leadership

For Pastors Leadership may be one of the hottest topics of the day. I have been to innumerable seminars on the subject and have taught a few myself. For many years it wasn’t a big deal in ministry, preaching, teaching, and pastoring was the name of the game. Since I have had a few days to walk on the beach I have had some thoughts on it. What kind of Leader was Jesus?
First, he broke most of the leadership and management rules that I hear about. Often he was way too forgiving and understanding, he would let people walk all over him sometimes. But on other days he could be very harsh, demanding, and unrealistic, and often way too inconsistent. There were times He would send the Disciples out to do amazing things and times he would tell them to stay close and quiet. There were golden opportunities to step up and change the world that he would let slip by and when it seemed the better part of leadership valor to not step up he might surprisingly lead them into great trouble and danger.
Jesus also picked poor staff and lay leadership. Peter was inconsistent and self focused. James and John could not control their temper. Thomas was a doubter. None of them could be depended on. In fact the best of the management lot might have been Judas who was the groups treasurer and occasionally gave what seemed to be pretty good advice, advice Jesus ignored.
Jesus built people, but never really built anything.
Jesus idea of leadership was showing people what it looked like to walk with God; showing them what it was like to love God, showing them what it was like to love their neighbor, showing them what life could look like for those who put God and others ahead of themselves, who were willing to forgo what the world might deem as success, for what the world would classify as failure, for the sake of the Kingdom of God and pleasing their heavenly father. In leading them to failure, at least as His culture and probably any other in history would define failure, He lead them to the greatest success of all. He also gave His life for them. Just what does Christian leadership look like, a leadership that transcends this worlds definition of success and failure as well as leadership.