Passion and boldness…
This morning Stephen Proctor and I were chatting over breakfast about Passion Conferences (among many other things) and one thing came out that we were both so attracted to:
As leaders, we’re attracted to the boldness by which they pursue their vision
God has given them a vision and they are unapologetic about achieving that goal. They could probably make more money if they started “Passion for Singles” or “Passion for Adults” or “Passion for High School Students”…but they haven’t. Those people are welcome to attend, but their audience is and always has been college students. And they don’t apologize that a Passion event might not connect with you if you’re not a college student.
How often to we allow the people in our congregation to determine what we do? Why is that we, as leaders in the church, are so drawn to people who are bold about what they are going to do (and what they are NOT going to do)?
It’s vision and the boldness to support that vision. Everyone wants to follow a leader who is passionate about where they are going – and not willing to waiver to public opinion.
Give me a leader who is boldly following God and His vision and I’ll follow them anywhere. Give me a leader who bows to public opinion and I’ll be out of there pretty quick. We don’t have time to mess around.
P.s. I also need someone to put me in my place and tell me that my great idea doesn’t serve the vision of the church…gently of course.
I will also say that nowhere in the Bible is congregational rule suggested…and anywhere it’s practiced the results are pretty universally negative. Think golden calfs and 40 years in the desert among others…
Agree completely, Brian, that we can’t bow to public opinion. However, I also think there is a large group of leaders who are forgetting the God part of “following GOD and HIS vision.” I think it’s easy when you have a focused vision and pursue it boldly to let pride creep in and edge God out. Somewhere amidst all of it we have to find balance & perspective – we have to lead with a bold humility.
Excellent thoughts adding balance to my position. Another thing that was only briefly touched on is accountability. This leader, though he may ignore public opinion, MUST put himself/herself under strong accountability to ensure that some of the pitfalls (as might often occur with personality-driven leadership) don’t come out or can be averted.
I can’t speak to the specific situation here, but I am concerned with the cult of leadership issue that has grabbed on to our churches.
Too many ministers have become the head of their church and begun to usurp the position of Christ. It may not be intentional, but the pride becomes a handle for Satan to grasp and pull down the people of the church.
Keep the leader accountable to the leadership of the church as put into position by God’s people in the church. Otherwise they will surround themselves with followers and become the blind leading the blind and all will fall into the pit.
Think you hit the nail on the head.
Serving the body of Christ isn’t about meeting ideas that are popular today. Those things are fickle and change over time. Following a God-given vision is required and a necessity for anyone who is going to legitimately lead someone to Christ.
” A war is on – the battle cry is ‘no compromise!’”
-O.C. Supertones
I find it absolutely amazing that you quoted the OC Supertones. Well done my friend, well done.