for myself. That wording is intentional and honest and painful to read even now, but then, I really thought I was just doing the “right” thing. In no uncertain terms, they brought me back into line with the loving discipline of Jesus. What could have caused rebellion and dissention was instead blessing. Our partnership is stronger, and the presence of the Spirit in our ministry much more palpable, because they lead with Christ, and not personal opinion, their heads or even their hearts. Not a day goes by that I do not give thanks for the opportunity to be accountable to each and every one of them!

Pharisees never get this. They have their rules and regulations about how religion and/or their place of authority ought to look, and they tolerate no dissention or variance among the ranks. Sinners, prostitutes and other rule breakers need not apply to their exclusive club. If they have any interest in what the Lord thinks, it is only when He seems to agree with them. Been there, done that. And I can honestly say there is a far better way to live, and to minister. The power of a Body unified and focused behind a leader governed only by the Will and mission of God is the very power of Christ. It does not depend on logic or practicalities to accomplish its purposes. It is a place I very much hope to get to, and with friends to hold me accountable, I’m a whole lot closer.