Transcript
We don't need a new model of leadership. We have one. It's right in the pages of the New Testament. I think there are two things that are at the heart of the leadership crisis in the church. I think the first one is we've backed away from a biblical definition of a leader -- humble, gentle, kind, faithful, loving, servant -- the kind of character qualities that are in the Timothy passage when it talks about qualification for elder, the kind of character qualities that are in the fruit of the Spirit.
The Wrong Definition of a Leader
We've backed away from those and our definition of a leader is strong personality, quick-witted, forceful, domineering, able to win the day in a discussion or an argument, can cast vision and collect people. I'm going to say this. No wonder we've produced a culture of ministry bullies who mistreat people, who look at staff, not as a servant, but sees those people as just tools for his success; leaders who look at a congregation, not as disciples that need his care, sheep that need a shepherd, loved ones who need nurturing and love and comfort, but as consumers and success is collecting as many consumers as you can. We've backed away from a biblical definition of a leader and we are paying the price for this new definition.
There's a second thing we have diminished, devalued the importance of strong, watchful, comforting, confronting leadership community around a leader. We have diminished the importance that every leader needs pastoring, every leader needs care, every leader needs watchful eyes, every leader needs points to be rebuked, every leader needs to be protected, every leader needs strong community in his life now.
Now, think about this. If you've forsaken the biblical definition of a leader for this brash definition and you've diminished the value of a leadership community, no wonder we're in the trouble we're in. I'm shocked that the trouble isn't greater because you cannot walk away from God's norms and be okay.
Listen, we don't need a new model of leadership. We have one. It's right in the pages of the New Testament. So as long as we're changing the leadership definition and we're devouring the importance of community, this crisis will continue.
